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Cheyenne County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Cheyenne County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Cheyenne County District Court, in Kansas's 15th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-216) |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343), Cheyenne County Courthouse |
| Courthouse address | 212 E Washington St., St. Francis, KS 67756 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 646, St. Francis, KS 67756 |
| Phone | 785-332-8850 |
| Fax | 785-332-8851 |
| Hours | General county business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Cheyenne County Self-Help Center posts separate hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and is not staffed. Call the clerk before travelling to confirm the filing counter schedule. |
| Filing fee | $131.50 as of August 2026 for probate of an estate or will, made up of the $109.50 statutory fee and the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104). Other court costs may be taxed against the estate as the court directs (K.S.A. 59-104). |
| Local forms | Use statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms. Cheyenne County does not publish a county probate packet in the local materials identified for this page. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A self-represented filer files in person, by mail, by fax or by courthouse drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Drop box | Available at the Cheyenne County district court location. A self-represented filing placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. Central Time counts as filed that day under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch provides statewide public case information. Cheyenne County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so online case documents may begin from that date, while the courthouse terminal remains the local place to view public case materials. |
| Remote appearance | A remote appearance may be requested by motion, and the judge decides under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
| Website | Cheyenne County district court page on the county website and the Kansas Judicial Branch 15th district page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in St. Francis, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiary designations, jointly owned property and any real estate. Kansas has different paths for a bank-only estate, a will that only needs to be preserved, a house that must be sold, and a full administration, so the asset picture drives the estate settlement plan.
Sunset can help identify accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions before you choose a filing path. That matters in Cheyenne County because mailing, faxing and drop-box filing are available, but a wrong first filing can still cost time inside Kansas's six-month will deadline (K.S.A. 59-617).
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Cheyenne County is filed with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at the Cheyenne County Courthouse in St. Francis. The case stays in Cheyenne County even though Cheyenne County is part of Kansas's 15th Judicial District with Logan, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas and Wallace Counties (K.S.A. 4-216).
Kansas venue for probate of a will or administration depends on residence and real property. If the decedent lived in Kansas and owned real property in the county of residence, file there. If the decedent lived in Kansas but owned no real property in the county of residence, filing may be in the county of residence or in a county where the decedent owned real property. If the decedent was not a Kansas resident, filing may be in a county where the decedent left estate to be administered. The first legally started proceeding controls, and a case filed in the wrong Kansas county can be transferred to the proper county (K.S.A. 59-2203).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the will if there is one, account information, deeds, vehicle titles, debts and beneficiary designations. If there is a will, decide quickly whether to file a petition to probate it, because a will of a Kansas resident must be petitioned for probate within six months of death to pass property (K.S.A. 59-617).
- If the family is not ready to open a full estate, ask whether filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a is enough to preserve the will inside the six-month period required by K.S.A. 59-617. Kansas also allows a will filed with a refusal to grant letters petition to be admitted later if it was filed within that same period (K.S.A. 59-2287).
- Choose the local filing path. Common Kansas paths include the small estates affidavit for qualifying personal property under K.S.A. 59-1507b, refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, and simplified or supervised administration as the court decides under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Prepare the petition if a court case is needed. A petition for administration or probate of a will is drafted from Kansas statutory requirements, and if you want simplified administration you must ask for it and give reasons (K.S.A. 59-3202).
- Add the Kansas case-filing cover sheet. If you are filing without a lawyer, also include the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form. If you cannot afford the fee, include a Poverty Affidavit tied to the probate fee waiver rule (K.S.A. 59-104).
- File with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at 212 E Washington St. in St. Francis, by mail to PO Box 646, St. Francis, KS 67756, by fax to 785-332-8851, or by the courthouse drop box. A drop-box filing submitted by 4:00 p.m. Central Time counts as filed that day under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. Pay the $131.50 fee as of August 2026 for probate of an estate or will, made up of the $109.50 statutory fee and the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104), unless the court grants a fee waiver.
- The court fixes the hearing for a petition for probate of a will, administration or refusal to grant letters (K.S.A. 59-2222). If travel to St. Francis is difficult, file a motion asking to appear by phone or video and notify the other parties. The judge decides remote appearance requests under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103.
- Give required notice. Hearing notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first publication within 30 days after the order fixing the hearing, and mailing to heirs, devisees and legatees within 7 days after first publication with the petition and will included unless excused by court order (K.S.A. 59-2209). Notice to creditors must be given within 30 days after filing the petition and published as ordered by the court (K.S.A. 59-709).
- Attend the hearing. The court, not the clerk, admits the will if proper, appoints the executor or administrator, and grants letters testamentary under K.S.A. 59-701 or letters of administration under K.S.A. 59-705.
- After letters are granted, file the inventory and valuation within 30 days unless the court allows more time (K.S.A. 59-1201). Publish and mail creditor notices as required. Demands are barred unless presented within the later of four months from first publication or 30 days after actual notice to a known or reasonably ascertainable creditor (K.S.A. 59-2239).
- Administer and close the estate. Pay allowed debts, taxes and approved expenses, sell or distribute property as authorized, then file the petition for final settlement and accounting. The court's final decree assigns the estate, and real estate assignments are handled through the county transfer process described in K.S.A. 59-2249.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cheyenne County
Kansas publishes free statewide forms through the Kansas Judicial Council, and Cheyenne County filers use those statewide forms unless the court asks for something case-specific. The statewide small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b is the form Kansas law makes sufficient for qualifying personal property, but Kansas does not publish a fill-in petition for opening a probate estate.
| Form or resource | How it fits in Cheyenne County |
|---|---|
| Small estates affidavit | Used with the property holder, such as a bank, for qualifying personal property under K.S.A. 59-1507b. |
| Case-filing cover sheet | File with a new district court case in St. Francis. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | File if you are handling the case without a lawyer. |
| Poverty Affidavit | Use if asking the court to waive all or part of a probate filing fee under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video | Use to ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
| Probate notice of hearing and petition for allowance of demand | Statewide Judicial Council probate forms that may be used when those issues arise. |
Local nuance
Cheyenne County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Central Time | Cheyenne County is on Central Time. Use Central Time for the 4:00 p.m. drop-box filing cutoff and for any hearing time unless the court order says otherwise. |
| Kansas eCourt start date | Cheyenne County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022. Case information is searchable through Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and online documents may begin from that date. |
| Self-help room | The Cheyenne County Self-Help Center is listed as not staffed, with a laptop available by appointment and private meeting space. It is closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. during its posted self-help hours. |
| Mailing address | Use PO Box 646, St. Francis, KS 67756 for mailed district court filings, not only the street address. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 fee surcharge | The $22 surcharge authority was extended through June 30, 2030, so the Cheyenne County probate estate filing fee is $131.50 as of August 2026, made up of $109.50 plus $22 (K.S.A. 59-104). |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary rule | A nonresident fiduciary's resident agent may reside anywhere in Kansas, not only in the appointment county, under the 2026 amendment to K.S.A. 59-1706. |
| 2024 creditor publication timing | The publication window for notice to creditors changed from 10 days to 30 days after filing the petition (K.S.A. 59-709). |
| 2023 affidavit ceiling | The small estates affidavit ceiling is $75,000 effective July 1, 2023, for qualifying probate assets and personal property transfers under K.S.A. 59-1507b. |
| 2025 case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch replaced the former statewide case search tool, and Cheyenne County's July 11, 2022 Kansas eCourt start date controls when online documents may begin. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Cheyenne County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the St. Francis or Cheyenne County real estate is titled. A jointly owned home may call for a termination of joint tenancy filing under K.S.A. 59-104 rather than a full estate, while other assets may still require probate. The spouse also receives statutory notices and may have allowance or elective-share issues that should be reviewed before distributions. | Sunset organizes deeds, account information and beneficiary details so the family can see whether the home, bank accounts and personal property move together or through different steps. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the probate assets are $75,000 or less under K.S.A. 59-1507b and there is no real estate to transfer, the statewide small estates affidavit may handle personal property without opening a court case. If letters are needed, a nonresident personal representative can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing and filing the agent's acceptance (K.S.A. 59-1706). | Sunset helps find accounts, prepare a county-aware estate settlement checklist and connect the family with a Kansas attorney if a petition or resident agent filing is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b will not transfer a house. In Cheyenne County, the parent should ask whether refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, or simplified administration under K.S.A. 59-3202 fits the facts. If there is a will, the six-month filing rule remains urgent (K.S.A. 59-617). | Sunset helps assemble asset details, flag the real-estate issue, prepare questions for the St. Francis filing office and find a local probate attorney when a sale order or administration is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Cheyenne County Self-Help Center | Located at the Cheyenne County Courthouse. Posted self-help hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. It is not staffed. A mobile resource center laptop is available by appointment, and private meeting space is listed. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help probate page | Use the statewide probate and elder law page for Kansas probate information and links to Judicial Council forms. |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | Free forms include the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the case-filing cover sheet, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, the Poverty Affidavit tied to K.S.A. 59-104, and the Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
| Kansas Legal Services | Call 316-267-3975, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to apply for civil legal help, subject to eligibility and case priorities. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansas residents age 60 or older may call 316-267-3975 for the Kansas Elder Hotline. |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Use the lawyer referral service if the estate needs paid counsel for probate, real estate, tax or fiduciary questions. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kansas probate attorney if the will deadline is close, the estate includes Cheyenne County real estate, heirs disagree, creditors are active, a nonresident fiduciary must appoint a resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706, or you need simplified administration under K.S.A. 59-3202, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, or determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches for accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets so the family can understand what may need Cheyenne County probate and what may pass outside court. That asset map is the first step in a practical estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized probate packet for the Cheyenne County filing path, including the local address, the mailing address, the fax number, the statewide form links and the Kansas deadlines to discuss with the clerk or attorney.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a Kansas probate attorney who can advise on the will deadline, real estate, creditor issues, fiduciary appointment and court appearances in St. Francis.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The platform helps organize the estate settlement, identify missing assets and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Cheyenne County, Kansas?
File with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at the Cheyenne County Courthouse, 212 E Washington St., St. Francis, KS 67756. Mailed filings go to PO Box 646, St. Francis, KS 67756.
What is the filing fee to open a probate estate in Cheyenne County?
The probate estate filing fee is $131.50 as of August 2026, made up of the $109.50 statutory fee and the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104). Other court costs can be taxed against the estate as the court directs (K.S.A. 59-104).
Can I e-file a Cheyenne County probate case?
Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A person filing without a lawyer uses the Cheyenne County filing counter, mail, fax or courthouse drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule.
Does Cheyenne County have a drop box for self-represented filings?
Yes. Cheyenne County is not one of the Kansas counties excluded from the statewide drop-box listing. A self-represented filing placed in the Cheyenne County drop box by 4:00 p.m. Central Time counts as filed that day under the Kansas self-represented filing rule.
Can I appear by phone or video for a Cheyenne County probate hearing?
You can ask. File a motion requesting a remote appearance, notify the other parties, and wait for the judge's order. Remote appearance is discretionary under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103, and no specific 15th district platform is stated here.
How do I look up a Cheyenne County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch for statewide public case information. Cheyenne County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so online documents may begin from that date, while the courthouse terminal remains the local place to view public case materials.
Does Cheyenne County publish its own probate forms?
Use statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms. Cheyenne County does not publish a local probate packet in the materials identified for this page. Kansas has a statewide small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, but no fill-in statewide petition for opening a probate estate.
What if the will has not been filed yet?
Act quickly. A will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition for probate is filed within six months of death (K.S.A. 59-617), unless a statutory savings path applies. One option to discuss promptly is filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a.
Do I have to travel to St. Francis if I live outside Kansas?
Not always. You can file by mail, fax or drop box, and you can ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. If you serve as a nonresident fiduciary, you must appoint a Kansas resident agent in writing and file the agent's acceptance with the court (K.S.A. 59-1706).
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.