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Stevens County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Stevens County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Stevens County District Court, in Kansas's 26th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-227) |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court at the Stevens County Courthouse (K.S.A. 20-343) |
| Courthouse address | Stevens County Courthouse, 200 E 6th, Hugoton, KS 67951 |
| Mailing address | 200 E 6th, Hugoton, KS 67951 |
| Phone | 620-544-2484 |
| Fax | 620-544-2528 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, a probate estate filing is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104, made up of a $109.50 docket fee under K.S.A. 59-104 plus a $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 Stevens County probate packet, checklist or local probate cover sheet is published. Use the statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms where they fit. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys must e-file under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A self-represented filer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax or the courthouse drop box, and a drop-box filing deposited by 4:00 p.m. local time counts that day. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the statewide public search. Stevens County case documents are online from September 12, 2022, forward, with older public records available at the courthouse terminal. |
| Remote appearance | A party may ask to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. The judge decides the request. |
| Website | Stevens County District Court department page: http://stevenscoks.org/departments/clerk_of_the_district_court.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Kansas probate path, list the assets, debts, titled property, beneficiary designations and any will. That first inventory drives whether Stevens County needs a court case, a no-court affidavit for personal property, a refusal to grant letters, a determination of descent, informal administration, simplified administration or supervised administration.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families look for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions, organize what belongs in a Stevens County filing, and decide when a local attorney should review the plan.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Stevens County probate is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Stevens County Courthouse in Hugoton (K.S.A. 20-343). The court is the Stevens County District Court, which sits in Kansas's 26th Judicial District with Grant, Haskell, Morton, Seward and Stanton counties (K.S.A. 4-227), but the filing counter for Stevens County remains in Hugoton.
Kansas venue depends on residence and real property. If a Kansas resident died owning real property in the county of residence, proceedings belong in that county. If the person did not own real property in the county of residence, the case may be filed in the county of residence or in any county where the person owned real property. For a nonresident, proceedings may be filed in any Kansas county where estate property is to be administered. If cases are started in more than one county, the first-filed case controls until venue is decided, and a misfiled case is transferred rather than dismissed (K.S.A. 59-2203).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the will, death certificate, asset list and debt list. If the person died a Kansas resident and left a will, decide immediately how to protect that will. Kansas's six-month will rule says the will cannot pass property unless a petition to probate it is filed within six months after death, unless a savings rule applies (K.S.A. 59-617).
- Choose the Kansas path before preparing papers. The small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b is for qualifying personal property and is presented to the holder, not opened as a court case. Court routes include refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250 after the statutory time has run, filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a to preserve a will, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, and simplified administration or supervised administration under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Prepare the petition for Stevens County. If you want simplified administration, ask for it in the petition and give the reasons the court should use that route (K.S.A. 59-3202). A self-represented filer also adds the Kansas Judicial Council case-filing cover sheet and the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form.
- File with the clerk of the district court at 200 E 6th in Hugoton (K.S.A. 20-343). A self-represented filer may file in person, by mail, by fax to 620-544-2528, or by courthouse drop box. As of August 2026, the probate estate filing fee is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. If you cannot afford it, ask about the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
- The court fixes the hearing after the petition is filed (K.S.A. 59-2222). For a self-represented drop-box filing, use the 4:00 p.m. local cutoff carefully because it can matter when the six-month will rule under K.S.A. 59-617 is close.
- Give notice as ordered. Hearing notice is published once a week for three consecutive weeks, with mailing to the required people and the petition and will attached unless the court excuses it (K.S.A. 59-2209). Notice to creditors is also part of the Kansas process and is handled under K.S.A. 59-709.
- Attend the hearing or ask for permission to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. The court, not the clerk, admits the will 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.
- After letters are granted, file the inventory and valuation within 30 days unless the court allows more time (K.S.A. 59-1201). The personal representative collects assets, handles claims, pays valid debts and taxes, and keeps records for final settlement.
- Track creditor deadlines. A demand is barred 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). Kansas also has a separate six-month creditor rule tied to filing a probate or administration petition (K.S.A. 59-2239).
- Close with a petition for final settlement and the court's final decree assigning the estate (K.S.A. 59-2247, K.S.A. 59-2249). If real estate is assigned, the decree is used for the county transfer records as Kansas law requires.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Stevens County
Kansas publishes free statewide forms through the Kansas Judicial Council, but Stevens County does not publish a separate local probate packet, checklist or local probate cover sheet. The statewide forms most often relevant to a Stevens County family are the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, the case-filing cover sheet, 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. Rule 103.
The Kansas Judicial Council does not publish a fill-in petition for opening a probate estate. A petition for administration or probate of a will is drafted from the Kansas Probate Code requirements, and many families use an attorney for that document.
Local nuance
Stevens County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Stevens County |
|---|---|
| Lunch closure | The clerk's office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Plan filings around the noon closure. |
| Drop box | Stevens County is not one of the Kansas counties without a courthouse drop box. A self-represented filing deposited by 4:00 p.m. local time counts that day. |
| CaseSearch documents | Stevens County joined Kansas eCourt on September 12, 2022. Case information is searchable statewide, while online case documents begin from that date. |
| Resident judges | The 26th Judicial District page lists both a district judge and a district magistrate judge seated in Stevens County. A district magistrate judge may hear Kansas probate matters, including matters involving real estate title (K.S.A. 20-302b). |
| No listed local self-help center | The Kansas District Court Self-Help Center directory does not list a Stevens County center. Use the clerk's office for filing logistics and statewide resources for forms and legal information. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 2026 | The $22 surcharge authority for Kansas probate docket fees was extended through June 30, 2030 under K.S.A. 59-104. The standard Stevens County probate estate filing remains $131.50 as of August 2026 under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| 2026 | A nonresident fiduciary's written resident agent may now reside anywhere in Kansas, rather than in the county of appointment, under K.S.A. 59-1706. |
| 2025 | Kansas Courts CaseSearch replaced the former statewide public case search tool. Stevens County case documents are online from the county's September 12, 2022 Kansas eCourt start date forward. |
| 2024 | The Kansas notice to creditors publication window moved from 10 days to 30 days after filing under K.S.A. 59-709. |
| 2023 | The Kansas small estates affidavit amount became $75,000 effective July 1, 2023 under K.S.A. 59-1507b. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Stevens County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by identifying how the Hugoton or Stevens County home is titled. A jointly owned home may need a joint-tenancy filing instead of a full estate administration. If a will exists, protect the six-month will rule under K.S.A. 59-617, and watch the spouse's Kansas elective-share notice rights. | Sunset helps organize title clues, account information and debts so the spouse can see whether estate settlement needs a court petition, a title filing or attorney review. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the estate has qualifying personal property and no real estate issue, the small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b may solve the bank or account transfer. If letters are needed, an out-of-state personal representative can serve after appointing a Kansas resident agent in writing under K.S.A. 59-706 and K.S.A. 59-1706, and may ask for a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare a clean asset summary, and connect the child with a Kansas attorney if a Stevens County petition or resident agent filing is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b does not transfer a house. The parent should 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 plan, and should protect any will under K.S.A. 59-617. | Sunset helps assemble the asset and debt picture, identify real estate issues early, and find a local probate attorney for the sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Stevens County clerk of the district court | Call 620-544-2484 for filing logistics, current hours, fax filing questions and local hearing instructions. The clerk accepts filings for the Stevens County District Court (K.S.A. 20-343). |
| Kansas Judicial Branch probate self-help | The statewide probate and elder law page explains Kansas probate terms and links to forms: self-help.kscourts.gov/ProbateAndElderLaw. |
| Kansas Judicial Council forms | Free statewide forms include 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 Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
| Stevens County District Court Self-Help Center | The statewide directory does not list a Stevens County center. Use the clerk's office for filing logistics and statewide resources for forms and legal information. |
| Kansas Legal Services | Kansas Legal Services is a statewide nonprofit law firm for low- and moderate-income Kansans. Call 316-267-3975 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays to apply for help. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Kansas residents age 60 or older may call 316-267-3975 to ask whether the Elder Hotline can provide free legal advice. |
| Kansas Bar Association lawyer referral | The Kansas Bar Association's referral route is ksbar.org/?pg=clientreferrals. |
| Kansas Courts CaseSearch | Use casesearch.kscourts.gov to look up public Kansas district court case information. Stevens County online case documents begin September 12, 2022. |
When to hire an attorney
Attorney help is especially useful when a Stevens County estate includes real estate, a will close to the six-month will rule under K.S.A. 59-617, disagreement among heirs, creditor issues, a nonresident fiduciary who needs a resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706, or a petition for informal administration, simplified administration or supervised administration. Kansas does not set a percentage fee schedule for the personal representative or attorney. The court allows compensation that is just and reasonable under K.S.A. 59-1717. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets that may affect Stevens County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset list, debts and filing details so the next step is clearer, whether the path is a Kansas Judicial Council form, a Stevens County court petition or attorney drafting.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Kansas filing needs legal judgment, real estate work or court representation, Sunset helps connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement tasks, gather records and move from uncertainty to a practical probate plan.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Stevens County, Kansas?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Stevens County Courthouse, 200 E 6th, Hugoton, KS 67951 (K.S.A. 20-343). The court is the Stevens County District Court in Kansas's 26th Judicial District (K.S.A. 4-227).
Can I e-file a Stevens County probate case?
Kansas-licensed attorneys must e-file under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A self-represented filer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax or the courthouse drop box. For Stevens County fax filing, use 620-544-2528 and the required fax transmission sheet.
What is the filing fee to open a probate estate in Stevens County?
As of August 2026, the Stevens County probate estate filing fee is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. That total is the $109.50 docket fee under K.S.A. 59-104 plus the $22 surcharge under K.S.A. 59-104. Other costs, such as publication, may be charged as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d).
Does Stevens County have local probate forms?
Stevens County does not publish a local probate packet or local probate checklist. Use the free statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms where they apply, 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 Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103.
How do I look up a Stevens County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch at casesearch.kscourts.gov. Public case information is searchable statewide. Stevens County case documents are online from September 12, 2022, forward, and older public documents or documents not available online can be reviewed at the courthouse terminal during available public access hours.
Do I have to travel to Hugoton for a probate hearing?
You may ask the court for permission to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103, using the Kansas Judicial Council motion form. The judge decides whether to allow the remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103, so ask early and notify the other parties as the rule requires.
What if the will was not filed right away?
Kansas's six-month will rule is important. A will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition to probate it is filed within six months after death, unless a savings rule applies (K.S.A. 59-617). Filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a can preserve a will within that period even if a full estate is not ready.
Does Stevens County have a courthouse drop box?
Yes. Stevens County is not one of the Kansas counties listed without a courthouse drop box. A self-represented filing placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day, which can matter for the six-month will rule under K.S.A. 59-617.
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.