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Grant County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Grant County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Grant County District Court, in Kansas's 26th district (K.S.A. 4-227). |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court, Grant County Courthouse, 108 S Glenn, Ulysses, KS 67880 (K.S.A. 20-343). |
| Mailing address | Grant County Courthouse, 108 S Glenn, Ulysses, KS 67880. No separate mailing box is published for probate filings. |
| Phone | 620-356-1526. |
| Fax | 620-353-2131. A self-represented filer may file by fax under the Kansas filing rule for self-represented litigants, using the statewide fax transmission sheet. |
| Hours | Clerk counter hours are not posted on the court pages used for this Grant County page. Call 620-356-1526 before a filing trip. |
| Filing fee | For a probate estate, $131.50 as of August 2026, made up of the $109.50 statutory amount plus the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104). Other court costs are taxed as the court directs (K.S.A. 59-104(d)). |
| Local forms | Grant County does not publish a local probate packet on its District Court page. Use statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms where available. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys must use approved e-filing under Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122). A self-represented filer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax or the courthouse drop box. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the statewide public search. Grant County began operating on Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022, so public documents filed from that date forward may be available online, while older or non-online public records are checked at the courthouse terminal. |
| Remote appearance | Remote appearance is discretionary under Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). Use the Kansas Judicial Council motion form and ask the clerk how the judge wants the request handled. |
| Self-help center | The Grant County District Court Self-Help Center is housed at the Grant County Library. Its listed hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Website | Grant County District Court department page: http://www.grantcoks.org/306/District-Court. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Grant County filing path, list the assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, refunds, benefits and known creditors. Kansas route selection turns on what property needs to move, whether letters are needed, whether real estate is involved, and whether a will must be preserved within six months of death (K.S.A. 59-617).
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what needs to be transferred, claimed or included in a Grant County petition. That asset map makes the estate settlement conversation with the clerk or attorney much more concrete.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Grant County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Grant County Courthouse in Ulysses (K.S.A. 20-343). Grant County is part of Kansas's 26th district with Haskell, Morton, Seward, Stanton and Stevens counties (K.S.A. 4-227), but each county has its own filing office. A Grant County estate is not filed at another county's courthouse just because the counties share the same district.
Kansas venue for probate of a will or administration is set by K.S.A. 59-2203. If the decedent lived in Kansas and owned real property in the county of residence, file in that county. 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 any county where the decedent owned real property. If the decedent was not a Kansas resident, filing may be in any Kansas county where the decedent left estate to be administered. If proceedings start in more than one county, the first-filed case controls until venue is decided, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred rather than dismissed.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the will if there is one, asset information, debts and names and addresses for heirs, devisees and legatees. If there is a Kansas will, decide immediately whether to petition for probate of the will or at least preserve the will within six months of death (K.S.A. 59-617).
- Choose the Kansas route that fits the property. A small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b can be used for personal property when the assets subject to probate are at or below $75,000, effective July 1, 2023, and it is given to the property holder rather than filed as a court case. Court routes include refusal to grant letters (K.S.A. 59-2287), determination of descent after the required timing is met (K.S.A. 59-2250), informal administration (K.S.A. 59-3301) and simplified or supervised administration as determined by the court (K.S.A. 59-3202).
- If a court case is needed, prepare the petition using the statutory requirements for a petition for administration or for probate of a will. If you want simplified administration, ask for it and give reasons because the court decides whether the estate is simplified or supervised (K.S.A. 59-3202).
- Add the statewide case-filing cover sheet. If you represent yourself, also add the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form. If you cannot pay the $131.50 as of August 2026, use the Poverty Affidavit process under K.S.A. 59-104.
- File with the Grant County clerk of the district court at 108 S Glenn in Ulysses, by mail to that same address, by fax to 620-353-2131 or in the courthouse drop box (K.S.A. 20-343). A drop box filing placed by 4:00 p.m. local time counts for that day under the statewide self-represented filing rule. Kansas-licensed attorneys use approved e-filing under Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122).
- Pay the $131.50 probate estate filing fee as of August 2026, which is the $109.50 statutory amount plus the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104). Other costs, including publication, service, attorney fees and personal representative fees, are handled as additional court costs under K.S.A. 59-104(d).
- The court fixes the hearing after the petition is filed (K.S.A. 59-2222). When notice is required under K.S.A. 59-2209, publish notice once a week for three consecutive weeks, mail the notice and required papers within the statutory timing, and follow the court's order for the hearing date.
- Give notice to creditors as ordered and publish the creditor notice within the Kansas timing rule (K.S.A. 59-709). Claims are handled under the nonclaim statute, which uses the later of four months from first publication or 30 days after actual notice for a known or reasonably ascertainable creditor (K.S.A. 59-2239).
- At or after the hearing, the court admits the will if appropriate and grants letters testamentary to an executor or letters of administration to an administrator (K.S.A. 59-701, K.S.A. 59-705). If you need to appear by phone or video, file a motion for remote appearance under Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103) and notify the other parties.
- After letters are granted, file the inventory and valuation within 30 days of the letters unless the court allows more time (K.S.A. 59-1201). Administer assets, address claims, pay taxes and expenses, and keep records for the final accounting.
- To close, file the petition for final settlement and accounting, then obtain the court's final decree assigning the estate (K.S.A. 59-2247, K.S.A. 59-2249). If real estate is assigned, follow the decree and local recording steps for the transfer record.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Grant County
Grant County does not publish a local probate packet, local probate cover sheet or local probate checklist on its District Court page. Use the statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms that fit the filing, and call the Grant County clerk of the district court at 620-356-1526 if you are unsure what the court wants with a local submission (K.S.A. 20-343).
| Form or resource | How it is used in Grant County |
|---|---|
| Small Estates Affidavit | Used outside court to collect personal property when the estate fits K.S.A. 59-1507b, including the $75,000 amount effective July 1, 2023. |
| Case-filing cover sheet | Required for a new district court case. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required when you file without a lawyer. |
| Poverty Affidavit | Used to ask for waiver of the $131.50 as of August 2026 under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video | Used to request a remote appearance under Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). |
| Rule 119 fax transmission sheet | Used when a self-represented filer sends papers by fax to 620-353-2131. |
Local nuance
Grant County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Grant County keeps its own filing counter | Grant County shares Kansas's 26th district with five other counties (K.S.A. 4-227), but probate is filed in Ulysses with the Grant County clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343). |
| Grant County Library self-help center | The District Court Self-Help Center is at the Grant County Library, not the courthouse filing counter. Its listed hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Kansas eCourt date | Grant County began operating on Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022. Case information is searchable through Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and public documents filed from that date forward may be available online. |
| Clerk counter hours | The Grant County pages used for this guide do not post clerk counter hours. Call 620-356-1526 before going to the courthouse to file. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 court fee update | The $22 surcharge for Kansas probate filing fees is authorized through June 30, 2030, so the Grant County probate estate filing fee is $131.50 as of August 2026 (K.S.A. 59-104). |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary update | A nonresident fiduciary's resident agent may reside anywhere in Kansas, and the written appointment and acceptance are filed in the district court (K.S.A. 59-1706). |
| 2025 CaseSearch transition | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the statewide public case search. Grant County's Kansas eCourt date is September 12, 2022. |
| 2024 creditor notice update | The time to publish notice to creditors changed to the current 30-day filing-related rule (K.S.A. 59-709). |
| 2023 small estates affidavit update | The Kansas small estates affidavit amount is $75,000 effective July 1, 2023 (K.S.A. 59-1507b). |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Grant County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and title. Some jointly owned real estate may need a targeted court filing rather than a full estate, while any spouse rights, including the homestead allowance under K.S.A. 59-6a215 and the required spouse notice, should be reviewed before distributions. | Sunset identifies accounts, debts and title issues so the spouse can decide whether a Grant County filing is needed for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If there is no real estate and the assets subject to probate are at or below $75,000 effective July 1, 2023, the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b may collect personal property without opening a court case. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing (K.S.A. 59-1706), and may request remote appearance under Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). | Sunset finds accounts and helps decide whether the affidavit path is enough or whether a Grant County petition 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 the house. Discuss refusal to grant letters for marketable title (K.S.A. 59-2287), informal administration (K.S.A. 59-3301) or simplified administration if the court approves it (K.S.A. 59-3202). If there is a will, protect the six-month rule (K.S.A. 59-617). | Sunset organizes asset information and can generate a packet for attorney review when the home sale requires court authority. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps Grant County families |
|---|---|
| Grant County District Court Self-Help Center | Located at the Grant County Library. Listed hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. Listed resources include copying, printing, scanning, faxing, public computers, Wi-Fi and internet access. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help probate page | Statewide probate and elder law information, including links to Kansas Judicial Council forms. |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | Free statewide 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 under K.S.A. 59-104 and the motion for remote appearance under Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). |
| Kansas Legal Services | Statewide civil legal aid for eligible Kansans. Intake phone: 316-267-3975. Phone intake is listed for Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the online application is listed as available from 8:00 a.m. Monday through 4:30 p.m. Thursday. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansans age 60 or older may call 316-267-3975 to ask whether the hotline can help with legal questions. |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Referral route for finding a Kansas attorney: https://www.ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals. |
| Kansas Courts CaseSearch | Statewide search for public case information. Grant County public documents are tied to the September 12, 2022 Kansas eCourt start date. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kansas probate attorney when a will may be close to the six-month filing rule (K.S.A. 59-617), a home must be sold, heirs disagree, creditor issues are active, a bond may be required, an out-of-state fiduciary needs a resident agent (K.S.A. 59-1706), or you are unsure whether refusal to grant letters, informal administration or simplified administration fits the estate (K.S.A. 59-2287, K.S.A. 59-3301, K.S.A. 59-3202). Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and organizes what it finds into a practical estate settlement inventory for the family.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns asset, debt and family information into a Grant County probate packet that can be reviewed, signed and filed with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343).
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Kansas probate attorney for review, filing or full representation.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families understand the work, avoid missed assets and decide what to do next without adding another upfront cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Grant County, Kansas?
File with the Grant County clerk of the district court at the Grant County Courthouse, 108 S Glenn, Ulysses, KS 67880 (K.S.A. 20-343). Grant County is in Kansas's 26th district (K.S.A. 4-227), but the filing stays in Grant County.
Can I e-file a Grant County probate case myself?
Kansas-licensed attorneys must use approved e-filing under Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122). A self-represented filer files with the Grant County clerk's office in person, by mail, by fax to 620-353-2131 or through the courthouse drop box.
What is the filing fee to open a probate estate in Grant County?
The probate estate filing fee is $131.50 as of August 2026, made up of the $109.50 statutory amount plus the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104). Grant County has no local fee uplift listed for probate estate filings.
Does Grant County publish local probate forms?
Grant County does not publish a local probate packet on its District Court page. Use the statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms, including the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the case-filing cover sheet, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 and the motion for remote appearance under Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103).
How do I look up a Grant County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch for public case information. Grant County joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022, so public documents filed from that date forward may be available online, while older or non-online public records are checked at the courthouse terminal.
Do I have to travel to Ulysses for the hearing?
The court decides whether to allow a remote appearance under Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). File the statewide motion to appear by phone or video, notify the other parties and ask the Grant County clerk how that judge handles the request.
When will the Grant County hearing be set?
The court fixes the hearing after the petition is filed (K.S.A. 59-2222). When notice under K.S.A. 59-2209 is required, the hearing date must fit the statutory publication and mailing windows, including publication once a week for three consecutive weeks.
What if the person left a will?
For a Kansas resident, a will must be protected within six months of death or it may not pass property (K.S.A. 59-617). If you are not ready to open a full estate, ask about filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a.
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.