Sabetha funeral home serving Northeast Kansas since 1927, now in its third generation of family ownership. Has a second location, Popkess Memorial Chapel, in Seneca, and a full-time staff of Kansas-licensed funeral directors.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Nemaha County, Kansas
When someone dies in Nemaha County, Kansas, an estate that needs probate is opened with the District Court in Seneca, for a $131.50 filing fee.
The First Days After a Death in Nemaha County
A certified copy of the death certificate from the Kansas Department of Health and EnvironmentKansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital StatisticsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source costs $20, and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $20.
Who controls the funeral and the burial or cremation follows an order set by law: surviving spouse, then surviving adult children, then surviving parentK.S.A. 65-1734Verified Oct 17, 2026View source. An agent the person named in advance comes before that orderK.S.A. 58-625 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source. Cremation carries no statutory minimum waiting periodK.S.A. 65-2426aVerified Oct 17, 2026View source.
Vital Records Office Record
Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics
Nemaha County · State vital records office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM (except holidays)
Office
Curtis State Office Building, 1000 Southwest Jackson, Suite 120, Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Website
Certified copies
From Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics
Office of Vital Statistics
Curtis State Office Building
1000 Southwest Jackson
Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Phone
1-785-296-1400Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (except holidays)
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $20 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Nemaha County · 22nd Judicial District
Serves this county
District Coroner (22nd Judicial District)
Published contact
None published by the county. The office is created by K.S.A. 22a-226(a), (b).
Verified November 4, 2026 · Source
ToolsWhat Do I Do When Someone Dies? · How Do I Settle an Estate? · How Many Death Certificates Do I Need? · How Much Does a Funeral Cost?
Funeral Homes in Nemaha County
Nemaha County has 3 funeral homes and crematories, in Sabetha and Seneca: 2 list cremation and 1 lists pre-need arrangements.
Seneca funeral home founded in 1901, in a mansion whose 1973 Victorian-style addition holds a chapel seating 180, a family room for up to 28 and a reception area. Its Lauer-Love Monuments business has installed granite monuments in Nemaha County and southern Pawnee County, Nebraska, since 1965.
Seneca chapel of Popkess Mortuary, a firm serving Northeast Kansas since 1927 and now in its third generation of family ownership, with its other location in Sabetha.
Probate in Nemaha County
Probate cases in Nemaha County are filed with the District Court in Seneca, in the 22nd Judicial District. The same 22nd Judicial District also serves Brown County, Doniphan County and Marshall County. Opening probate costs $131.50K.S.A. 59-104(a)(1)-(2), as amended by L. 2026, ch. 35, § 16; L. 2025, ch. 117, § 56(d) (FY 2026)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source in Kansas, the same at every court.
Probate in Kansas typically takes 9 months to 15 months. In Kansas, estates valued at $75,000K.S.A. 59-1507bVerified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estates Affidavit. Creditors have 4 monthsK.S.A. 59-2239, 59-2236, 59-709, 59-1301Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
Probate Court Record
Nemaha County District Court
Nemaha County · 22nd Judicial District
Phone
1-785-336-2170 (option 5)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
607 Nemaha Street, Seneca, KS 66538
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysKansas-licensed attorneys must file every document electronically through Kansas Courts eFiling. Self-represented filers file paper documents and do not register for an eFiling account.
Self-represented filing
AllowedSelf-represented filers may file in person at the clerk's office, by mail, by fax or in the court drop box. A filing left in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. is filed that day.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.At the counter the clerk takes cash, checks, money orders and credit or debit cards. Filings sent by mail or left in the drop box are paid by check or money order, and fax filings by credit or debit card.
P.O. Box 213
Seneca, KS 66538
Fax
1-785-336-6450
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
What Probate Costs in Nemaha County
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, counting the court fee, the executor's and the attorney's pay, the bond and publication.
Free formsSmall Estate Affidavit →
ToolsDo I Need Probate? · How Much Does Probate Cost? · Who Inherits Without a Will? · What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?
Serving as Executor in Nemaha County
The court's appointment comes as Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (no will)K.S.A. 59-701 (letters testamentary); 59-705 (to whom administration granted); 59-2219 (petition for administration); 59-2220 (petition for probate of will); 59-2227 (granting of letters); 59-2232 (hearing for administration); 59-3201 to 59-3206 (Kansas Simplified Estates Act)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. A person can apply for the appointment without a lawyer. An estate can be administered independently of court supervisionK.S.A. 59-3201 through 59-3206 (Kansas Simplified Estates Act); K.S.A. 59-3205 (no court supervision after letters); K.S.A. 59-3204(b) (claims and personal-property sales)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. A bond is required by default before letters issueK.S.A. 59-1101 (bond required); 59-1104 (bond may be excused)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source, and a will can waive itK.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.
Notice to creditors is published in a newspaperK.S.A. 59-2239, 59-2236, 59-709, 59-1301Verified Oct 18, 2026View source for 3 consecutive weeks, and known creditors are sent it directly. The estate inventory is due within 30 daysK.S.A. 59-1201, 59-1202, 59-1203Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment. An executor is paid reasonable compensation from the estateK.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Probate attorneys are paid reasonable compensation from the estateK.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
ToolsHow Do I Get Letters Testamentary? · Can I Self-File Probate? · How Much Can an Executor Charge? · What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
Homes, Accounts and Debts in Nemaha County
A deed from the personal representative, an affidavit that records a death, or a court order is recorded with the Register of Deeds for Nemaha County. Recording a 2-page document there costs $38 in recording fees, before any form fee the office adds. In Kansas a grant to two or more owners, including spouses, creates a tenancy in common unless its language makes clear that a joint tenancy was intended. Where no estate is administered, a surviving joint tenant may also ask the district court to determine the death and the passing of titleK.S.A. 58-501; K.S.A. 58-2211; K.S.A. 59-2286Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
The estate's bank account can be at any bank, in any stateK.S.A. 58-24a01(a), (c) (L. 2000, ch. 80, § 1); K.S.A. 58-24a16(a) (L. 2001, ch. 75, § 1; L. 2012, ch. 91, § 35)Verified Nov 2, 2026View source. Property the state holds as unclaimed for the person who died is claimed from the Kansas State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property DivisionK.S.A. 58-3934 et seq. (Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act); K.S.A. 58-3957 (filing of claim with administrator)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. An estate that cannot pay every debt pays them in an order set by statute, in 4K.S.A. 59-1301Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Nemaha County
P.O. Box 213
Seneca, KS 66538
Fax
1-785-336-3373
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $21 |
| Each additional page | $17 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
K.S.A. 28-115(a)(5), (b), (i)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
ToolsWhat Happens to Jointly Owned Property When an Owner Dies? · How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies? · How Do I Claim a Deceased Person's Unclaimed Property? · What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
Taxes and Benefits
There is no estate tax and no inheritance tax in KansasK.S.A. 79-15,254 (estate tax) and K.S.A. 79-15,146 (inheritance tax) — the operative levies (K.S.A. 79-15,201 through 79-15,253, and 79-15,100 through 79-15,145) were repealed effective January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2007 respectively; they applied only to deaths before January 1, 2010.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. The final state income tax return for the year of death is K-40K.S.A. 79-3220; K.S.A. 79-3221(b); K.S.A. 79-32,110(d)Verified Sep 10, 2026View source. The federal estate tax exempts the first $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source per person.
Social Security pays a one-time death payment of $25542 U.S.C. § 402(i) (Social Security Act § 202(i)), first sentenceVerified Oct 26, 2026View source to a surviving spouse who lived in the same household, or else to a spouse or child entitled to survivor benefits for the month of death42 U.S.C. § 402(i), first and second sentencesVerified Oct 26, 2026View source. A family allowance of up to $75,000K.S.A. 59-403Verified Sep 15, 2026View source can be paid from the estate to support the family during administration.
ToolsDo I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died? · What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance? · What Social Security Survivor Benefits Can I Get? · How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Probate Attorneys
More for settling an estate in KansasAll Kansas settlement forms · All Kansas settlement tools
Legal Sources
(28)·
- 26 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106
- 42 U.S.C. § 402(i) (Social Security Act § 202(i)), first sentence
- 42 U.S.C. § 402(i), first and second sentences
- K.S.A. 58-24a01(a), (c) (L. 2000, ch. 80, § 1); K.S.A. 58-24a16(a) (L. 2001, ch. 75, § 1; L. 2012, ch. 91, § 35)
- K.S.A. 58-3934 et seq. (Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act); K.S.A. 58-3957 (filing of claim with administrator)
- K.S.A. 58-501; K.S.A. 58-2211; K.S.A. 59-2286
- K.S.A. 58-625 et seq.
- K.S.A. 59-104(a)(1)-(2), as amended by L. 2026, ch. 35, § 16; L. 2025, ch. 117, § 56(d) (FY 2026)
- 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)
- K.S.A. 59-1101 (bond required); 59-1104 (bond may be excused)
- K.S.A. 59-1201, 59-1202, 59-1203
- K.S.A. 59-1301
- K.S.A. 59-1507b
- K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary and attorney compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)
- K.S.A. 59-1717 (fiduciary compensation "just and reasonable"; no statutory percentage)
- K.S.A. 59-2239, 59-2236, 59-709, 59-1301
- K.S.A. 59-3201 through 59-3206 (Kansas Simplified Estates Act); K.S.A. 59-3205 (no court supervision after letters); K.S.A. 59-3204(b) (claims and personal-property sales)
- K.S.A. 59-403
- K.S.A. 59-701 (letters testamentary); 59-705 (to whom administration granted); 59-2219 (petition for administration); 59-2220 (petition for probate of will); 59-2227 (granting of letters); 59-2232 (hearing for administration); 59-3201 to 59-3206 (Kansas Simplified Estates Act)
- K.S.A. 65-1734
- K.S.A. 65-2426a
- K.S.A. 79-15,254 (estate tax) and K.S.A. 79-15,146 (inheritance tax) — the operative levies (K.S.A. 79-15,201 through 79-15,253, and 79-15,100 through 79-15,145) were repealed effective January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2007 respectively; they applied only to deaths before January 1, 2010.
- K.S.A. 79-3220; K.S.A. 79-3221(b); K.S.A. 79-32,110(d)
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics
- K.S.A. 28-115(a)(5), (b), (i)
- Nemaha County District Court, official page
- Nemaha County Register of Deeds, official page
- Nemaha County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Kansas statutes and official state code. How we research.
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