Back to Kansas
Rice County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Rice County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Rice County District Court |
| Courthouse address | Rice County Courthouse, 101 W Commercial Street, 3rd Floor, Lyons, KS 67554-2797 |
| Mailing address | 101 W Commercial Street, 3rd Floor, Lyons, KS 67554 |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court in Rice County (K.S.A. 20-343) |
| Phone | 620-257-2383 |
| Fax | 620-257-3826 |
| Hours | Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No midday closure is posted on Rice County's district-court page. |
| Filing fee | For a probate estate, $131.50 effective July 1, 2026, made up of the $109.50 probate estate docket fee and the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs can be taxed as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d). |
| Local forms | Rice County does not post a separate probate packet on its district-court page. Use the statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms and ask the clerk whether any local rule affects your filing. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122). A self-represented filer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax or the courthouse drop box. |
| Drop box | Available in Rice County. A self-represented filing placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch. Case information is searchable statewide. Rice County documents filed from July 11, 2022 forward can appear online, while older documents and materials not displayed online are available at the courthouse public terminal. |
| Remote appearance | Ask by motion under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). The Kansas Judicial Council publishes a Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video. |
| Website | https://www.ricecounty.us/departments/district_court/index.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Rice County filing, list the assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations and any real estate. Kansas has several estate settlement paths, and the right one depends on what must be transferred, whether a will exists and whether real estate is involved.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help identify accounts before you file, so the petition, notices and inventory are built around a clearer financial picture. That first step can prevent filing the wrong Rice County packet or missing an account that changes the estate settlement plan.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Rice County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Rice County Courthouse in Lyons (K.S.A. 20-343). Rice County is part of Kansas's 20th Judicial District with Barton, Ellsworth, Russell and Stafford counties (K.S.A. 4-221), but each county has its own filing counter.
Venue in Kansas depends on residence and real property. If the decedent lived in Rice County and owned real property there, Rice County is the venue. If the decedent lived in Kansas but did not own real property in the county of residence, venue can be the county of residence or a county where the decedent owned real property. If the decedent was not a Kansas resident, venue can be a Kansas county where estate property is to be administered. The first legally filed proceeding controls unless the district court transfers the file to the proper county (K.S.A. 59-2203).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the death certificate, the will and any asset records. If the decedent was a Kansas resident, decide quickly whether to petition for probate of the will, because a will must be petitioned for probate within six months after death unless a savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
- If you are not ready to open a full estate but need to preserve the will, ask about filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a. That filing can preserve a will or a copy of a will if done within the Kansas will deadline under 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 qualifying personal property. Refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301 and simplified or supervised administration under K.S.A. 59-3202 are court routes.
- Prepare the petition for the Rice County District Court. If you want simplified administration, ask for it in the petition and give reasons, because the court decides whether the estate proceeds as a simplified estate or a supervised estate under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Add the statewide case-filing cover sheet. If you are representing yourself, also add the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form.
- File with the clerk of the district court in Rice County at 101 W Commercial Street, 3rd Floor, Lyons, KS 67554 (K.S.A. 20-343). A self-represented filer may file in person, by mail, by fax or by drop box. A Kansas-licensed attorney files electronically under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122).
- Pay the $131.50 probate estate docket fee, effective July 1, 2026, under K.S.A. 59-104, or file a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 if you are asking the court to waive all or part of the fee.
- The court fixes the hearing. Notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks and mailed as required, with the hearing set not earlier than 10 days and not later than 30 days after the last publication (K.S.A. 59-2209). Notice to creditors is also handled under K.S.A. 59-709.
- If there is a surviving spouse, send the statutory elective-share notice within 10 days when K.S.A. 59-2233 applies. The court then decides whether to admit the will, appoint the executor or administrator and grant 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 30 days unless the court allows more time (K.S.A. 59-1201). Handle claims under the Kansas nonclaim rule, which bars demands unless presented within 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 approved debts, expenses and taxes, then ask for final settlement. The court's final decree assigns the estate, and real-estate transfers are reflected through the county clerk's transfer record when K.S.A. 59-2249 applies.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Rice County
Rice County's district-court page links to statewide Kansas forms rather than posting a separate Rice County probate packet. Ask the clerk whether the local rules or administrative orders affect how a particular Rice County filing should be assembled.
| Form or resource | How it is used in Rice County |
|---|---|
| Small Estates Affidavit | For qualifying personal property under K.S.A. 59-1507b. The statewide form is published by the Kansas Judicial Council. |
| Case-filing cover sheet | Required with a new district court case. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required when you file without a lawyer. |
| Poverty Affidavit | Used to ask for a fee waiver under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video | Used to request permission to appear remotely under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). |
| Probate notice of hearing and petition for allowance of demand | Statewide Kansas Judicial Council probate forms that may be relevant after a Rice County case is opened. |
Local nuance
Rice County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| 20th Judicial District | Rice County is grouped with Barton, Ellsworth, Russell and Stafford counties in Kansas's 20th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-221), but Rice County filings go to the Rice County clerk of the district court in Lyons (K.S.A. 20-343). |
| Resident district magistrate judge | The 20th Judicial District lists a district magistrate judge resident in Rice 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 | Rice County began using the Kansas eCourt case management system on July 11, 2022. Case information is searched in Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and online documents depend on that start date. |
| Self-help center | Rice County is listed with a staffed self-help center open weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with computers and a printer. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 fee surcharge | The $22 surcharge authority for probate docket fees was extended through June 30, 2030, effective July 1, 2026, under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| 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 time to publish notice to creditors after filing moved to 30 days under K.S.A. 59-709. |
| 2023 small estates affidavit change | The $75,000 figure for the small estates affidavit became effective July 1, 2023, under K.S.A. 59-1507b. |
| Rice County eCourt access | Rice County case documents are tied to the 20th Judicial District's July 11, 2022 Kansas eCourt start date. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Rice County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled. A joint-tenancy filing may be separate from an estate administration under K.S.A. 59-104. If a will exists, track the six-month will deadline under K.S.A. 59-617. The spouse may also need the statutory elective-share notice under K.S.A. 59-2233, and spouse protections may affect the estate plan. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title documents and generate a Rice County filing plan before you decide whether a court case is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate has qualifying personal property and no real estate to transfer, the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b may solve the asset transfer without a court case. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative can serve by appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing under K.S.A. 59-706 and K.S.A. 59-1706, and can ask to appear remotely under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). | Sunset helps find assets, prepare the paperwork and connect you with a Kansas attorney if Rice County court authority is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b does not transfer the home. 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 sale and title issues. If there is a will, keep the K.S.A. 59-617 deadline in view. | Sunset helps gather financial information, build the petition materials and find local counsel for sale authority and final settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Rice County self-help center | Staffed center with computers and a printer. Hours are weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is not a substitute for legal advice. | Rice County Courthouse, 101 W Commercial Street, 3rd Floor, Lyons |
| Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help, probate and elder law | Statewide probate information, glossary and links to forms. | https://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 Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). | https://www.kjc.ks.gov/legal-forms |
| Kansas Legal Services | Nonprofit civil legal help for low- and moderate-income Kansans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. | 316-267-3975, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| 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 finding a Kansas lawyer. | https://www.ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals |
| Rice County clerk of the district court | Filing office for Rice County probate matters (K.S.A. 20-343). Call for current filing logistics, fax filing and local-rule questions. | 620-257-2383, fax 620-257-3826 |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful when the estate includes real estate, a contested will, unclear heirs, creditor disputes, a nonresident fiduciary, a business, tax questions, or a request for 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. Kansas allows fiduciary and attorney compensation that is just and reasonable under K.S.A. 59-1717, subject to court approval. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across thousands of institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, insurance, debts and other estate property before filing in Rice County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information and court requirements into an organized estate settlement packet, including the documents needed for the Rice County clerk of the district court under K.S.A. 20-343.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs court strategy, sale authority, a contested issue or help with Kansas procedure, Sunset can connect the family with a local Kansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, track next steps and decide when legal help is needed without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Rice County?
File at the Rice County clerk of the district court's office on the 3rd floor of the Rice County Courthouse, 101 W Commercial Street, Lyons, KS 67554 (K.S.A. 20-343). Rice County is in Kansas's 20th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-221), but filings for Rice County go to Lyons.
Can I e-file a Rice County probate case?
Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122). If you are handling the filing yourself, use the clerk's office, mail, fax or the Rice County drop box instead.
What is the filing fee to open a Rice County probate estate?
The probate estate docket fee is $131.50 effective July 1, 2026, under K.S.A. 59-104. That total includes the $109.50 probate estate fee and the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. If you cannot afford the filing cost, ask about a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
Does Rice County have a drop box for self-represented filings?
Yes. Rice County is not one of the Kansas counties listed as lacking a drop box. A self-represented filing placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day.
Can I appear by phone or video for a Rice County hearing?
You may ask the court for permission to appear remotely under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). Use the Kansas Judicial Council Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video and notify the other parties. The judge decides whether to allow the request.
How do I look up a Rice County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch for statewide case information. Rice County joined the Kansas eCourt case management system on July 11, 2022, so online document access is tied to that date. The courthouse public terminal remains the place to view public materials that are not displayed online.
Does Rice County have local probate forms?
Rice County's district-court page does not post a separate probate packet. 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 remote-appearance motion under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103).
What happens if the will deadline is close?
For a Kansas resident, a will must be petitioned for probate within six months after death unless a statutory savings rule applies (K.S.A. 59-617). If you are not ready to open a full estate, ask the Rice County clerk or a Kansas attorney about filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a before that deadline.
Do I have to travel to Lyons if I live outside Kansas?
You may be able to file by mail, fax or drop box, and you can ask to appear remotely under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). If you are appointed as a nonresident fiduciary, you must appoint a Kansas resident agent in writing and file that appointment with the district court (K.S.A. 59-1706).
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.