For most Sedgwick County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.
For a Sedgwick County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the District Court. The two tools that keep a Sedgwick County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Register of Deeds, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Skipping this planning step means the District Court decides who receives the property: a simple Kansas probate takes 6+ months and opens with $134 in court filing fees. Kansas also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Sedgwick County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Register of Deeds during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, a Kansas transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentK.S.A. 59-3501 to 59-3507Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathK.S.A. 59-3501 to 59-3507Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Sedgwick County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Tonya Buckingham, at 100 N. Broadway, Suite 105 (Ruffin Building), Wichita, KS 67202. Phone: 316-660-9400. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
The Register of Deeds charges $21 for the first page plus $17 for each additional page. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $38 to record in Sedgwick County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Sedgwick County accepts electronic recording through CSC, iCounty, Simplifile, ePN, Hopdox.
Recording Office Record
Sedgwick County · Tonya Buckingham
Address
Phone
Hours
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
FirmWichita, KS
A member of Meritas, an elite global alliance of independent law firms. Provides estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, business law, and real estate services from offices in Wichita and El Dorado.
PracticesEstate PlanningBusiness SuccessionProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
Solo PracticeDerby, KS
Serves Derby, Wichita, and surrounding Sedgwick and Butler county families, meeting in person or virtually. Concentrates on elder law and Medicaid planning — protecting assets ahead of long-term care, qualifying clients for Medicaid, and setting up special needs and asset-protection trusts alongside wills and powers of attorney. Offers a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningSpecial Needs PlanningAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planningand 2 more
FirmWichita, KS
Works from the Epic Center in downtown Wichita, handling Sedgwick County probate and trust matters in the district court nearby. Guides executors and trustees through estate and trust administration, probate litigation over contested wills and accountings, and post-death tax filings, drawing on attorneys who hold both law and accounting credentials. A Wichita tax-and-estate firm since 1937.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTax Planningand 3 more
FirmWichita, KS
A Wichita firm in the Epic Center downtown, Fleeson handles estate and trust matters for Sedgwick County families and clients across south-central Kansas. The trusts-and-estates group drafts wills and trusts, administers estates and trusts through probate, plans business succession, and litigates contested will and trust disputes. Practicing in Wichita for more than 130 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 4 more
FirmNewton, KS
Bradley Jantz has practiced law since 1985, serving Harvey County and a broad south-central Kansas region. Former Mayor of Newton and former Municipal Court Judge. Handles estate planning, probate, elder law, agricultural law, and mediation.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawBusiness SuccessionFarm Ranch PlanningProbate Administration
FirmWichita, KS
Wichita estate planning and estate administration firm serving Sedgwick County and south-central Kansas. Handles probate administration, trust administration including living trusts, intestate estates, and trust funding and beneficiary-designation work, plus Medicaid, VA pension, and farm and ranch succession planning. Offers a free consultation for a new will or trust.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationMedicaid PlanningFarm Ranch Planningand 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.
Estate planning articles for Kansas.
Forms and tools for property owners in Sedgwick County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for Kansas.
