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Kiowa County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Kiowa County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Kiowa County District Court, in Kansas's 16th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-217) |
| Courthouse address | Kiowa County Courthouse, 211 E Florida Avenue, Greensburg, KS 67054 |
| Mailing address | 211 E Florida Avenue, Greensburg, KS 67054 |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343), located in the northeast corner of the upper floor of the Kiowa County Courthouse |
| Phone | 620-723-3317 |
| Fax | 620-723-2970 |
| Hours | 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. The county does not state a midday closure. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, a probate estate filing is $131.50, made up of a $109.50 statutory filing charge plus the $22 surcharge authorized by K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs are handled as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d). |
| Local forms | Kansas Judicial Council statewide forms are available. No separate Kiowa County probate packet was located, so ask the clerk whether a local cover sheet or rule applies before filing. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122, Rule 122. A self-represented filer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax, or the courthouse drop box. |
| Drop box | Available for self-represented filings. A filing placed in the Kiowa County 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. Kiowa County joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022, so documents filed from that date forward may be available online, while courthouse terminals remain the full public access point. |
| Remote appearance | A phone or video appearance is discretionary. Ask by motion under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103 and use the Kansas Judicial Council form if needed. |
| Website | Kiowa County District Court page on the county website and the Kansas Judicial Branch 16th Judicial District page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Greensburg, make a list of the decedent's assets, debts, titled property, beneficiary designations, and any will or copy of a will. Kansas has several probate paths, and the right local filing depends on whether Kiowa County is the proper venue, whether real estate is involved, whether letters are needed, and whether the will must be preserved within the K.S.A. 59-617 deadline.
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by finding accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organizing the information needed for forms, attorney review, and the Kiowa County filing office.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Kiowa County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Kiowa County Courthouse in Greensburg (K.S.A. 20-343). Kiowa County is part of Kansas's 16th Judicial District, which also includes Clark, Comanche, Ford, Gray, and Meade counties (K.S.A. 4-217), but a Kiowa County case is filed at the Kiowa County courthouse, not at another county's filing counter.
Venue for Kansas probate turns on residence and real property. 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 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. For a nonresident decedent, file in a Kansas county where estate property is to be administered. The first properly filed proceeding controls, and a case filed in the wrong county can be transferred (K.S.A. 59-2203).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the death certificate, the will or any copy of the will, asset information, debts, and names and addresses for heirs, devisees, and legatees. If there is a Kansas resident's will, decide quickly whether to file a petition for probate, because the will cannot pass property unless a petition is filed within six months of death unless a statutory savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
- Choose the Kansas path before you prepare the Kiowa County filing. The statewide choices include the small estates affidavit for personal property when the probate assets are not more than $75,000, effective July 1, 2023 (K.S.A. 59-1507b), refusal to grant letters (K.S.A. 59-2287), determination of descent (K.S.A. 59-2250), filing a will and affidavit (K.S.A. 59-618a), informal administration (K.S.A. 59-3301), and simplified or supervised administration as the court determines (K.S.A. 59-3202).
- Draft the petition using the Kansas Probate Code requirements. If you want simplified administration, ask for it in the petition and give reasons, because the court decides whether the estate proceeds as simplified administration or supervised administration (K.S.A. 59-3202).
- 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, use the Poverty Affidavit process tied to K.S.A. 59-104.
- File with the clerk of the district court in Greensburg (K.S.A. 20-343). A self-represented filer may file in person, by mail, by fax to 620-723-2970, or in the courthouse drop box by 4:00 p.m. Central time. As of August 2026, a probate estate filing is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104.
- The court fixes the hearing after the petition is filed (K.S.A. 59-2222). The judge, not the clerk, decides whether to admit the will and whether to grant letters testamentary to an executor (K.S.A. 59-701) or letters of administration to an administrator (K.S.A. 59-705).
- Give notice as ordered. Hearing notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks, with mailing to required people after first publication, under K.S.A. 59-2209. Notice to creditors is handled under K.S.A. 59-709, and creditor demands are governed by the later of four months from first publication or 30 days after actual notice under K.S.A. 59-2239.
- If there is a surviving spouse, send the required elective-share notice within the Kansas statutory timing after qualification, a refusal petition, or a filing a will and affidavit filing, as applicable (K.S.A. 59-2233).
- After the court grants authority, administer the estate. The personal representative files the inventory and valuation within 30 days after letters unless the court allows more time (K.S.A. 59-1201), collects assets, pays allowed claims and taxes, and keeps records for final settlement.
- Close through the court when administration is complete. The personal representative files the petition for final settlement and accounting, and the court enters the final decree assigning the estate (K.S.A. 59-2247; K.S.A. 59-2249).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Kiowa County
Use Kansas Judicial Council statewide forms for the items Kansas publishes statewide. Important statewide forms include the Small Estates Affidavit for K.S.A. 59-1507b, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, the case-filing cover sheet, the Poverty Affidavit connected to K.S.A. 59-104, the Rule 119 fax transmission sheet, and the Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103.
Kansas does not publish a fill-in petition for every probate estate filing. Petitions for administration or probate of a will are drafted from the statutory requirements, and Kiowa County does not have a separate probate packet identified for general use. Call the Kiowa County clerk's office at 620-723-3317 before filing if you need to confirm whether the 16th district requires any local cover sheet or formatting step.
Local nuance
Kiowa County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Kiowa County filing |
|---|---|
| On-site judge | The Kansas Judicial Branch lists a district magistrate judge for Kiowa County. District magistrate judges may hear probate matters under K.S.A. 20-302b. |
| Kansas eCourt date | Kiowa County joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022. Case information is searched through Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and online documents may depend on that start date. |
| Self-help center listing | The Kansas Judicial Branch District Court Self-Help Center directory lists no Self-Help Center for Kiowa County. Use the clerk's office for filing logistics, the Kansas Judicial Council forms, Kansas Legal Services, and attorney referral resources. |
| Drop box timing | Kiowa County is not one of the three Kansas counties excluded from the statewide drop-box listing. A self-represented filing placed in the Kiowa County drop box by 4:00 p.m. Central time is treated as filed that day under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 court-fee legislation | The $22 surcharge authorized by K.S.A. 59-104 was extended through June 30, 2030. As of August 2026, the Kiowa County probate estate filing total remains $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary change | A nonresident fiduciary's written agent may reside anywhere in Kansas, rather than only in the county of appointment, under the 2026 amendment to K.S.A. 59-1706. |
| 2025 case search change | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the statewide search tool for district court case information. Kiowa County's Kansas eCourt start date is September 12, 2022. |
| 2024 creditor-notice timing | The period for publishing notice to creditors after filing changed to 30 days under K.S.A. 59-709. |
| 2023 small-estates affidavit ceiling | The small estates affidavit amount became $75,000 effective July 1, 2023 under K.S.A. 59-1507b. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Kiowa County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the Greensburg or other Kiowa County real estate is titled. A co-owned home may need a title-clearing filing rather than a full estate, but spouse protections, elective-share notice, and any other probate assets still need review under Kansas law. | Sunset gathers asset and title clues, helps organize spouse and beneficiary information, and connects the family with Kansas counsel when the home title or spouse rights need legal review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate has no real estate and probate assets are not more than $75,000, effective July 1, 2023, the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b may work for personal property. If letters are needed, a nonresident fiduciary can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing under K.S.A. 59-706 and K.S.A. 59-1706, and can ask for a phone or video appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. | Sunset identifies accounts, prepares a probate packet for attorney or court review, and helps the family decide what must be filed in Greensburg. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b does not transfer a house. If a Kiowa County home must be sold, 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, keep the K.S.A. 59-617 deadline in view. | Sunset helps locate debts and assets, assemble the information a lawyer needs, and connect the family to a local probate attorney for the sale and title questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Kiowa County clerk's office | Filing logistics for the Kiowa County District Court, including filing by clerk counter, mail, fax, and drop box. The filing office is the clerk of the district court under K.S.A. 20-343. | 211 E Florida Avenue, Greensburg, KS 67054. Phone 620-723-3317. Fax 620-723-2970. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch probate self-help | Statewide probate and elder-law information, glossary, and links to forms. It is informational and not a substitute for legal advice. | self-help.kscourts.gov/ProbateAndElderLaw |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | Free statewide forms, including the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, case-filing cover sheet, Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104, and Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. | kjc.ks.gov/legal-forms |
| Kansas Legal Services | Free and reduced-cost civil legal help for low- and moderate-income Kansans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. Call to ask whether your estate settlement issue is within scope. | 316-267-3975, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Free legal advice program through Kansas Legal Services for Kansas residents age 60 or older who qualify. | 316-267-3975 |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Referral route for hiring a Kansas attorney when the estate involves real estate, conflict, creditor issues, or a missed deadline. | ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals |
| District Court Self-Help Center directory | The Kansas Judicial Branch directory lists no Self-Help Center for Kiowa County. Check the directory if you may use a center in another county for general court-form access. | self-help.kscourts.gov/SelfHelpCenters |
When to hire an attorney
Consider involving a Kansas probate attorney if the estate includes Kiowa County real estate, a business, a contested will, creditor disputes, a nonresident fiduciary appointment, tax questions, or any risk that the K.S.A. 59-617 will deadline has been missed. Counsel can also draft petitions that Kansas does not publish as fill-in forms and can advise whether refusal to grant letters, informal administration, simplified administration, or supervised administration is the right path. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other accounts that may affect the Kiowa County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet for review, including asset details, family information, and the documents a court filing or attorney consultation usually needs.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, a sale, a contested issue, or a Kansas deadline, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who can advise on the Kiowa County filing.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the next steps, and decide whether attorney help is needed without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Kiowa County, Kansas?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Kiowa County Courthouse, 211 E Florida Avenue, Greensburg, KS 67054 (K.S.A. 20-343). Kiowa County is in Kansas's 16th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-217), but the filing counter for a Kiowa County probate case is in Greensburg.
What is the filing fee to open a Kiowa County probate estate?
As of August 2026, the filing charge for a probate estate is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. That total includes the $109.50 statutory charge and the $22 surcharge authorized by K.S.A. 59-104.
Can I e-file a Kiowa County probate case myself?
Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122, Rule 122. A self-represented person files with the Kiowa County clerk by counter filing, mail, fax, or drop box, and should include the required case-filing cover sheet and Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form.
Does Kiowa County have a courthouse drop box?
Yes. Kiowa County is not listed among the Kansas exceptions to drop-box availability. A self-represented filing placed in the Kiowa 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 Kiowa County probate hearing?
You may ask, but permission is discretionary. Kansas Rule 103 lets the district court allow a phone or video appearance, including when travel burden is a reason, but the judge may deny the request (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). Use the Kansas Judicial Council motion form and ask the clerk how the 16th district handles the request.
How do I look up a Kiowa County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch for statewide case information. Kiowa County joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022, so online documents may depend on that date, and the courthouse public terminal remains the place to view the full public case file allowed by law.
Does Kiowa County publish its own probate forms?
No separate Kiowa County probate packet was located. Use the Kansas Judicial Council statewide forms, including the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the case-filing cover sheet, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, and the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104, and call the clerk before filing to ask about any local requirement.
What if there is a will and the family is not ready to open the full estate?
Kansas has a strict will deadline. A will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition for probate is filed within six months of death unless a statutory savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617). One preservation option is filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a.
When do creditor claims get cut off in a Kiowa County estate?
After notice is handled, creditor demands are governed by 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). Notice to creditors is published under K.S.A. 59-709.
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.