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Sherman County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Sherman County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Sherman County District Court, in Kansas's 15th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-216) |
| Courthouse address | Sherman County Courthouse, 813 Broadway Ave., Room 201, Goodland, KS 67735 |
| Mailing address | 813 Broadway Ave., Room 201, Goodland, KS 67735. No separate PO Box is published for Sherman County. |
| Phone | 785-890-4850 |
| Fax | 785-890-4858 |
| Hours | Call the clerk before traveling to confirm current counter hours. The Sherman County Self-Help Center is posted as open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., not staffed, and closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The county runs on Mountain Time. |
| Filing fee | A probate estate filing is $131.50, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, under K.S.A. 59-104. That is the $109.50 probate estate fee plus the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs may be taxed against the estate as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d). |
| Local forms | Sherman County does not publish county-specific probate forms on its district court page. Use the free Kansas Judicial Council forms described below. |
| E-filing | Electronic filing is required for Kansas-licensed attorneys under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A self-represented filer uses in-person filing, mail, fax or the courthouse drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Drop box | A drop box is available for self-represented filings in Sherman County. A filing deposited by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time counts as filed that day under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch at https://casesearch.kscourts.gov provides free statewide case information. Sherman County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so documents filed from that date forward may be available online when public access rules allow. |
| Remote appearance | A remote appearance is discretionary under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. Use the Kansas Judicial Council Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video, notify the other parties and ask the clerk which platform the judge uses. |
| Website | https://shermancounty.org/district-court |
| Self-help center | Sherman County Self-Help Center, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., not staffed, closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.; resources include computers and printer, private meeting space and community resource guides. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Sherman County, make a working list of assets, debts, account holders, real estate, vehicle titles, beneficiary designations and the location of the will. Kansas estate settlement often turns on whether the will must be preserved quickly, whether letters are needed, and whether the estate includes real estate.
Sunset can help with estate settlement before the filing decision by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, organizing what was found and helping you decide what information belongs in the Sherman County filing packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Sherman County is filed with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at the Sherman County Courthouse in Goodland. Sherman County is part of Kansas's 15th Judicial District with Thomas, Sheridan, Cheyenne, Rawlins, Wallace and Logan counties (K.S.A. 4-216), but that district structure does not move a Sherman County filing to another county.
Kansas venue is not simply the county where the person died. For a Kansas resident, proceedings for probate of a will or administration are in the county of residence if the decedent owned real property there. If the decedent did not own real property in the county of residence, venue may be in the county of residence or in any Kansas county where the decedent owned real property. For a nonresident, venue may be in any county where the decedent left estate to be administered. If more than one county is used, the first case legally started controls until venue is decided, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred rather than dismissed (K.S.A. 59-2203).
Sherman County observes Mountain Time. Use the Sherman County clock for local filing cutoffs, including the 4:00 p.m. drop-box rule.
The jurisdiction process
- Locate the death certificate, the original will if it can be produced, account information, deeds, vehicle titles and known debts. If the decedent was a Kansas resident and left a will, decide quickly whether to petition for probate of the will, because a will cannot pass property unless a petition is filed within six months after death unless a statutory savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
- If the family is not ready to open a full estate but needs to preserve the will, consider filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a in the district court of the decedent's last residence. Kansas also allows a will filed with a refusal to grant letters petition under K.S.A. 59-2287 to be admitted later if filed within the K.S.A. 59-617 period.
- Choose the Kansas path before preparing papers. A K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit, effective July 1, 2023 for probate assets not exceeding $75,000, is presented to the bank or other property holder and is not a court filing. Court paths may include refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250 after the K.S.A. 59-617 period has run, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, or simplified administration or supervised administration under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Prepare the petition required for the chosen court path. If you want simplified administration, ask for it in the petition and give the reasons, because the court decides that question under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Add the required new-case paperwork. A self-represented filer should include the Kansas Judicial Council case-filing cover sheet and the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form. If the filing fee cannot be paid, include a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
- File with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at 813 Broadway Ave., Room 201, Goodland, KS 67735. Attorneys must use e-filing under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A self-represented filer may file in person, by mail, by fax to 785-890-4858, or in the courthouse drop box. A drop-box filing deposited by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time counts as filed that day. The probate estate filing is $131.50, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, under K.S.A. 59-104.
- The court fixes the time and place of the hearing after the petition is filed (K.S.A. 59-2222). If notice under K.S.A. 59-2209 is required, publication runs once a week for three consecutive weeks, and mailed notice to heirs, devisees and legatees must include the petition, attachments and the will when applicable. Notice to creditors is given under K.S.A. 59-709.
- If a surviving spouse is involved, make sure the statutory elective-share notice is addressed within 10 days as required by K.S.A. 59-2233. If travel to Goodland is difficult, request a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103 by motion and notify the other parties.
- At or after the hearing, the court admits the will when appropriate and grants letters testamentary to an executor under K.S.A. 59-701 or letters of administration to an administrator under K.S.A. 59-705. The clerk receives and processes filings, but the court grants the authority.
- 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 ordered. Claims are governed by the nonclaim statute, including 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).
- Administer the estate, pay allowed debts and taxes, address real estate issues and prepare the final settlement. Closing normally requires a petition for final settlement and the court's final decree assigning the estate under K.S.A. 59-2247 and K.S.A. 59-2249.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Sherman County
Sherman County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or local probate cover sheet on its district court page. Kansas does publish free statewide forms through the Kansas Judicial Council, but it does not provide a fill-in petition for opening a probate estate. Petitions for administration and probate of a will are drafted from the statutory requirements in K.S.A. 59-2219 and K.S.A. 59-2220, often with an attorney's help.
| Form or resource | Use in Sherman County |
|---|---|
| Small Estates Affidavit | Use the Kansas Judicial Council K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit, effective July 1, 2023 for probate assets not exceeding $75,000. It is furnished to the property holder, not filed to open a court case. |
| Case-filing cover sheet | Required when opening a new district court case. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required for a person filing without a lawyer. |
| Poverty Affidavit | Used to ask the court to waive or defer a filing fee under K.S.A. 59-104 when allowed. |
| Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video | Used to request a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
| Rule 119 Fax Transmission Sheet | Use when filing by fax to the clerk's office. |
Local nuance
Sherman County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Mountain Time | Sherman County is on Mountain Time. Use the Goodland clock for the 4:00 p.m. drop-box filing cutoff and for any hearing or filing time set by the court. |
| Kansas eCourt date | Sherman County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022. Case information is available through Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and documents filed from that date forward may be available online when public access rules allow. |
| Self-help room | The Sherman County Self-Help Center is not staffed. It provides computers and printer, private meeting space and community resource guides, but it is not a place to get legal advice or have probate papers prepared. |
Recent updates
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| 2026 court-fee surcharge extension | The $22 surcharge authority for probate docket fees runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 under K.S.A. 59-104, as amended by 2026 HB 2393. The Sherman County probate estate filing total is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104 during that period. |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary update | A nonresident fiduciary's resident agent may now reside anywhere in Kansas, not necessarily in Sherman County, under K.S.A. 59-1706 as amended by 2026 SB 480. |
| 2024 creditor-notice timing | The publication window for notice to creditors changed to 30 days after filing under K.S.A. 59-709. |
| 2023 small-estate affidavit update | The K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit amount is $75,000, effective July 1, 2023. |
| CaseSearch | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the current statewide search tool for Kansas district court case information. Sherman County's Kansas eCourt start date is July 11, 2022. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Sherman County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the Goodland or Sherman County real estate is titled. A joint-tenancy issue may require a termination of joint tenancy filing, while the estate may also involve the spouse's homestead allowance under K.S.A. 59-6a215 and the elective-share notice required by K.S.A. 59-2233. If there is a will, keep the K.S.A. 59-617 six months rule in mind. | Sunset helps gather deed, mortgage, account and beneficiary information so the attorney or filer can separate probate assets from nonprobate transfers during estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the probate assets do not exceed $75,000, effective July 1, 2023, and the property to collect is personal property, the K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit may work without opening a Sherman County court case. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706, and can ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. | Sunset searches for accounts, helps sort which assets need court authority and can connect the family with Kansas counsel for a Goodland filing. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit does not transfer real estate. Depending on value, title and debt, the family may need 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, or simplified administration under K.S.A. 59-3202. If there is a will, address the K.S.A. 59-617 filing deadline first. | Sunset organizes the asset picture, prepares information for the probate packet and helps identify a local probate attorney when a home sale makes estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Sherman County District Court | Call 785-890-4850 for current counter hours, filing questions and hearing logistics. Fax filings go to 785-890-4858. Website: https://shermancounty.org/district-court |
| Sherman County Self-Help Center | Posted hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.; the center is not staffed. It offers computers and printer, private meeting space and community resource guides. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch probate self-help | Use https://self-help.kscourts.gov/ProbateAndElderLaw for Kansas probate and elder-law information. |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | Use the free K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit, Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, case-filing cover sheet, Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104, and Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
| Kansas Legal Services | Call 316-267-3975, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to ask about eligibility and available civil legal help. Online applications are available from 8:00 a.m. Monday through 4:30 p.m. Thursday. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansas residents age 60 or older may call 316-267-3975 for the Kansas Elder Hotline. |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Use https://ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals to look for a Kansas attorney referral. |
| Kansas Courts CaseSearch | Use https://casesearch.kscourts.gov to search public Sherman County district court case information. Sherman County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, which affects online document availability. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kansas probate attorney if the will deadline under K.S.A. 59-617 is close, heirs disagree, the estate includes real estate, a sale is needed, a creditor issue is disputed, the personal representative lives outside Kansas, or you are unsure whether refusal to grant letters, determination of descent, informal administration, simplified administration or supervised administration is the right path. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organizes what is found and helps families understand what may need Sherman County court authority as part of estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized packet for the Sherman County filing path, including details an attorney or self-represented filer can use for the petition, notices and inventory.
Find a local probate attorney. When a will deadline, real estate sale, creditor issue or out-of-state personal representative makes the case harder, Sunset can connect the family with Kansas probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families use Sunset at no cost to get organized, reduce guesswork and move estate settlement forward with clearer information.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Sherman County, Kansas?
File Sherman County probate papers with the clerk of the district court (K.S.A. 20-343) at the Sherman County Courthouse, 813 Broadway Ave., Room 201, Goodland, KS 67735. Sherman County is in Kansas's 15th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-216), but a Sherman County estate is filed in Goodland.
What is the filing fee to open a probate estate in Sherman County?
The probate estate filing is $131.50, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, under K.S.A. 59-104. That total includes the $109.50 probate estate filing amount and the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs can be charged to the estate as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d).
Can I e-file a Sherman County probate case if I do not have a lawyer?
Electronic filing is required for Kansas-licensed attorneys under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A self-represented filer in Sherman County files in person, by mail, by fax or by drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule.
Does Sherman County have a probate drop box?
Yes. Sherman County has a drop box for self-represented district court filings. A document deposited by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time counts as filed that day under the Kansas self-represented filing rule, so use Sherman County's local clock.
Does Kansas have a deadline for filing a will in Sherman County?
Yes. A will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition for probate of the will is filed within six months after death, unless a statutory savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617). If you are not ready to open a full estate, ask about filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a before that deadline.
Can I appear remotely for a Sherman County probate hearing?
A remote appearance is discretionary under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. File a motion, notify the other parties and ask the clerk what platform and instructions the judge uses. The Kansas Judicial Council publishes a free Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video.
How do I look up a Sherman County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch at https://casesearch.kscourts.gov for free statewide case information. Sherman County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so documents filed from that date forward may be available online when public access rules allow. The courthouse also has public access to court information.
Does Sherman County publish local probate forms?
Sherman County does not publish county-specific probate forms on its district court page. Use Kansas Judicial Council forms for the K.S.A. 59-1507b small estates affidavit, 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 Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103.
Do I need to travel to Goodland if I live out of state?
You may need to file in Sherman County, but travel is not always the only option. A nonresident fiduciary can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706, and a participant may ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. The judge decides whether to allow the remote appearance.
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.