Is there a way to avoid probate appointment in Kansas?

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Kansas?

See the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what to file, and bond rules to be appointed in your state.

Got the Letters? Run the whole estate from here.

State

Document Type

Getting Appointed in Kansas

Personal Representative (executor if testate, administrator if intestate)

Where you file

District Court (sitting in probate)

The form that opens the estate

No statewide fill-in form · Attorney-drafted pleading

What the court issues (with a will)

Letters Testamentaryissued by District court / clerk of the district court, after the judge admits the will and grants the petition

Letters are an output — the court issues them after granting the petition.

At a glance

UPC adoptedInformal trackE-filingSelf-represented filingLocal/county forms

E-filing through the Kansas Courts eFiling system is mandatory for Kansas-licensed attorneys (Supreme Court Rule 122(b)) and is not imposed on self-represented filers. A self-represented litigant files on paper — in person, by mail, by fax, or by drop box where the county offers one (Supreme Court Temporary Rule for Filing in a District Court by a Self-Represented Litigant, (d)(1)) — and in a county operating under the Kansas eCourt Rules must accompany each document with a Self-Represented Litigant Certification (Judicial Council form OJA 218).

Bond

Required before Letters: Yes
Waivable by will: Yes
Waivable by beneficiaries: Yes

What to file with the petition

Original will and any codicils — K.S.A. 59-2220: "The will shall accompany the petition if it can be produced." A petition to probate a lost or destroyed will "shall contain a statement of the provisions of the will."
Surviving spouse's consent to the will, if one was executed — K.S.A. 59-2220: the petition "may also state whether a surviving spouse has executed a consent to the will, in which event the consent shall accompany the petition if the consent can be produced."
Petition stating the heirs/devisees, the general character and probable value of the real and personal property, and the person for whom letters are prayed (K.S.A. 59-2219)
Statement on the petition whether administration is sought under the Kansas simplified estates act, and if so one or more reasons for seeking it (K.S.A. 59-2219(5))
Bond of not less than 125% of the personal property and probable annual income from real estate, unless excused by the will or by written waiver of all known heirs / all devisees and legatees (K.S.A. 59-1101, 59-1104)
Case-filing cover sheet with a new case, and — in a county operating under the Kansas eCourt Rules — a Self-Represented Litigant Certification (Judicial Council form OJA 218) with each document filed without an attorney (Supreme Court Temporary Rule for Filing in a District Court by a Self-Represented Litigant)

Small-estate alternative

Bypasses full Letters: Yes
Form name: Small Estates Affidavit — Transferring Certain Personal Property in Estates Under $75,000 Pursuant to K.S.A. 59-1507b

State-specific notes

Kansas abolished separate probate courts; the district court exercises probate jurisdiction (K.S.A. ch. 59). One petition can request probate of the will and issuance of letters testamentary (59-2220) or administration on intestacy (59-2219), and elects the Kansas Simplified Estates Act (59-3201 to 59-3206) — a court-supervised lighter administration the court approves at the hearing, NOT a UPC-style non-judicial registrar track. TIMING (two distinct six-month rules, often conflated): (1) K.S.A. 59-617 bars a late-probated WILL from passing property — "No will of a testator who died while a resident of this state shall be effectual to pass property unless a petition is filed for the probate of such will within six months after the death of the testator." (2) K.S.A. 59-2239(1) conditions CREDITOR claims on a timely opening — "No creditor shall have any claim against or lien upon the property of a decedent ... unless a petition is filed for the probate of the decedent's will pursuant to K.S.A. 59-2220 ... or for the administration of the decedent's estate pursuant to K.S.A. 59-2219 ... within six months after the death of the decedent." A related duty: anyone who knowingly withholds a will from the district court for more than six months after death is liable for attorney fees, costs, and damages to innocent beneficiaries (K.S.A. 59-618), who may still petition within 90 days of learning of the will. Either way, six months after death is the tight window that governs executor-facing guidance.

A revocable living trust passes assets to your family without this court appointment process — no petition, no Letters, no bond.

Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes

This tool provides general information about how a personal representative is appointed and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.Data verified 2026-07-15

Frequently Asked Questions

Kansas has no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the District Court (sitting in probate). After the court grants the petition, District court / clerk of the district court, after the judge admits the will and grants the petition issues your Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without a will).

Along with the petition, Kansas generally requires: Original will and any codicils — K.S.A. 59-2220: "The will shall accompany the petition if it can be produced." A petition to probate a lost or destroyed will "shall contain a statement of the provisions of the will."; Surviving spouse's consent to the will, if one was executed — K.S.A. 59-2220: the petition "may also state whether a surviving spouse has executed a consent to the will, in which event the consent shall accompany the petition if the consent can be produced."; Petition stating the heirs/devisees, the general character and probable value of the real and personal property, and the person for whom letters are prayed (K.S.A. 59-2219); Statement on the petition whether administration is sought under the Kansas simplified estates act, and if so one or more reasons for seeking it (K.S.A. 59-2219(5)); Bond of not less than 125% of the personal property and probable annual income from real estate, unless excused by the will or by written waiver of all known heirs / all devisees and legatees (K.S.A. 59-1101, 59-1104); Case-filing cover sheet with a new case, and — in a county operating under the Kansas eCourt Rules — a Self-Represented Litigant Certification (Judicial Council form OJA 218) with each document filed without an attorney (Supreme Court Temporary Rule for Filing in a District Court by a Self-Represented Litigant).

Yes. Kansas requires a bond by default before Letters issue. A will can waive it. Beneficiaries can also waive it in writing.

Kansas permits self-represented filers to open an estate. E-filing is available. The Self-File Probate Assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs for Kansas.

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment in Kansas — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

Getting Appointed in Kansas

Authority to act for the estate comes from Letters issued in Kansas by District court / clerk of the district court, after the judge admits the will and grants the petition, on appointment by the District Court (sitting in probate). The document is Letters Testamentary with a will and Letters of Administration without. UPC adoption in Kansas: No.

Kansas publishes no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the court, which carries a filing fee of $132. Whether an informal (registrar) appointment track is available for qualifying estates: No.

A bond is required by default before Letters issue in Kansas, though a will can waive it and the beneficiaries can waive it in writing.

For smaller estates, Kansas offers a small-estate procedure for estates under $75,000 that can transfer assets without a full appointment or Letters. The Kansas self-file probate assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 15, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Kansas statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Kansas Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Kansas probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Kansas?

Getting Appointed in KansasK.S.A. 59-701 (grant of letters); 59-2219 (petition for administration); 59-2220 (petition for probate of will); 59-3201 to 59-3206 (Kansas Simplified Estates Act)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

At a glance

BondK.S.A. 59-1101 (bond required); 59-1104 (bond may be excused)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Kansas Estate Planning Resources

Getting Appointed in KansasK.S.A. 59-701 (grant of letters); 59-2219 (petition for administration); 59-2220 (petition for probate of will); 59-3201 to 59-3206 (Kansas Simplified Estates Act)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

At a glance

BondK.S.A. 59-1101 (bond required); 59-1104 (bond may be excused)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Getting Appointed in Kansas

Bond

Getting Appointed in Kansas

Bond