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Hodgeman County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Hodgeman County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Hodgeman County District Court, in Kansas's 24th Judicial District under K.S.A. 4-225 |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court for Hodgeman County, appointed in each county under K.S.A. 20-343 |
| Courthouse address | Hodgeman County Courthouse, 500 Main Street, Jetmore, KS 67854 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 187, Jetmore, KS 67854-0187 |
| Phone | 620-357-6522 |
| Fax | 620-357-6216 |
| Hours | Weekday public hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Filing fee | As of July 1, 2026, a probate estate filing is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104, made up of the $109.50 probate estate fee plus the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs are handled as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d). |
| Local forms | Hodgeman County does not publish a county-specific probate petition form. Use Kansas Judicial Council statewide forms where available. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys must use the approved electronic filing system under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122, Rule 122. A self-represented filer in Hodgeman County files in person, by mail, by fax, or by drop box. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch at casesearch.kscourts.gov. Hodgeman County case documents are reachable online for filings from September 12, 2022 forward, while case information is searchable statewide. |
| Remote appearance | A remote appearance by phone or video is discretionary under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Rule 103. Use the Kansas Judicial Council motion form and ask the clerk how the judge wants the request handled. |
| Court website | Kansas Judicial Branch page for the 24th district and Hodgeman County Courthouse |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a Hodgeman County filing path, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, beneficiary designations, and whether a will exists. Kansas procedure turns on what property is in the probate estate, whether real estate must be transferred, and whether the K.S.A. 59-617 will deadline is approaching.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can search across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, helping families decide whether they need a court filing in Jetmore, a K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit, or attorney help before a deadline is missed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Hodgeman County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Hodgeman County Courthouse, 500 Main Street in Jetmore, with mailed filings sent to PO Box 187, Jetmore, KS 67854-0187. Hodgeman County shares Kansas's 24th Judicial District with Edwards, Lane, Ness, Pawnee, and Rush counties under K.S.A. 4-225, but K.S.A. 20-343 places a clerk of the district court in each county, so a Hodgeman County probate is filed in Jetmore.
Jetmore is the courthouse city and county seat. Hanston is the other incorporated community in Hodgeman County.
Kansas venue for probate or administration is governed by K.S.A. 59-2203. If the decedent was a Kansas resident and owned real property in the county of residence, the case belongs in that county. If the decedent did not own real property in the county of residence, the case may be filed in the county of residence or in a county where the decedent owned real property. If the decedent was not a Kansas resident, the case may be filed in a Kansas county where estate property is to be administered. If more than one case is started, the first-filed case controls unless the district court transfers the file to the proper county under K.S.A. 59-2203.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the death certificate, the will if one exists, and a working list of assets and debts. If the decedent died a Kansas resident, decide promptly whether to file a petition to probate the will, because K.S.A. 59-617 gives the will a six-month deadline to pass property.
- If the family is not ready to open a full estate, ask whether a K.S.A. 59-618a filing a will and affidavit can preserve the will. Kansas allows the will or a copy to be filed with the affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a.
- Choose the Kansas route that fits the assets. Common possibilities include a K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit for personal property when the K.S.A. 59-1507b $75,000 ceiling, effective July 1, 2023, fits, a K.S.A. 59-2287 refusal to grant letters, a K.S.A. 59-2250 determination of descent, K.S.A. 59-3301 informal administration, or K.S.A. 59-3202 simplified administration or supervised administration.
- Prepare the verified petition using the statutory requirements for the chosen path. If you want K.S.A. 59-3202 simplified administration, the petition must ask for it and give reasons.
- Add the statewide case-filing cover sheet. If you are representing yourself, add the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form. If you cannot pay the filing charge, include the Poverty Affidavit route tied to K.S.A. 59-104.
- File with the clerk of the district court for Hodgeman County under K.S.A. 20-343. You may file at 500 Main Street in Jetmore, mail the packet to PO Box 187, Jetmore, KS 67854-0187, fax it to 620-357-6216 with the Rule 119 fax transmission sheet, or use the drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time. As of July 1, 2026, the probate estate docket fee is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104.
- The court fixes the hearing under K.S.A. 59-2222. The 24th district publishes Hodgeman County motion days at 9:30 a.m. about once each month, but the actual probate hearing date is the date the court sets for that case.
- Give required notice. Hearing notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks under K.S.A. 59-2209, and mailing to known heirs, devisees, and legatees follows the K.S.A. 59-2209 timing rules. The notice to creditors under K.S.A. 59-709 is published within the statutory filing window, and a surviving spouse receives the elective-share notice required by K.S.A. 59-2233.
- Attend the hearing, or ask in advance for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Rule 103. The court, not the clerk, admits the will 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 the K.S.A. 59-1201 deadline, manage claims under the K.S.A. 59-2239 nonclaim rules, pay debts and taxes, and complete the estate settlement through a petition for final settlement and the court's final decree under K.S.A. 59-2247 and K.S.A. 59-2249.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hodgeman County
Hodgeman County does not publish a county-specific probate petition form, local probate cover sheet, or local probate checklist. Kansas forms come primarily from the Kansas Judicial Council, and they are statewide.
| Form or resource | How it is used in Hodgeman County |
|---|---|
| K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit | Used outside a court case to collect eligible personal property when the K.S.A. 59-1507b $75,000 ceiling, effective July 1, 2023, fits. |
| Case-filing cover sheet | Filed with a new district court case in Jetmore. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required when a person files without a lawyer. |
| Poverty Affidavit | Used to ask for relief from a filing charge under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| Motion to appear in court by phone or video | Used to ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Rule 103. |
| Probate notice of hearing and petition for allowance of demand | Statewide Kansas Judicial Council probate forms that may be relevant after a case is opened. |
Timeline
- The Hodgeman County Courthouse serves the public from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on regular court days.
- The 24th district publishes Hodgeman County motion days at 9:30 a.m. about once each month. For 2026, listed dates include January 21, February 18, March 25, April 22, May 20, June 24, July 22, August 19, September 23, October 21, November 18, and December 16.
- A probate hearing is not automatic on a motion day. The court fixes the hearing under K.S.A. 59-2222, and the hearing must still fit the notice timing required by K.S.A. 59-2209.
Local nuance
Hodgeman County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Jetmore filing office | Hodgeman County shares the 24th district under K.S.A. 4-225, but the Hodgeman County case is filed with the clerk of the district court in Jetmore under K.S.A. 20-343. |
| Lunch closure | The courthouse hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., so plan in-person estate settlement filings around the midday closure. |
| Published motion days | The 24th district lists monthly Hodgeman County motion days at 9:30 a.m. The judge still sets each probate hearing under K.S.A. 59-2222. |
| No Hodgeman County self-help room listing | The Kansas Judicial Branch self-help list does not include a Hodgeman County location, so use the clerk's office for filing logistics, statewide forms, Kansas Legal Services, and private counsel when needed. |
| District magistrate judge | The 24th district lists a district magistrate judge seated in Hodgeman County, and K.S.A. 20-302b allows district magistrate judges to hear Kansas probate matters. |
| Kansas eCourt date | Hodgeman County, as part of the 24th district, began operating on Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022, so documents filed from that date forward can be reached through Kansas Courts CaseSearch. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| September 12, 2022 | Hodgeman County's court, as part of the 24th district, began operating on Kansas eCourt, which affects online document access through Kansas Courts CaseSearch. |
| July 1, 2023 | The K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit ceiling became $75,000 under K.S.A. 59-1507b. |
| July 1, 2024 | The K.S.A. 59-709 notice to creditors publication window changed from 10 days to 30 days. |
| April 9, 2026 | For a nonresident fiduciary, the required resident agent may reside anywhere in Kansas under K.S.A. 59-1706. |
| July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 | The $22 docket surcharge authority continues under K.S.A. 59-104, making the standard probate estate filing $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104 as of July 1, 2026. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Hodgeman County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and title. If the home was held in joint tenancy, a termination of joint tenancy is a separate $70.50 filing under K.S.A. 59-104 as of July 1, 2026. If an estate opens in Jetmore, the spouse should also watch the K.S.A. 59-6a215 homestead allowance, the K.S.A. 59-403 spouse and minor children allowance, and the spouse notice required by K.S.A. 59-2233. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title clues before the family pays for a filing or misses a will deadline. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate has no real estate and the K.S.A. 59-1507b $75,000 ceiling, effective July 1, 2023, fits, the K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit may be furnished to the bank or other holder. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent under K.S.A. 59-706 and K.S.A. 59-1706, and can ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Rule 103. | Sunset helps decide whether the estate settlement can avoid a court case, prepares an organized asset list, and can connect the family to Kansas counsel if letters are needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit does not transfer real estate. Ask whether K.S.A. 59-2287 refusal to grant letters, K.S.A. 59-3301 informal administration, or K.S.A. 59-3202 simplified administration or supervised administration fits. If there is a will, protect the K.S.A. 59-617 six-month deadline, and remember that K.S.A. 59-3203(d) keeps real-estate sale notice requirements in a simplified estate. | Sunset helps organize the property, debts, and family information so a local attorney can recommend the least burdensome path for selling the home. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Hodgeman County clerk of the district court | Files probate papers at 500 Main Street in Jetmore, receives mail at PO Box 187, Jetmore, KS 67854-0187, answers filing logistics at 620-357-6522, and receives fax filings at 620-357-6216. Court staff cannot give legal advice or draft the petition. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch probate and elder law self-help | Provides statewide probate information and links to Kansas Judicial Council forms. |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | Free statewide forms include the K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit, the case-filing cover sheet, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104, and the motion for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Rule 103. |
| Kansas Legal Services | Free and reduced-cost civil legal help for low and moderate income Kansans in all Kansas counties. Intake is 316-267-3975, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on regular weekdays. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansas residents age 60 and older may ask Kansas Legal Services about free legal advice at 316-267-3975. |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Referral route for finding a Kansas lawyer. |
| Kansas Courts CaseSearch | Searches public Kansas district court case information. Hodgeman County documents filed from September 12, 2022 forward can be reached online when public access rules allow. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially helpful in Hodgeman County when a will is close to the K.S.A. 59-617 six-month deadline, real estate must be sold, heirs disagree, a nonresident fiduciary needs a Kansas resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706, or the family needs a petition Kansas does not publish as a fill-in form. Kansas allows fiduciary and attorney compensation that is just and reasonable under K.S.A. 59-1717, subject to the court. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build an estate settlement inventory before filing in Jetmore or using a K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized packet for the Hodgeman County filing path, including the court address, mailing address, fee note, and the statewide forms the family may need.
Find a local probate attorney. When the will deadline, real estate, creditor issues, or a K.S.A. 59-1706 resident agent makes the case more complex, Sunset can connect the family with a Kansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement support is free to families, and the platform helps keep tasks, deadlines, documents, and attorney handoffs organized.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Hodgeman County?
File with the clerk of the district court for Hodgeman County under K.S.A. 20-343 at the Hodgeman County Courthouse, 500 Main Street, Jetmore, KS 67854. Mailed filings go to PO Box 187, Jetmore, KS 67854-0187.
Does Hodgeman County have e-filing for probate?
Kansas-licensed attorneys must use the approved electronic filing system under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122, Rule 122. A self-represented Hodgeman County filer uses in-person filing, mail, fax to 620-357-6216, or the drop box.
What is the filing fee to open a probate estate in Hodgeman County?
As of July 1, 2026, the probate estate docket fee is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. That amount includes the $109.50 probate estate fee and the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other costs, such as publication and approved professional fees, are handled separately under K.S.A. 59-104(d).
Does Hodgeman County publish local probate forms?
Hodgeman County does not publish a county-specific probate petition form. Use statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms, including the K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit, the case-filing cover sheet, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, and the Poverty Affidavit tied to K.S.A. 59-104.
When are probate hearings held in Hodgeman County?
The 24th district publishes Hodgeman County motion days at 9:30 a.m. about once each month, including monthly dates listed for 2026. A probate hearing is set by the court under K.S.A. 59-2222 and must fit the notice timing in K.S.A. 59-2209, so confirm the date for your case with the clerk.
Can I appear by phone or video for a Hodgeman County probate hearing?
You can ask. A remote appearance is discretionary under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Rule 103, and the Kansas Judicial Council publishes a motion form for asking to appear by phone or video. The judge can deny the request, so file the motion early and notify the other parties.
Can I look up a Hodgeman County probate case online?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch at casesearch.kscourts.gov. Hodgeman County documents filed from September 12, 2022 forward can be reached online when public access rules allow, and more complete public access may be available at the courthouse terminal.
What happens if the will is not filed quickly in Hodgeman County?
K.S.A. 59-617 gives a Kansas resident's will a six-month deadline to pass property. If the family is not ready to open a full estate, ask about preserving the will or a copy through K.S.A. 59-618a before that deadline.
Do I have to travel to Jetmore if I live out of state?
Not for every filing step. You may be able to mail papers, fax papers, appoint a Kansas resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706 if you serve as a nonresident fiduciary, and ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Rule 103. The court decides hearing appearance requests.
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.