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Pawnee County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Pawnee County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Pawnee County District Court, in Kansas's 24th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-225). |
| Courthouse address | Pawnee County Courthouse, 715 Broadway, Larned, KS 67550. |
| Mailing address | PO Box 270, Larned, KS 67550-0270. |
| Phone | 620-285-6937. |
| Fax | 620-285-3665. A self-represented filer may file by fax under the Kansas filing rule, using the Judicial Council fax transmission sheet. |
| Hours | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The court page does not state a midday closure, so call before relying on a filing trip. |
| Filing fee | For a probate estate, $131.50, current under K.S.A. 59-104 after July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. That is the $109.50 docket fee under K.S.A. 59-104 plus the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs are taxed as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d). |
| Local forms | No Pawnee County probate-specific local form was located on the court page. State Kansas Judicial Council forms still apply. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys must use e-filing under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122. A person filing without a lawyer files in person, by mail, by fax or in the drop box. |
| Drop box | Available in Pawnee County. A self-represented filing placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time counts that day; later filings count the next business day. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch, https://casesearch.kscourts.gov. Pawnee County documents are online from September 12, 2022 forward for public online access, and older public documents may require the courthouse terminal. |
| Remote appearance | A party may ask to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. The judge decides the request, and the Kansas Judicial Council publishes a free motion form. |
| Website | https://www.kscourts.gov/24th-Judicial-District/24th-Judicial-District/Pawnee-County-Courthouse |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Larned, make a working list of the assets, debts, beneficiaries, real estate and account holders. Kansas venue, the Pawnee County filing method and the choice between a court case and a noncourt affidavit all depend on what the decedent owned and where it sits.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance and loan relationships before they choose an estate settlement path. That search is especially useful when you are deciding whether a Pawnee County filing is needed or whether a Kansas Judicial Council form can solve a limited issue.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Pawnee County is filed with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at the Pawnee County Courthouse in Larned. Pawnee County sits in Kansas's 24th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-225), with Edwards, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness and Rush counties, but each county has its own clerk and filing counter.
Kansas venue (K.S.A. 59-2203) is more specific than simply filing where the person lived. If the decedent was a Kansas resident 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, venue may be in the county of residence or any Kansas county where the decedent owned real property. If the decedent was not a Kansas resident, venue may be in a Kansas county where estate property is to be administered. The first legally commenced proceeding controls until venue is decided, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred rather than dismissed.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the will if one exists, deeds, account statements, debt information and contact information for heirs and devisees. If there is a Kansas will, put the six-month rule on your calendar: a will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition for its probate is filed within six months after death, unless a statutory savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
- Decide whether a Pawnee County court case is needed. The small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, using the $75,000 amount in effect from July 1, 2023, is furnished to the bank or other holder of personal property and is not filed as the Pawnee County case. Other Kansas routes can include refusal to grant letters (K.S.A. 59-2287), determination of descent after the required time has passed (K.S.A. 59-2250), filing a will and affidavit to preserve a will (K.S.A. 59-618a), informal administration (K.S.A. 59-3301) or simplified administration or supervised administration (K.S.A. 59-3202).
- Prepare the petition for the Pawnee County District Court. If you want simplified administration, ask for it in the petition and give reasons because the court decides whether the estate will be simplified or supervised (K.S.A. 59-3202).
- Add the required filing documents. A new case needs a case-filing cover sheet, and a person filing without a lawyer must include the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form. If you are asking to waive the $131.50 amount current under K.S.A. 59-104 after July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, file the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
- File with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at the Pawnee County Courthouse, by mail to PO Box 270, Larned, KS 67550-0270, by fax to 620-285-3665 or in the courthouse drop box. Attorneys use e-filing under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122. A self-represented drop-box filing made by 4:00 p.m. local time counts that day.
- The court fixes the hearing under K.S.A. 59-2222. Pawnee County also has a monthly motion day at 1:30 p.m., but the clerk or the court's current calendar should confirm the date and whether your probate matter will be set then.
- Give notice as ordered. Hearing notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the mailing and hearing-date timing set by K.S.A. 59-2209. Notice to creditors must be given under K.S.A. 59-709. If there is a surviving spouse, the required elective-share notice is mailed within the statutory time under K.S.A. 59-2233.
- Attend the hearing or ask in advance to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. The court, not the clerk, admits the will and grants letters testamentary to an executor (K.S.A. 59-701) or letters of administration to an administrator (K.S.A. 59-705).
- After letters are granted, file the inventory and valuation within 30 days under K.S.A. 59-1201 unless the court allows more time. Publish and mail creditor notices as required, then evaluate claims under 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).
- Pay allowed debts, expenses and taxes, distribute property under court authority and close with a petition for final settlement and the court's final decree (K.S.A. 59-2247, K.S.A. 59-2249).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pawnee County
Kansas publishes free Judicial Council forms that Pawnee County filers commonly need: the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, case-filing cover sheets, the Poverty Affidavit under 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.
The Small Estates Affidavit applies to probate assets not exceeding $75,000 under K.S.A. 59-1507b, using the amount in effect from July 1, 2023. Kansas does not publish a fill-in petition for opening a probate estate. A Pawnee County petition is drafted from the Kansas Probate Code requirements, such as K.S.A. 59-2219 and K.S.A. 59-2220, or with a lawyer's help.
No Pawnee County probate-specific local packet was located on the court page. If you are filing by mail, use PO Box 270, Larned, KS 67550-0270, rather than the courthouse street address.
Timeline
- Pawnee County has a monthly motion day at 1:30 p.m. The district publishes the calendar by year, so confirm the current date with the clerk or the district's scheduling office before planning travel.
- A probate hearing is set by the court under K.S.A. 59-2222. The published motion-day calendar does not say that every probate matter is heard on motion day.
- When hearing notice must be published under K.S.A. 59-2209, it is published once a week for three consecutive weeks, and the hearing date must fit the statutory timing after the last publication.
Local nuance
Pawnee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Chief judge's office | The chief judge's office for Kansas's 24th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-225) is resident in Pawnee County. That does not move filing for the other five counties to Larned, and it does not change where Pawnee County probate is filed. |
| District magistrate judge | The district lists a district magistrate judge resident in Pawnee County. A district magistrate judge may hear Kansas probate matters, including matters involving title to real estate (K.S.A. 20-302b). |
| Kansas eCourt date | The 24th Judicial District, including Pawnee County, began operating on Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022. Pawnee County case information is searchable on Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and public documents online begin from that date for cases that are public online. |
| Motion day | Pawnee County has a monthly motion day at 1:30 p.m. Confirm the current date and whether your probate matter will be set on that calendar. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 court fee change | The $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104 was extended through June 30, 2030, so the Pawnee County probate estate filing amount is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104 after July 1, 2026. |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary change | A nonresident fiduciary's resident agent must reside in Kansas, not necessarily in Pawnee County, under K.S.A. 59-1706. |
| 2024 creditor notice change | The notice to creditors publication window under K.S.A. 59-709 changed from 10 days to 30 days after filing. |
| 2023 small-estate amount change | The Small Estates Affidavit amount became $75,000 under K.S.A. 59-1507b, effective July 1, 2023. |
| 2025 case search change | Kansas Courts CaseSearch became the statewide online place to search public Kansas district court case information. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Pawnee County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home in Pawnee County | Start by checking how title is held. A co-owned home may need a joint-tenancy filing rather than a full estate, while the spouse also may have Kansas protections such as the homestead allowance (K.S.A. 59-6a215) and the elective-share notice under K.S.A. 59-2233. If there is a will, keep the six-month deadline under K.S.A. 59-617 in view. | Sunset helps gather deeds, accounts and debts so the family can see whether the estate settlement needs a Pawnee County case or a narrower filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the probate assets are personal property and do not exceed $75,000 under K.S.A. 59-1507b, effective July 1, 2023, the Kansas Small Estates Affidavit may work without opening a Pawnee County case. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing under K.S.A. 59-1706, and can ask to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. | Sunset identifies accounts, prepares an organized asset list and helps the family decide whether to use the affidavit, open a case or ask for attorney help. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | The Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b does not transfer real estate. Depending on the assets and the time since death, the family may need refusal to grant letters (K.S.A. 59-2287), informal administration (K.S.A. 59-3301) or simplified administration or supervised administration (K.S.A. 59-3202). If a will exists, the six-month rule under K.S.A. 59-617 is urgent. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement facts, flags the home sale issue and connects the family with a local probate attorney when a court order is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps Pawnee County families |
|---|---|
| Pawnee County clerk of the district court | Call 620-285-6937 for filing logistics, current hours, drop-box questions and hearing scheduling. The clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) cannot give legal advice. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help probate page | https://self-help.kscourts.gov/ProbateAndElderLaw explains Kansas probate and links to official Kansas forms. |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | https://www.kjc.ks.gov/legal-forms provides the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, case-filing cover sheets, the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 and the motion to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. |
| Pawnee County District Court Self-Help Center | The Kansas directory does not list a Pawnee County District Court Self-Help Center. Use the clerk's office for filing logistics, the Judicial Council forms and the legal-help resources in this table. |
| Kansas Legal Services | 316-267-3975. Kansas Legal Services provides free and reduced-cost civil legal help to eligible Kansans, with intake on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ask directly about eligibility and whether your issue fits current priorities. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | 316-267-3975. Kansas residents age 60 or older can ask whether the Kansas Elder Hotline can provide free legal advice. |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | https://ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals can help families look for a Kansas lawyer. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can find accounts, insurance, loans and other assets before choosing a Pawnee County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet, including asset lists, contact information and document checklists for the Pawnee County filing counter or the attorney reviewing the case.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Pawnee County estate needs a court order, a home sale, a contested issue or a complex Kansas filing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move from uncertainty to a clear estate settlement plan without charging families for its core help.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Pawnee County, Kansas?
File with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at the Pawnee County Courthouse, 715 Broadway, Larned, KS 67550. Mail filings to PO Box 270, Larned, KS 67550-0270.
Does Pawnee County have attorney e-filing?
Yes. Kansas-licensed attorneys must use e-filing under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122. A person filing without a lawyer uses the Pawnee County clerk's office, mail, fax or the drop box.
What is the filing fee to open a Pawnee County probate estate?
The probate estate filing amount is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104, current after July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. That amount includes the $109.50 docket fee under K.S.A. 59-104 and the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104.
Does Pawnee County have a probate hearing day?
Pawnee County has a monthly motion day at 1:30 p.m. The court still sets probate hearings under K.S.A. 59-2222, and hearing notice timing can require publication once a week for three consecutive weeks under K.S.A. 59-2209. Call the clerk to confirm how your matter will be scheduled.
Can I appear by phone or video in a Pawnee County probate case?
You may ask. Kansas Rule 103 gives the district court discretion to allow a remote appearance by phone or video (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). Use the Kansas Judicial Council motion form and notify the other parties as the rule requires.
How do I look up a Pawnee County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch at https://casesearch.kscourts.gov. Pawnee County public case information is searchable there, and public documents available online begin from the 24th Judicial District's Kansas eCourt start date of September 12, 2022.
Are there Pawnee County probate forms?
No Pawnee County probate-specific local packet appears on the court page. Use the Kansas Judicial Council forms, including the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, case-filing cover sheets, the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 and the motion to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103.
Do I have to travel to Larned if I live out of state?
Not always, but plan early. A self-represented filing can be made by mail, fax or drop box, and an out-of-state fiduciary can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706. For hearings, ask in advance for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103.
What if the decedent had a will and the family is not ready to open a full estate?
Kansas's six-month rule matters. 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 provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617). One preservation option is 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.