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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas has no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the District Court. District court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration after the court grants the petition.
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); Oath of the appointed executor or administrator, filed after appointment — letters do not issue until it is on file (K.S.A. 59-2227: "Upon filing of the oath and bond as required by law, letters shall issue."; K.S.A. 59-2232: neglect for ten days after notice of appointment "to file the oath and bond required by law ... shall be deemed a refusal to serve"); 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 not open to self-represented filers. 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.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
More tools for settling this estate
Calculators and checklists for navigating probate and estate administration.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Prepare the application to open probate and request Letters Testamentary or of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Prepare the creditor notice for an estate — the official state form or a notice typeset to statute, plus mailed notices for known creditors.
Small Estate Affidavit
Prepare the affidavit that collects a small estate's property without probate — the official state form or an affidavit drafted to statute, plus a presentation letter for each holder.
Estate Inventory
Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.
Estate Closing
Prepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing statement, petition for discharge, or final account, with the state's closing instructions and the optional federal forms.
Letter of Instruction
Prepare the letter of instruction a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
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.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Hire a Kansas Probate Attorney
Browse 81 probate firms in Kansas with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
Your kids shouldn't have to do this.
Kansas Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Kansas probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.