Back to Kansas
Riley County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Riley County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Riley County District Court, in Kansas's 21st Judicial District with Clay County (K.S.A. 4-222) |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court, Riley County Courthouse, Room 201 (K.S.A. 20-343) |
| Courthouse address | 100 Courthouse Plaza, Manhattan, KS 66502 |
| Mailing address | Clerk of the District Court, Riley County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Plaza, Manhattan, KS 66502 |
| Phone | 785-537-6364. The court publishes one clerk's office number and directs callers to choose the right department from the phone menu. |
| Fax | 785-537-6382 |
| Hours | The court clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No midday closure or earlier counter cutoff is published. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, opening a probate estate in Riley County costs $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104, made up of the $109.50 statutory filing amount plus the $22 surcharge. Other court costs are taxed and billed against the estate as the court directs (K.S.A. 59-104(d)). |
| Local forms | No Riley County probate form, local probate cover sheet or local probate checklist is published. Use the free Kansas Judicial Council forms where a statewide form exists. |
| E-filing | Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122 requires Kansas-licensed attorneys to file electronically. The 21st Judicial District made attorney e-filing mandatory in Riley and Clay counties effective January 4, 2016. A person filing without a lawyer files in person, by mail, by fax or in the courthouse drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the free statewide case search. Riley County joined Kansas eCourt on August 5, 2019, so documents in Riley County cases are online from that date. Older public materials can be viewed on courthouse public access computers. |
| Remote appearance | Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 lets the judge decide whether to allow phone or video participation. Riley County publishes Zoom instructions for people asking to appear by video, and the Kansas Judicial Council publishes a free motion form. |
| Court website | https://www.rileycountyks.gov/190/District-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Riley County, identify the assets, debts and title documents. Kansas route selection depends on what exists: the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b is available only when the probate assets are $75,000 or less under that statute and it moves personal property only, not a house.
Do not let the asset search make you miss the will deadline. A Kansas will cannot pass property unless a petition for probate is filed within six months after death (K.S.A. 59-617). Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, which can help you build the asset picture while keeping the estate settlement on track for the Manhattan filing counter.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Riley County probate with the clerk of the district court at the Riley County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Plaza, Room 201, Manhattan, in the Riley County District Court (K.S.A. 20-343). Riley County and Clay County make up Kansas's 21st Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-222), but each county has its own clerk and filing counter, so a Riley County case is filed in Manhattan.
Riley County includes Manhattan, Randolph, Leonardville, Riley, Ogden and University Park. Venue for a Kansas probate turns on K.S.A. 59-2203: if the decedent lived in Riley County and owned real property there, file in Riley County; if the decedent lived in Riley County but owned no real property there, file in Riley County or in any Kansas county where the decedent owned real property; if the decedent was not a Kansas resident, file in a county where the decedent left estate to be administered. If more than one county is used, the first-filed proceeding controls until venue is determined, and a misfiled case is transmitted to the proper county rather than dismissed.
A Manhattan, Kansas mailing address does not automatically answer the venue question because the Manhattan urban area is planned by the City of Manhattan with both Riley County and Pottawatomie County. If the decedent lived on the other county's side, use that county's district court.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate and the will. The 21st Judicial District local rules say that when a party files a petition to admit a will, the party should attach a copy of the will to the petition and should also file the original will with the clerk of the district court.
- Check the six months deadline before anything else. A will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition for its probate is filed within six months after death (K.S.A. 59-617). If the family is not ready to open the estate settlement, filing a will and affidavit, with the will or a copy of it, can preserve the will for later probate (K.S.A. 59-618a). The statewide fee chart carries both a $70.50 line under K.S.A. 59-104 for filing a will and affidavit and a separate no-fee line for filing a will after death, so ask the Riley County clerk which line applies to your filing.
- Choose the Kansas route that fits the assets. The options include the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, which is furnished to the bank or other holder and is not filed with the court; refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287; determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250 after six months have passed under K.S.A. 59-617; informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301 and following; or simplified administration or supervised administration under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Prepare the petition from the statutory requirements for administration or probate of a will (K.S.A. 59-2219, K.S.A. 59-2220). If you want simplified administration, ask for it in the petition and give reasons (K.S.A. 59-3202). Riley County publishes no local fill-in petition for opening an estate.
- Add the statewide case filing cover sheet and, if you are filing without a lawyer, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form. Both are free from the Kansas Judicial Council.
- File with the clerk of the district court at the Riley County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Plaza, Room 201, Manhattan (K.S.A. 20-343). As of August 2026, the filing fee to open a probate estate is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. A Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 can ask the court to waive all or part of the fee. A Kansas-licensed attorney must use e-filing under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122. A self-represented filer may file in person, by mail to the same courthouse address, by fax to 785-537-6382 with the Rule 119 fax transmission sheet and card payment, or in the courthouse drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time.
- The court fixes the time and place of the hearing (K.S.A. 59-2222). Riley County does not publish a probate hearing day or a filing-to-hearing estimate, so ask the clerk for the setting when you file.
- Give notice. Hearing notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first publication within 30 days after the order fixing the hearing, and mailed to heirs, devisees and legatees within seven days after first publication with the petition, attachments and will included unless the court orders otherwise (K.S.A. 59-2209). Notice to creditors is published within 30 days after filing the petition (K.S.A. 59-709).
- If there is a surviving spouse, mail the spouse a copy of the will and the elective-share notice within 10 days as required by K.S.A. 59-2233.
- Attend the hearing. The hearing is set no earlier than 10 days and no later than 30 days after the last publication (K.S.A. 59-2209). If travel to Manhattan is a problem, ask early about appearing by phone or video. Riley County publishes Zoom instructions, but the judge decides under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103.
- At or after the hearing, the judge admits the will when appropriate and grants letters testamentary under K.S.A. 59-701 or letters of administration under K.S.A. 59-705. The clerk files papers and maintains the case, but the court grants the letters.
- File the inventory and valuation within 30 days after the letters are granted (K.S.A. 59-1201). Creditor demands are barred unless presented within the later of four months from first publication or 30 days after actual notice (K.S.A. 59-2239).
- Pay debts and taxes, then file the petition for final settlement and obtain the court's final decree assigning the estate (K.S.A. 59-2247, K.S.A. 59-2249). If real estate is assigned, a certified copy of the decree goes on the county clerk's transfer record (K.S.A. 59-2249). A transfer-on-death deed is different: it is recorded during life with the register of deeds under K.S.A. 59-3501 and K.S.A. 59-3502.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Riley County
Riley County publishes no local probate form, no local probate cover sheet and no local probate checklist. The 21st Judicial District local rules include one probate-specific filing rule: when a party files a petition to admit a will, the party should attach a copy of the will to the petition and should also file the original will with the clerk of the district court.
Use the free statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms where they exist. Kansas does not publish a fill-in petition for opening a probate estate, so that petition is drafted from K.S.A. 59-2219 and K.S.A. 59-2220 or with legal help.
| Form or resource | How it fits Riley County filings |
|---|---|
| Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b | Used with the holder of personal property when the K.S.A. 59-1507b requirements are met. It is not filed with the Riley County clerk. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required when you file without a lawyer. |
| Case filing cover sheet | Required with a new case. |
| Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 | Asks the court to waive all or part of the filing fee. |
| Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video | Used to ask for phone or video participation under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103. |
| Rule 119 fax transmission sheet | Used when filing by fax to the Riley County clerk at 785-537-6382. |
Timeline
- File at the Riley County Courthouse in Manhattan during court clerk hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or file by mail, fax or courthouse drop box. A drop-box filing counts that day only if deposited by 4:00 p.m. local time.
- The court fixes the time and place of the hearing on the petition (K.S.A. 59-2222). Riley County does not publish a filing-to-hearing window, so ask the clerk for the setting.
- Hearing notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first publication within 30 days of the order, and mailed to heirs, devisees and legatees within seven days of first publication (K.S.A. 59-2209).
- The hearing date is no earlier than 10 days and no later than 30 days after the last publication (K.S.A. 59-2209).
- For later motions, the 21st Judicial District local rules put scheduling on the party requesting the hearing: the party obtains a hearing time and serves notice of hearing. If a date already set must move, the requesting party obtains the new setting and confirms it with the other parties, or asks the court for an order if they cannot agree.
- The court publishes a daily docket PDF updated each workday and sorted by date, time and judge. Use it to check when a Riley County case is set, but call the clerk if the setting is unclear.
- After the hearing, the court grants letters where appropriate. The inventory and valuation is due within 30 days after the letters (K.S.A. 59-1201).
Local nuance
Riley County-specific considerations
| Point | What it means in Riley County |
|---|---|
| One filing counter in a shared district | Riley County shares Kansas's 21st Judicial District with Clay County (K.S.A. 4-222), but Kansas places a clerk of the district court in every county (K.S.A. 20-343). Riley County probate is filed at 100 Courthouse Plaza in Manhattan. |
| The right building on Courthouse Plaza | The court is at 100 Courthouse Plaza, and the clerk's office is Room 201. Riley County government offices next door use a different address and phone number, but probate filings go to the courthouse filing counter. |
| Original will practice | Local rule 4.09 says a party filing a petition to admit a will should attach a copy of the will and also file the original will with the clerk. Statewide law says the will accompanies the petition if it can be produced (K.S.A. 59-2220), and K.S.A. 59-618a allows a will or copy to be filed with an affidavit, so call the clerk if the original cannot be found. |
| Attorney electronic filing since 2016 | The 21st Judicial District made attorney e-filing mandatory in Riley and Clay counties effective January 4, 2016, and Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122 now requires Kansas-licensed attorneys to file electronically statewide. A person filing without a lawyer uses the self-represented filing channels instead. |
| Phone or video requests | Riley County publishes Zoom instructions for people scheduled to appear at the courthouse who want to appear by video. Contact the court early. The judge decides under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103. |
| Watching is not appearing | The court streams live courtroom video and states that recording a proceeding viewed on the feed is prohibited. Watching a feed does not count as appearing at a hearing. |
| Case materials online from August 5, 2019 | Riley County joined Kansas eCourt on August 5, 2019. Case information is searchable in Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and documents in Riley County cases are online from that date. Older public materials can be viewed on courthouse public access computers. |
| District magistrate judges | District magistrate judges sit in the 21st Judicial District, and a district magistrate judge may hear a Kansas probate matter of any size, including one involving title to real estate (K.S.A. 20-302b). The court assigns the judge. |
| Manhattan address and venue | The Manhattan urban area crosses a county line. Venue depends on the decedent's residence and real property under K.S.A. 59-2203, so a Manhattan mailing address alone does not prove Riley County is the correct filing county. |
| No local self-help center | The Kansas Judicial Branch self-help center directory lists no Riley County center. The court points self-represented filers to Kansas Legal Services and Kansas Judicial Council forms, and court staff cannot give legal advice. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| Riley County eCourt date | Riley County began operating on Kansas eCourt on August 5, 2019. Documents in Riley County cases are online from that date. |
| Attorney e-filing in the 21st Judicial District | Attorney e-filing became mandatory in Riley and Clay counties effective January 4, 2016, under the district's administrative order and Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122. |
| Kansas Courts CaseSearch | Kansas Courts CaseSearch replaced the former statewide case lookup in November 2025. Use CaseSearch for Riley County case information. |
| Remote appearance rule | Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 became effective October 14, 2025, and now governs requests to appear by phone or video. |
| Probate filing surcharge | The $22 surcharge authority was extended through June 30, 2030, so the Riley County probate estate filing total is $131.50 as of August 2026 under K.S.A. 59-104. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Riley County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home in Manhattan | Start with title. A jointly titled home may need a termination of joint tenancy filing rather than a full estate, which is a $70.50 filing as of August 2026 under K.S.A. 59-104. If an estate is opened, file at Room 201 in Manhattan. The spouse must receive the will and elective-share notice within 10 days under K.S.A. 59-2233, and Kansas allowances may matter, including the $75,000 homestead allowance under K.S.A. 59-6a215 and the $75,000 spouse and minor children allowance under K.S.A. 59-403. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title information and prepare the estate settlement packet so the filing path is clear before you go to 100 Courthouse Plaza. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the probate assets are $75,000 or less under K.S.A. 59-1507b and there is no real estate to transfer, the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b is presented to the bank or other holder and is not filed with the Riley County clerk. If letters are needed, a nonresident personal representative can serve after appointing a resident agent in Kansas, with the writing filed in the district court (K.S.A. 59-706, K.S.A. 59-1706). Ask early about phone or video participation under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103. | Sunset searches for accounts, explains whether a court filing appears necessary and can connect an out-of-state family with a Riley County probate attorney. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | The small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b cannot move a house. The path may be refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, or simplified administration or supervised administration under K.S.A. 59-3202. Notice of a petition to sell real property is still required even in a simplified estate (K.S.A. 59-3202). Watch the six months will deadline under K.S.A. 59-617, and remember that the final decree assigning real estate goes on the county clerk's transfer record (K.S.A. 59-2249). | Sunset helps assemble property, debt and heir information, generate a filing-ready packet and find local counsel when a sale or contested issue makes the estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Riley County District Court | Contact information, daily docket, local rules, Zoom instructions and live courtroom video. Clerk of the court: 785-537-6364. | https://www.rileycountyks.gov/190/District-Court |
| Kansas Judicial Branch self-help, probate and elder law | Statewide probate information, a glossary and links to Kansas Judicial Council 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, 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 Kansas Supreme Court Rule 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. Apply by phone at 316-267-3975, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The online application is open from 8:00 a.m. Monday to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. | https://www.kansaslegalservices.org/ |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansans aged 60 and over may be eligible for free legal advice through Kansas Legal Services. | 316-267-3975 |
| Kansas Bar Association lawyer referral | A referral route for finding a Kansas attorney. | https://www.ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals |
| Kansas Courts CaseSearch | Free statewide search for district court case information. Riley County documents are online from August 5, 2019. | https://casesearch.kscourts.gov/ |
| Riley County self-help center | The Kansas Judicial Branch directory lists no district court self-help center for Riley County. Use the statewide resources above and call the clerk for procedural filing questions. | Clerk of the court: 785-537-6364 |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can find accounts before choosing a Kansas probate path. That matters in Riley County because the asset picture affects whether the estate settlement can use a non-court affidavit route or needs a filing in Manhattan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the death certificate, will, asset list, debts, heirs and filing information into a packet you can review before filing with the clerk of the district court at 100 Courthouse Plaza, or before sending papers by mail or fax from out of state.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves real estate, a contested issue, a nonresident personal representative or a close K.S.A. 59-617 deadline, Sunset can connect you with a Kansas probate attorney familiar with district court filings.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset. If you choose to work with an attorney or other professional, that professional will explain any separate cost before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Riley County, Kansas?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Riley County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Plaza, Room 201, Manhattan, KS 66502 (K.S.A. 20-343). The court is the Riley County District Court, which sits in Kansas's 21st Judicial District with Clay County (K.S.A. 4-222). The district is shared, but the Riley County filing counter is in Manhattan.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Riley County?
As of August 2026, opening a probate estate in Riley County costs $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. That total is the $109.50 statutory filing amount plus the $22 surcharge, and Riley County adds nothing to it. Other expenses, including publication, appraiser fees, executor fees and attorney fees, are taxed and billed against the estate as the court directs (K.S.A. 59-104(d)). A Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 can ask the court to waive all or part of the filing fee.
Can I e-file a Riley County probate case if I do not have a lawyer?
A Kansas-licensed attorney must use e-filing under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 122, and attorney e-filing has been mandatory in the 21st Judicial District since January 4, 2016. If you are filing without a lawyer, use the self-represented filing channels: in person at Room 201, by mail to the clerk at 100 Courthouse Plaza, by fax to 785-537-6382 with the fax transmission sheet and card payment, or in the courthouse drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time.
What are the clerk's hours at the Riley County Courthouse?
The court clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No midday closure and no earlier counter cutoff is published. The office is closed on court holidays, so call 785-537-6364 before travelling late in the day.
Do I have to travel to Manhattan for the hearing?
Maybe not. The court fixes the hearing (K.S.A. 59-2222), and Kansas Supreme Court Rule 103 gives the judge discretion to allow a phone or video appearance, including when travel time and expense outweigh the benefit of appearing in person. Riley County publishes Zoom instructions and asks people who want to appear by video to contact the court as early as possible. The judge can say no. Watching the court's live video feed is not the same as appearing, and recording the feed is prohibited.
How do I look up a Riley County probate case online?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch at casesearch.kscourts.gov. Riley County joined Kansas eCourt on August 5, 2019, so documents in Riley County cases are online from that date. Older public materials and materials not available online can be viewed on courthouse public access computers. Riley County case numbers use the county code RL, and the court states that Kansas courts will not do searches by phone.
Are there Riley County probate forms?
No local Riley County probate form, probate cover sheet or probate checklist is published. The court points people to 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 and the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104. Kansas does not publish a fill-in petition for opening a probate estate.
Does the Riley County District Court want the original will?
The 21st Judicial District local rules say a party filing a petition to admit a will should attach a copy of the will and should also file the original will with the clerk. Statewide law says the will accompanies the petition if it can be produced (K.S.A. 59-2220), and filing a will and affidavit can use the will or a copy to preserve it (K.S.A. 59-618a). If the original cannot be found, call the clerk before filing.
How long do I have to probate a will in Riley County?
For a Kansas resident's will, six months after death is the key deadline (K.S.A. 59-617). If a petition for probate is not filed within six months after death, the will cannot pass property unless a statutory savings rule applies (K.S.A. 59-617). If the family is not ready to open the estate settlement, filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a within that K.S.A. 59-617 period can preserve the will for later probate.
Is there a self-help center at the Riley County Courthouse?
The Kansas Judicial Branch directory lists no district court self-help center for Riley County. The Riley County District Court points self-represented people to Kansas Legal Services and Kansas Judicial Council forms. Court staff can answer procedural questions about filing, but they cannot give legal advice.
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.