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McPherson County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | McPherson County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | McPherson County District Court, in Kansas's 9th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-210) |
| Courthouse address | McPherson County Courthouse, 117 N Maple St., McPherson, KS 67460 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 1106, McPherson, KS 67460 |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) |
| Phone | 620-241-3422 |
| Fax | 620-241-1372 |
| Hours | Call 620-241-3422 before visiting to confirm current clerk counter hours. |
| Filing fee | $131.50 current August 2026 for probate of an estate or will, made up of the $109.50 statutory amount and the $22 surcharge authorized July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104). Other court costs are billed as the court directs (K.S.A. 59-104). |
| Local forms | No McPherson County-specific probate packet or checklist. Use Kansas Judicial Council forms and any petition drafted for the case. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys must use the approved e-filing system under Rule 122. A self-represented filer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax, or the courthouse drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Drop box | Available. A self-represented filing placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch at casesearch.kscourts.gov. McPherson County documents entered after the 9th Judicial District joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022 may be available online; public case information is searchable statewide. |
| Remote appearance | Ask by motion under Rule 103. No 9th Judicial District platform designation is stated here. |
| Website | McPherson County court information at mcphersoncountyks.us and the Kansas Judicial Branch 9th Judicial District page at kscourts.gov |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing route in McPherson County, make a practical inventory of the accounts, debts, real estate, vehicle titles, beneficiary designations, and whether the original will or a copy can be located. The Kansas deadline for a will matters at the start of estate settlement, not at the end: a will for a Kansas resident must be petitioned for probate within six months after death unless a statutory savings step applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help identify accounts and insurance leads before a petition is drafted, which is especially useful when the family is unsure whether a McPherson County case needs letters, a court order, or only a non-court transfer. Bring the asset list, death certificate, will information, and contact information for heirs and devisees to any lawyer or court filing appointment.
Which court handles jurisdiction
McPherson County probate is filed with the clerk of the district court at the McPherson County Courthouse in McPherson (K.S.A. 20-343). McPherson County shares Kansas's 9th Judicial District with Harvey County (K.S.A. 4-210), but the counties have separate filing offices. A McPherson County estate is not filed in Newton just because Harvey County is in the same district.
Kansas venue for probate or administration depends on residence and real property (K.S.A. 59-2203). If the decedent was a Kansas resident and owned real property in the county of residence, file in that county. If the resident decedent did not own real property in the county of residence, filing may be in the county of residence or in a Kansas 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 are started in more than one county, the first-filed proceeding controls while venue is sorted out, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred rather than treated as a new filing.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the will if one exists, a list of heirs and devisees, addresses, debts, bank and investment accounts, vehicles, real estate, and any beneficiary designations. If there is a Kansas will, decide early whether to petition for probate or preserve it by filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a, because a will for a Kansas resident must be petitioned for probate within six months after death unless a statutory savings step applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
- Choose the correct Kansas route before drafting. A small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b is furnished to the bank or other holder for personal property when the statutory requirements are met. A refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, a determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, and simplified administration or supervised administration under K.S.A. 59-3202 are court routes. If simplified administration is requested, the petition must ask for it and state reasons.
- Prepare the petition from the Kansas statutory requirements, add the case-filing cover sheet, and add the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form if you are filing without a lawyer. If you cannot afford the fee, ask about filing a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
- File with the clerk of the district court at the McPherson County Courthouse, 117 N Maple St., McPherson, KS 67460, by bringing the papers to the clerk's office, mailing them to PO Box 1106, McPherson, KS 67460, faxing them to 620-241-1372, or using the courthouse drop box (K.S.A. 20-343). For probate of an estate or will, the docket fee is $131.50 current August 2026, including the $109.50 statutory amount and the $22 surcharge authorized July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104).
- After the petition is filed, the court fixes the time and place for hearing (K.S.A. 59-2222). Notice is then handled under Kansas law, including publication once a week for three consecutive weeks when K.S.A. 59-2209 applies, mailing within the statutory time, and notice to creditors within 30 days after filing when K.S.A. 59-709 applies.
- If there is a surviving spouse, handle the statutory elective-share notice step. Kansas requires the personal representative, refusal petitioner, or K.S.A. 59-618a affiant to mail the spouse the required notice within 10 days in the situations covered by the statute (K.S.A. 59-2233).
- Attend the hearing unless the court allows another arrangement. A Kansas district court may allow a remote appearance by phone or video in its discretion under Rule 103, but you must ask by motion, notify the other parties, and follow the judge's order.
- If the petition is granted, the court admits the will when appropriate and grants letters testamentary to the executor under K.S.A. 59-701 or letters of administration to the administrator under K.S.A. 59-705. The clerk's office receives filings and payments, but the court grants the authority.
- 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. Claims are barred unless presented within 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).
- Administer the estate, pay allowed debts and taxes, sell or transfer property only as authorized, then seek final settlement. Kansas closes with a petition for final settlement and accounting and a final decree assigning the estate (K.S.A. 59-2247, 59-2249).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in McPherson County
Kansas has free statewide forms from the Kansas Judicial Council, but it does not provide a fill-in petition for opening a probate estate. A petition for probate of a will or for administration is drafted from the statutory requirements and the facts of the estate, often with a lawyer's help.
| Form or resource | How it fits a McPherson County filing |
|---|---|
| Small Estates Affidavit | Used for qualifying personal property transfers outside a court case under K.S.A. 59-1507b. It is furnished to the holder of the property, not filed as the opening petition. |
| Case-filing cover sheet | Required when starting a new court case. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required when a person files without a lawyer. |
| Poverty Affidavit | Used to ask for waiver of all or part of the filing fee when allowed (K.S.A. 59-104). |
| Motion to appear in court by phone or video | Used to request a phone or video appearance under Rule 103. |
| McPherson County-specific forms | McPherson County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or checklist. Call the clerk's office before filing if you need to confirm local presentation requirements. |
Local nuance
McPherson County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| One filing counter | McPherson County probate is filed in McPherson, not in Harvey County, even though both counties are in Kansas's 9th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-210). |
| Mailing address | Use PO Box 1106, McPherson, KS 67460 for mailed filings. The court's mailing address is different from the street address. |
| Fax filing | The clerk's fax is 620-241-1372. Fax is one of the Kansas filing options for a self-represented litigant. |
| Kansas eCourt date | The 9th Judicial District, including McPherson County, joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022. Documents entered from that date forward may be available through Kansas Courts CaseSearch. |
| Self-help room | McPherson County has a District Court Self-Help Center open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not staffed and offers computers and a printer. |
| Legal Services intake | The county describes an Application for Legal Services process in which a person may bring the form to the District Court for forwarding to Kansas Legal Services. The court is only helping route the application and is not giving legal advice. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 fee surcharge extension | The probate surcharge authority under K.S.A. 59-104 runs through June 30, 2030. |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary rule | A nonresident fiduciary's resident agent may reside anywhere in Kansas, with the written appointment filed in the district court (K.S.A. 59-1706). |
| 2024 creditor notice timing | The notice to creditors publication window is 30 days after filing the petition (K.S.A. 59-709). |
| 2023 small estates affidavit update | The Kansas small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b was updated effective July 1, 2023. |
| 2025 case lookup change | Kansas Courts CaseSearch became the statewide public case-information tool in November 2025. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely McPherson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled. A joint-tenancy cleanup may be separate from an estate administration. The spouse should also watch for the elective-share notice required in covered cases, the homestead allowance of $75,000 under K.S.A. 59-6a215, and the family allowance of $75,000 under K.S.A. 59-403. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, real estate records, and beneficiary designations so the spouse can see whether estate settlement needs a McPherson County court filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Kansas estate has personal property only and fits K.S.A. 59-1507b, the small estates affidavit may handle accounts without a court case. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing and filing the appointment (K.S.A. 59-1706). A phone or video appearance can be requested under Rule 103. | Sunset helps collect asset information, prepare the family for the McPherson filing office, and connect the out-of-state child with a Kansas probate attorney when letters or a court order are needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b does not transfer a house. 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, and must still account for the six-month will rule (K.S.A. 59-617). | Sunset helps organize the real estate, mortgage, lien, account, and family information so the attorney can choose the right court path and reduce delays in estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| McPherson County District Court Self-Help Center | Open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., not staffed, with computers and a printer. Legal Aid Day is the second Thursday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; appointments are required and applications are available from the court clerk. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch probate and elder law self-help | Use the state self-help page for probate vocabulary, links to forms, and general court information. It is informational only. |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | Use the free 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, Rule 119 Fax Transmission Sheet, and Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video under Rule 103. |
| Kansas Legal Services | Call 316-267-3975 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays to apply for civil legal help, subject to eligibility and case priorities. McPherson County also describes bringing an Application for Legal Services to the District Court for forwarding to Kansas Legal Services. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansas residents age 60 or older may call 316-267-3975 to ask whether the Elder Hotline can provide free legal advice. |
| Kansas Bar Association lawyer referral | Use the Kansas Bar Association lawyer referral service at ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals to look for a private Kansas probate attorney. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across financial institutions and organizes what the family finds, so estate settlement starts with a clearer picture of accounts, debts, insurance, and real estate.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps assemble the information needed for the Kansas forms and attorney-drafted petitions, including heirs, addresses, asset lists, liabilities, and the McPherson County filing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When a court order, letters, a real estate sale, or a contested issue is involved, Sunset can connect the family with a Kansas probate attorney familiar with district court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next step, and decide when legal help is needed without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in McPherson County?
File with the clerk of the district court at the McPherson County Courthouse, 117 N Maple St., McPherson, KS 67460 (K.S.A. 20-343). Mailed filings go to PO Box 1106, McPherson, KS 67460. McPherson County is in Kansas's 9th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-210), but a McPherson County estate is filed in McPherson.
Can I use e-filing for a McPherson County probate case?
Attorneys must e-file under Rule 122. A self-represented person files in person at the clerk's office, by mail, by fax to 620-241-1372, or through the courthouse drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule.
What is the filing fee to open a probate estate in McPherson County?
The docket fee for probate of an estate or will is $131.50 current August 2026, including the $109.50 statutory amount and the $22 surcharge authorized July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 (K.S.A. 59-104). If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask about a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
Is there a McPherson County probate form packet?
McPherson County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or checklist. Kansas Judicial Council forms include the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, the case-filing cover sheet, the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104, and the phone or video appearance motion under Rule 103.
How do I look up a McPherson County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch at casesearch.kscourts.gov. McPherson County is part of the 9th Judicial District, which joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022, so documents entered from that date forward may be available online; more public records can be viewed at the courthouse terminal.
Can I appear by phone or video instead of traveling to McPherson?
You can ask. Rule 103 gives the district court discretion to allow a remote appearance by phone or video, and the Kansas Judicial Council provides a motion form. The judge can deny the request, so do not assume travel is unnecessary until the court grants the motion.
What if the will is close to the Kansas deadline?
Act quickly. A will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition for probate is filed within six months after death, unless a statutory savings step applies (K.S.A. 59-617). If the family is not ready to open a full estate, ask a Kansas attorney about filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a.
Does McPherson County have a self-help center?
Yes. The McPherson County District Court Self-Help Center is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., is not staffed, and offers computers and a printer. Legal Aid Day is the second Thursday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; appointments are required and applications are available from the court clerk.
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.