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Stafford County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Stafford County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Stafford County District Court, in Kansas's 20th Judicial District under K.S.A. 4-221 |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court, appointed for each county under K.S.A. 20-343 |
| Courthouse address | Stafford County Courthouse, 209 N Broadway St., 3rd Floor, St. John, KS 67576 |
| Mailing address | 209 N Broadway St., 3rd Floor, St. John, KS 67576. No separate PO Box is published for Stafford County. |
| Phone | 620-549-3295 |
| Fax | 620-549-3298 |
| Hours | Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekdays, except holidays. No midday closure is posted. |
| Filing fee | For a probate estate, $131.50 effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. That is the $109.50 statutory charge plus the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs are handled as K.S.A. 59-104 provides. |
| County-specific forms | No Stafford County probate packet is published. Use the statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms, including the case-filing cover sheet, Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104, and the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys must use approved e-filing under 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 Stafford 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 is the statewide public case-information search. Stafford County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so online documents depend on that start date. |
| Remote appearance | A party may ask to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. The judge decides the request. |
| Website | Stafford County Clerk of the District Court page: https://www.staffordcounty.org/clerk-of-the-district-court.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a probate path in Stafford County, make a practical list of the assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations, and any real estate. The right estate settlement path depends on what needs a court order, what can pass outside court, and whether a will must be preserved before the six months deadline under K.S.A. 59-617.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, helping families find accounts before they file. That can prevent an estate settlement from being opened with missing assets or the wrong procedure.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Stafford County probate filings go to the clerk of the district court at the Stafford County Courthouse in St. John. Stafford County is one of the counties in Kansas's 20th Judicial District under K.S.A. 4-221, but Stafford County cases are filed in Stafford County, not at another county's filing counter. Kansas law requires a clerk of the district court in each county (K.S.A. 20-343).
Venue in Kansas depends on residence and real property. A resident decedent's probate or administration is filed in the county of residence if the decedent owned real property there. If the resident decedent did not own real property in the county of residence, the case may be filed in the county of residence or in a county where the decedent owned real property. For a nonresident decedent, the case may be filed in a Kansas county where the decedent left estate to administer. If proceedings are started in more than one county, the first-filed case controls until venue is decided, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred (K.S.A. 59-2203).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the will, death certificate, asset information, debt information, and title papers. If there is a Kansas will, decide quickly whether to file a petition for probate of the will, because the will must be petitioned within six months after death unless a savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
- If the family is not ready to open a full estate, ask whether filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a will preserve the will. Kansas also recognizes the small estates affidavit for qualifying personal property under K.S.A. 59-1507b, refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, determination of descent after the required time under K.S.A. 59-2250, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, and simplified or supervised administration as the court determines 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 reasons, because the court decides that request under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Add the required new-case paperwork. A new case needs a case-filing cover sheet, and a person filing without a lawyer also files the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form.
- File with the clerk of the district court at 209 N Broadway St., 3rd Floor, St. John, KS 67576. Kansas-licensed attorneys use approved e-filing under Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122). A self-represented filer may file at the counter, by mail, by fax to 620-549-3298, or by using the Stafford County drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time.
- Pay the probate estate filing fee, or file a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 if you are asking the court to waive or defer it. For a probate estate, the filing fee is $131.50 effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, made up of $109.50 plus the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104.
- After the petition is filed, the court fixes the hearing. For required hearing notice, publication runs once a week for three consecutive weeks, and mailing must follow the Kansas notice rules (K.S.A. 59-2209). Notice to creditors is published as required by K.S.A. 59-709.
- If a surviving spouse is involved, give the statutory elective-share notice within the required time. Kansas also has statewide spousal protections that may affect the estate settlement.
- Ask for a remote appearance if travel is difficult. A Kansas district court may allow a phone or video appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, but the judge decides the request and no Stafford County platform is published.
- At or after the hearing, the court decides whether to admit the will and whether to grant letters testamentary under K.S.A. 59-701 or letters of administration under K.S.A. 59-705. The court grants letters, and the clerk is the filing office.
- After letters are granted, file the inventory and valuation within 30 days unless the court allows more time (K.S.A. 59-1201). Track creditor deadlines under K.S.A. 59-2239, pay approved debts and taxes, and keep records for the final accounting.
- To close, file the petition for final settlement and accounting. The court's final decree assigns the estate, and if real estate is involved, the decree is handled through the transfer-record process required by Kansas law.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Stafford County
Stafford County does not publish a county-specific probate packet. Use the statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms that apply to the filing, and call the clerk at 620-549-3295 before filing if you are unsure whether the court wants any local cover page.
| Form or resource | How it is used in Stafford County |
|---|---|
| Case-filing cover sheet | Required when starting a new district court case. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required for a person filing without a lawyer. |
| Small Estates Affidavit | Used outside court to collect qualifying personal property when K.S.A. 59-1507b applies. It does not move real estate. |
| Poverty Affidavit | Used to ask for relief from a required filing fee under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video | Used to ask for a phone or video appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. |
| Probate Notice of Hearing | A statewide Kansas Judicial Council probate notice form that may be used when notice is required. |
| Petition for Allowance of Demand | A statewide creditor-demand form. |
Local nuance
Stafford County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Courthouse floor | The Stafford County clerk's office is listed at 209 N Broadway St., 3rd Floor, St. John, KS 67576. |
| Fax filing | The published fax number is 620-549-3298. Fax is one filing channel for a self-represented filer, and the statewide fax rules should be followed. |
| Drop box | Stafford County is not one of the counties excluded from the statewide drop-box list. A self-represented filing deposited by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day. |
| CaseSearch document date | Stafford County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022. Kansas Courts CaseSearch can show public case information, while online documents depend on the eCourt start date. |
| Self-help center | The Stafford County District Court Self-Help Center is staffed, with computers and a printer available during posted weekday business hours. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 fee surcharge extension | The $22 probate surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104 is authorized from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, so the Stafford County probate estate filing fee is $131.50 effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary update | A nonresident fiduciary's resident agent may reside anywhere in Kansas, not only in the county of appointment, under K.S.A. 59-1706 as amended in 2026. |
| 2025 case-search change | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the statewide public search tool for Kansas district court case information. |
| 2024 creditor-notice timing | The publication window for notice to creditors is 30 days after filing under K.S.A. 59-709. |
| 2023 small-estate affidavit change | The small estates affidavit amount under K.S.A. 59-1507b is $75,000, effective July 1, 2023. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Stafford County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the deed is titled. A co-owned home may need a title-clearing filing rather than full administration, while a spouse may also need the statutory elective-share notice and may have homestead allowance rights under K.S.A. 59-6a215. If there is a will, keep the six months rule in mind (K.S.A. 59-617). | Sunset helps identify the deed, accounts, debts, and spouse-related documents so the filing choice is based on the full estate settlement picture. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the probate assets qualify and only personal property needs to be collected, the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b may avoid a Stafford County court case. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative may serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing under K.S.A. 59-1706, and may ask to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize balances, and connect the family with a Kansas attorney if a petition or resident-agent paperwork 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 real estate. 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. If there is a will, act before six months under K.S.A. 59-617. | Sunset helps locate assets and debts, prepare a packet for attorney review, and identify the steps needed to sell or transfer the home as part of estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Stafford County District Court Self-Help Center | Staffed self-help center at the Stafford County Courthouse, with computers and a printer. Posted hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekdays. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch probate and elder law self-help | Statewide probate information and links to forms. Court and self-help staff can provide information, not legal advice. |
| 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 Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103. |
| Kansas Legal Services | Statewide civil legal aid for eligible Kansans. Intake phone is 316-267-3975, with phone intake during weekday business hours. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansans age 60 or older may call 316-267-3975 to ask whether the Elder Hotline can help. |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Use the KBA referral service if you want to look for a Kansas probate attorney. |
| Stafford County clerk's office | Call 620-549-3295 for current filing logistics, posted hours, fax filing questions, and hearing instructions. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Stafford County when real estate must be sold, the will deadline is close, heirs disagree, a creditor issue is likely, a nonresident fiduciary needs a Kansas resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706, or the family is choosing between informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301 and simplified administration under K.S.A. 59-3202. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build the asset picture needed for a Stafford County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the petition, notices, asset list, and supporting documents, including the forms a self-represented filer must include.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs court filings, real estate work, creditor analysis, or a remote appearance request under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, Sunset can connect the family with a Kansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, gather documents, and decide whether a Stafford County filing is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Stafford County?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Stafford County Courthouse, 209 N Broadway St., 3rd Floor, St. John, KS 67576. Kansas requires a clerk of the district court in each county (K.S.A. 20-343), and Stafford County sits in Kansas's 20th Judicial District under K.S.A. 4-221.
What is the Stafford County probate filing fee?
For a probate estate, the filing fee is $131.50 effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. That total is the $109.50 statutory charge plus the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. A person who cannot afford the filing fee may ask about a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
Can I e-file a Stafford County probate case without a lawyer?
Kansas-licensed attorneys must use approved e-filing under Rule 122 (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 122). A self-represented filer in Stafford County uses the clerk's counter, mail, fax, or the courthouse drop box rather than the attorney e-filing system.
Does Stafford County have a drop box for filings?
Yes. Stafford County is not one of the Kansas counties excluded from the statewide drop-box list. For a self-represented filer, a document placed in the Stafford County drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day.
Can I appear remotely for a Stafford County probate hearing?
You may ask. Kansas Rule 103 lets a district court allow a phone or video appearance when the judge agrees, including when travel time and expense outweigh the benefit of appearing in person (Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103). Use the statewide motion form and ask the clerk what the judge requires.
How do I look up a Stafford County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch for public case information. Stafford County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so online document access depends on that date, while courthouse terminals remain available for public records that may be viewed under Kansas law.
Does Stafford County publish local probate forms?
No Stafford County probate packet is published. Use the Kansas Judicial Council's statewide forms, including the case-filing cover sheet, Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104, and small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b.
What is the six months will deadline in Stafford County?
A will of a Kansas resident must be petitioned for probate within six months after death, unless a statutory savings provision applies (K.S.A. 59-617). If the family is not ready for full administration, filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a may preserve the will.
Do I have to travel to St. John if I live out of state?
Not always. You may ask for a phone or video appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103, and an out-of-state fiduciary may serve if the Kansas resident-agent requirement is met under K.S.A. 59-1706. The judge decides any remote appearance request under Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 103.
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.