Barber Emerson is a Lawrence firm established in 1934, serving Douglas County from Massachusetts Street. Its trusts and estates attorneys handle probate, trust administration, estate planning, and trust and estate litigation. Calvin Karlin, who practices trust and estate litigation, is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Lawrence is in Douglas County.
Probate in Douglas County
Probate Court Record
Douglas County District Court
Douglas County · 7th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM
Office
111 East 11th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Douglas County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Douglas County? →Settling an estate in Douglas County →
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.
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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Kansas happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeK.S.A. 58a-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysK.S.A. 58a-813, 58a-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In Kansas, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58a-708Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
Calculate the Fee
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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