Probate in Johnson County runs through the District Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Johnson County, settling their estate runs through the District Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Johnson County · 10th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Hours
Accepted paymentCheck, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Mailed/in-person payments by check, money order, or cashier's check payable to Clerk of the District Court. Card payments (by fax or in person) carry a $4.95 processing fee. Payment is not accepted via email.
Departments
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Johnson County, probate runs through the District Court at 150 W Santa Fe St, Olathe. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Kansas intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Kansas estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. The 4 monthsK.S.A. 59-2239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Johnson County, Kansas comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the District Court at 150 W Santa Fe St, Olathe. The court is part of the 10th Judicial District.
Probate matters are handled through the Probate Division. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Card payment processing fee. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Johnson County runs a probate self-help center (Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM (closed noon - 1:00 PM)), which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 913-715-3385.
The District Court charges $132K.S.A. 59-104(a)(1)-(2), as amended by L. 2026, ch. 35, § 16Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the District Court (https://kscourts.gov/eCourt/Kansas-Courts-eFiling). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Kansas are negotiated, typically 1.8%K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Kansas requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%K.S.A. 59-1101 (bond required, amount not less than 125% of personal property plus probable annual income from real estate); K.S.A. 59-1104 (bond waiver grounds)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Kansas typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
If you're handling probate yourself in Johnson County, Kansas, you can file at the District Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District.
Filings here are routed through the Probate Division. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Johnson County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the District Court is realistic. Johnson County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Johnson County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Self-represented litigants exempt from e-filing
Pro se filers may submit new probate cases requiring a filing fee by fax (913-715-3405, with a fax payment form), in person, or by mail to the Probate Clerk at 150 W. Santa Fe Street, Olathe, KS 66061. All other pleadings may also be submitted by email. The Probate Department is on the 1st floor of the courthouse.
SourceProbate Clerk's Office hours and cutoff times
The Probate department of the Clerk's Office is open in person 8:00 AM - noon and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Monday through Friday (closed noon - 1:00 PM). Filings, requests, or other business must reach the Clerk by 11:45 AM and 4:15 PM to be assisted before closing.
SourceBefore You Go
Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Mailed/in-person payments by check, money order, or cashier's check payable to Clerk of the District Court. Card payments (by fax or in person) carry a $4.95 processing fee. Payment is not accepted via email.
To file at the District Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds (Treasury, Taxation and Vehicles Department).
Deeds and other real property documents for Johnson County are recorded with the Register of Deeds (Treasury, Taxation and Vehicles Department) at 111 S. Cherry St., Ste. 1200, Olathe, KS 66061. Phone: 913-715-0775.
The Register of Deeds (Treasury, Taxation and Vehicles Department) charges $21 for the first page plus $17 for each additional page.
Johnson County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Mobilis Technologies/iCounty, Simplifile, eRecording Partners Network.
Recording Office Record
Johnson County
Address
Phone
E-recording
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $21 |
| Each additional page | $17 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
K.S.A. 28-115(a)(5), (b), (i)
Verified September 4, 2026 · Source
Kansas uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Johnson County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Kansas are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.8%K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Johnson County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the District Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmKansas City, KS
Provides probate and estate planning services in Wyandotte County and the Kansas City, Kansas area. Services include will drafting, trust creation, Medicaid planning, and assistance in transferring businesses and complex assets to heirs and beneficiaries.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationMedicaid PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmOverland Park, KS
Gates Shields Ferguson Swall Hammond works out of Overland Park, serving Johnson County and the wider Kansas City metro, with a second office in Liberty, Missouri. Attorneys draft wills and living trusts, administer probate estates and trusts, handle guardianships and conservatorships, and litigate will contests for families of every financial level. The initial consultation is free.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianshipand 2 more
FirmOverland Park, KS
Gaughan & Connealy is an Overland Park estate planning and elder law firm serving Johnson County and the Kansas City metro across Kansas and Missouri. It builds revocable and special needs trusts to keep families out of probate, handles trust administration and probate after a death, and plans for Medicaid eligibility and business succession. The firm hosts free asset-protection workshops.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawTax Planningand 5 more
Solo PracticeOverland Park, KS
Kyle E. Krull's Overland Park practice serves families across Johnson County and the Kansas City metro, with Krull also licensed in Missouri. Handles wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable and special-needs trusts, powers of attorney, charitable planning, and business succession. Krull has been published in Trusts & Estates and Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
PracticesEstate PlanningAsset ProtectionBusiness SuccessionCharitable Planningand 2 more
FirmOverland Park, KS
A small boutique firm focused on helping clients with estate planning issues. Provides comprehensive probate services to clients throughout Overland Park, Kansas, and the Kansas City Metro Area. Most services offered on a flat fee basis.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 6 more
FirmOverland Park, KS
Jones, McCoy & Covington (Joco Legal) represents executors, beneficiaries, and other interested parties through probate in Johnson County and the Kansas City metro, licensed in both Kansas and Missouri. The practice covers estate administration, beneficiary disputes, guardianships and conservatorships, and probate and trust litigation. A free consultation is available.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Kansas statutes and official state code. How we research.
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Vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
Mortgages, credit cards, loans, etc.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Step-by-step tools for families in Johnson County, Kansas.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
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Browse vetted Kansas attorneys handling probate matters.
