Adams Jones handles estate planning and probate from its Wichita office and a satellite office in El Dorado, and its attorneys appear in court throughout Kansas. The estates group prepares wills, trusts, special needs trusts and transfer-on-death documents and federal estate and gift tax returns. Founded in 1939, the firm is the Kansas member of the Meritas alliance.
Probate in Smith County
Probate Court Record
Smith County District Court
Smith County · 17th Judicial District
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How to file probate in Smith County →
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Smith County? →Settling an estate in Smith County →
Estate Law Firms Serving Smith County
A twelve-attorney Salina firm, with a satellite office in Lindsborg, practicing in Salina since 1946. Guides families through Kansas probate, including informal administrations and determinations of descent, and handles trust administrations, trust modification and termination, and guardianships and conservatorships. Also does wills, trusts, and Medicaid planning.
Davis & McCann is a Dodge City estate planning firm serving Western Kansas, with a by-appointment office in Cimarron. Its attorneys handle probate and trust administration, estate planning, Medicaid and long-term care planning, special needs planning, and farm and small-business succession planning. The firm opened in 2003 as Tamara L. Davis, P.A. and is a member of Wealth Counsel.
Hutchinson firm that has served Reno County for over 100 years and now serves all of Kansas through a video-conference virtual office. Its estate team handles probate and trust administration, probate and trust litigation, wills and trusts, and farm succession planning, and its elder law work covers guardianship and Medicaid. Lauren Alvidrez leads the estate planning practice.
Estate and business planning firm serving Kansas from offices in Manhattan, Elkhart, Hugoton, Hutchinson, Garden City, Overland Park, and Norton. Handles probate and trust administration for families after a death, alongside wills, trusts, farm and ranch planning, business succession, and Medicaid planning. Formed in 2014 through the merger of a Manhattan practice and an Elkhart practice.
Wichita estate practice that Kari Coultis founded in 2009, serving clients across Kansas from an office on North Rock Road. Guides families through probate, from validating the will to distributing assets, and through trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, alongside wills, trusts, special needs and long-term care Medicaid planning.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Kansas
Free Kansas forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Kansas.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Last Will and Testament
In Kansas, a will is signed before 2K.S.A. § 59-606Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyK.S.A. § 59-606Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Kansas allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2K.S.A. 58-632Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
Financial Power of Attorney
Kansas requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityK.S.A. §§ 58-650 through 58-665Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryK.S.A. §§ 58-650 through 58-665Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
Pour-Over Will
In Kansas, a pour-over will is signed before 2K.S.A. § 59-606Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Transfer on Death Deed
In Kansas, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryK.S.A. 59-3501 to 59-3507Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathK.S.A. 59-3501 to 59-3507Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. Kansas does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Kansas
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Kansas: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Kansas.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Kansas, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Kansas takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Kansas costs an estimated $25,212K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.8%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
What Are the Estate Laws in My State?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Kansas costs an estimated $25,212K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%Modeled estimate under K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $75,000K.S.A. 59-1507bVerified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Kansas: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 30 daysK.S.A. 59-1201, 59-1202, 59-1203Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsK.S.A. 59-2239, 59-2236, 59-709, 59-1301Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Kansas runs $3,310Estimate: 10 hours at $331, Clio's Kansas Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,965Estimate: 15 hours at $331, Clio's Kansas Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $978Estimate: 3 hours at $326, Clio's Kansas Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,956Estimate: 6 hours at $326, Clio's Kansas Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
