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 Ford County
Probate Court Record
Ford County District Court
Ford County · 16th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
101 West Spruce Street, Dodge City, KS 67801
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Ford County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Ford County? →Settling an estate in Ford County →
Probate Firms Serving Ford 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.
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.
Emporia practice of founding attorney Chris Ambrose, serving the Flint Hills and rural Kansas, mostly in Lyon, Chase, Butler, Coffey, Dickinson, Geary, Greenwood, Marion, Morris and Osage counties. Handles probate and estate administration alongside wills, trusts, powers of attorney and planning for individuals with special needs. Meets clients in person, by phone or by web conference.
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.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Kansas pays executors reasonable compensationK.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
Calculate the Fee
Do I Need Probate?
In Kansas, estates valued at $75,000K.S.A. 59-1507bVerified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estates AffidavitK.S.A. 59-1507bVerified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Kansas, creditors have 4 monthsK.S.A. 59-2239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
Check the Rules
Can I Self-File Probate?
Kansas has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableK.S.A. 59-3202; K.S.A. 59-3304 (both alternative tracks require a court petition and hearing; no registrar/clerk appointment in Kansas)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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