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Washington County, KS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Washington County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Washington County District Court, in Kansas's 12th Judicial District under K.S.A. 4-213 |
| Courthouse address | Washington County Courthouse, 214 C Street, Washington, KS 66968 |
| Mailing address | 214 C Street, Washington, KS 66968. No separate mailing address is published for Washington County. |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court for Washington County under K.S.A. 20-343 |
| Phone | 785-325-2381 |
| Fax | 785-325-2557 |
| Hours | Call 785-325-2381 before traveling to confirm the clerk counter schedule. The Washington County Self-Help Center posts Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and states that it is not staffed. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, a probate estate filing is $131.50, made up of the $109.50 statutory amount plus the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030, under K.S.A. 59-104. Other court costs are assessed as the court directs under K.S.A. 59-104(d). |
| Local forms | Washington County does not publish a county-specific probate packet. Use statewide Kansas Judicial Council forms where available, including the case-filing cover sheet and the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form. |
| E-filing | Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A person filing without a lawyer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax, or the courthouse drop box under the Kansas self-represented filing rule. |
| Drop box | A courthouse drop box is available for Washington County filings. A document deposited by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day. |
| Case search | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the statewide search site. Washington County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so documents from that date forward may be available online, while case information is searchable statewide. |
| Remote appearance | Remote appearance is discretionary under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. Use the Kansas Judicial Council motion form and ask the clerk which procedure the 12th Judicial District uses. |
| Website | Kansas Judicial Branch 12th Judicial District page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Washington County, make a working list of the assets, debts, tax documents, likely heirs, and whether there is a will. Kansas's filing path can change depending on whether the estate includes real estate, whether letters are needed, and whether the will must be preserved within six months under K.S.A. 59-617.
Sunset can support estate settlement by helping families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organize what was found into a probate-ready packet for Washington County.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Washington County probate is filed with the clerk of the district court for Washington County at the courthouse in Washington, Kansas. The county sits in Kansas's 12th Judicial District with Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, and Republic counties under K.S.A. 4-213, but K.S.A. 20-343 provides for a clerk of the district court in each county, so a Washington County case is filed in Washington County.
Venue is governed by K.S.A. 59-2203. If the decedent was a Kansas resident and owned real property in the county of residence, the proceeding belongs in that county. If the decedent did not own real property in the county of residence, the petition may be filed in the county of residence or in a county where the decedent owned real property. For a nonresident decedent, venue may be any Kansas county where property must be administered. If cases are started in more than one county, the first-filed proceeding controls unless the court transfers the file to the proper county.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the will if one exists, asset information, debt information, and names and addresses of heirs, devisees, and legatees. If there is a will, decide quickly whether to file a petition to probate it, because a Kansas will cannot pass property unless a petition is filed within six months after death under K.S.A. 59-617, unless a savings provision applies.
- If the family is not ready to open a full estate but needs to preserve a will, consider filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a. Kansas allows the will or a copy to be filed with the affidavit for preservation if the filing is made within six months under K.S.A. 59-617.
- Choose the filing path before drafting. A small estates affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b is presented to the property holder and is not a court filing. Court options can include refusal to grant letters under K.S.A. 59-2287, determination of descent under K.S.A. 59-2250 after the required time has passed, informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301, or simplified administration or supervised administration as the court determines under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Prepare the petition for the Washington County District Court. If you want simplified administration, ask for it in the petition and give reasons, because the court decides under K.S.A. 59-3202.
- Add the required statewide filing documents. A new case needs a case-filing cover sheet, and a person filing without a lawyer must include the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form.
- File with the Washington County clerk of the district court under K.S.A. 20-343 at 214 C Street in Washington, by mail to that address, by fax to 785-325-2557, or by the courthouse drop box. A drop-box filing deposited by 4:00 p.m. local time counts that day. As of August 2026, the probate estate docket fee is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104, unless the court grants relief through a Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
- The court fixes the hearing after the petition is filed. For petitions covered by K.S.A. 59-2222, notice is published once per week for three consecutive weeks under K.S.A. 59-2209, and copies are mailed as required with the petition, attachments, and will when applicable.
- Publish notice to creditors within the Kansas deadline. Under K.S.A. 59-709, notice to creditors is published in a county newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks, and the personal representative gives actual notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors. Claims are barred unless presented within the later of four months from first publication or 30 days after actual notice under K.S.A. 59-2239.
- Attend the hearing, or ask in advance for permission to appear by phone or video under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. If the court grants authority, it admits the will and grants 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 under K.S.A. 59-1201 unless the court gives more time. Administer the estate, address allowed claims, pay taxes and expenses, and keep records for final settlement.
- To close, file the petition for final settlement and accounting. The court enters a final decree assigning the estate under K.S.A. 59-2247 and K.S.A. 59-2249, and real estate assignments are handled through the statutory transfer process described in K.S.A. 59-2249.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Washington County
Washington County does not publish a county-specific probate packet on the Kansas Judicial Branch 12th District page. Kansas forms come mainly from the Kansas Judicial Council, and they are statewide.
| Form or resource | How it applies in Washington County |
|---|---|
| Case-filing cover sheet | Required when opening a new case in the Washington County District Court. |
| Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form | Required when a person files without a lawyer. |
| Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b | Used outside the court case process by presenting it to the person or institution holding personal property. |
| Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104 | Used to ask the court to waive all or part of a required probate docket fee under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video | Used to request a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
| Probate notice of hearing form | A statewide Judicial Council probate notice form is available for notice practice under Kansas probate procedure. |
Kansas does not provide a fill-in petition for the document that opens a probate estate. Those petitions are drafted from the Kansas Probate Code requirements or prepared with legal help.
Local nuance
Washington County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Washington County eCourt date | Washington County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022. Case information is searchable through Kansas Courts CaseSearch, and documents from that date forward may be available online. |
| Recovered fax number | The Washington County court fax is 785-325-2557. Fax is one of the filing channels for people filing without a lawyer. |
| Self-help center | The Washington County Self-Help Center posts Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and states that it is not staffed. Its listed resources are a computer and printer, Westlaw legal research database, and Bradley child support software. |
| Drop box | Washington County has a courthouse drop box. A document deposited by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day. |
| Remote appearance platform | No platform is named on the local page. Ask the clerk how to present a remote appearance request under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 court fee legislation | The $22 surcharge authorized by K.S.A. 59-104 was extended through June 30, 2030. As of August 2026, a probate estate filing in Washington County is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. |
| 2026 nonresident fiduciary rule | A nonresident personal representative must appoint a resident agent in Kansas under K.S.A. 59-1706. The 2026 change allows that agent to reside anywhere in Kansas. |
| 2025 case search change | Kansas Courts CaseSearch is the statewide public case information search. Washington County's eCourt start date is July 11, 2022. |
| 2024 creditor notice timing | The notice to creditors publication window under K.S.A. 59-709 changed, and claims remain governed by K.S.A. 59-2239. |
| 2023 affidavit update | The Kansas small estates affidavit amount under K.S.A. 59-1507b was updated effective July 1, 2023. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Washington County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled. If a court filing is needed, the Washington County District Court filing office is at 214 C Street in Washington. Spousal rights, homestead allowance issues under K.S.A. 59-6a215, and elective-share notice under K.S.A. 59-2233 can make legal advice important. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and debt information, and prepare an estate settlement summary for the lawyer or the court packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the property is personal property and the estate fits K.S.A. 59-1507b, the Small Estates Affidavit may resolve the account without opening a court case. 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 can ask for remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. | Sunset helps identify institutions, generate an organized asset list, and connect the family to Kansas counsel if letters or a court order are 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 evaluate a court path such as 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, and must keep the six-month will rule under K.S.A. 59-617 in mind. | Sunset helps assemble property, mortgage, creditor, and account details so the attorney can choose the cleanest sale path and prepare the Washington County filing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Washington 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. It is not staffed. Listed resources are a computer and printer, Westlaw legal research database, and Bradley child support software. | Use it for access to research and basic courthouse technology. Call 785-325-2381 before traveling. |
| Kansas Judicial Branch probate self-help page | Statewide probate and elder law information, glossary, and links to forms. | Use it to understand Kansas probate terms and where statewide forms are located. |
| 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. Rule 103. | Download the forms that match your filing. The Council does not prepare your petition or choose your legal strategy. |
| Kansas Legal Services | Statewide nonprofit civil legal help for eligible Kansans. Intake phone is 316-267-3975, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. | Call to ask whether your situation fits current eligibility and case priorities. |
| Kansas Elder Hotline | Free legal advice program through Kansas Legal Services for Kansas residents age 60 or older. | Call 316-267-3975 if the decedent's spouse, heir, or family member seeking help is 60 or older and qualifies. |
| Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Referral route for finding a Kansas lawyer. | Use the KBA client referral page if the estate needs counsel for a house sale, disputed heirs, creditor issues, or fiduciary questions. |
| Sunset | Asset discovery, probate packet generation, and attorney connection for estate settlement. | Use Sunset to organize the work before filing or before meeting with a Kansas probate attorney. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Washington County when there is real estate to sell, a missed or approaching six-month will deadline under K.S.A. 59-617, a dispute among heirs, a nonresident personal representative who must appoint a resident agent under K.S.A. 59-1706, creditor problems, or uncertainty about whether informal administration under K.S.A. 59-3301 or simplified administration under K.S.A. 59-3202 fits the estate settlement. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families turn scattered account information into an organized estate settlement inventory for Washington County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to assemble a probate-ready packet with the local court address, known filing channels, and the statewide Kansas forms that apply.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, a dispute, a nonresident fiduciary, or a filing deadline, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Kansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement workload, find assets, and prepare for the next filing step without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Washington County, Kansas?
File with the clerk of the district court for Washington County under K.S.A. 20-343 at the Washington County Courthouse, 214 C Street, Washington, KS 66968. Washington County is in Kansas's 12th Judicial District under K.S.A. 4-213, but the filing stays in Washington County.
What is the filing fee to open a Washington County probate estate?
As of August 2026, the probate estate docket fee is $131.50 under K.S.A. 59-104. That amount includes the $109.50 statutory fee and the $22 surcharge authorized through June 30, 2030, under K.S.A. 59-104. Other costs, such as publication or attorney fees, are separate court costs under K.S.A. 59-104(d).
Can I e-file a Washington County probate case without a lawyer?
Kansas-licensed attorneys file electronically under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 122. A person filing without a lawyer uses the clerk's office, mail, fax, or the courthouse drop box. Washington County's fax number is 785-325-2557.
Is there a drop box for Washington County filings?
Yes. Washington County has a courthouse drop box for filings by people without a lawyer. A document placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. local time counts as filed that day.
Can I appear by phone or video in Washington County probate?
Possibly. Remote appearance is discretionary under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. File the Kansas Judicial Council Motion to Appear in Court by Phone or Video, notify the other parties, and ask the clerk which procedure the 12th Judicial District uses.
How do I look up a Washington County probate case?
Use Kansas Courts CaseSearch for statewide case information. Washington County joined Kansas eCourt on July 11, 2022, so documents from that date forward may be available online, while the courthouse public terminal remains the place to view the full public file that the law allows.
Does Washington County have local probate forms?
Washington County does not publish a county-specific probate packet. Use Kansas Judicial Council statewide forms where they exist, including the Small Estates Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b, the case-filing cover sheet, the Self-Represented Litigant Certification Form, and the Poverty Affidavit under K.S.A. 59-104.
What deadline matters most if there is a will?
Kansas has a six-month will rule. A will of a Kansas resident cannot pass property unless a petition to probate the will is filed within six months after death, unless a savings provision applies under K.S.A. 59-617. Filing a will and affidavit under K.S.A. 59-618a can preserve the will if done in time.
When will the hearing be set?
The court fixes the hearing after the petition is filed. When notice under K.S.A. 59-2209 is required, it is published once per week for three consecutive weeks, and the hearing date falls within the statutory window after the last publication. Call the clerk at 785-325-2381 for current local scheduling.
Do I need to travel to Washington, Kansas?
You may be able to reduce travel by filing by mail, fax, or drop box and by requesting a remote appearance under Kan. Sup. Ct. Rule 103. The judge decides whether to allow phone or video participation.
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.