Probate and Recording Deeds in Sedgwick County (Wichita), Kansas
Where to file a will or open probate, and where to record a deed, in Sedgwick County (Wichita) — with the state rules that apply.
Probate court
18th Judicial District Court (Sedgwick County) - Probate
Phone: (316) 660-5900 (Main)
Recording deeds
Sedgwick County Register of Deeds
E-recording: yes - vendors listed include CSC (https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/register-of-deeds/erecording/)
Recording fee: $21 for recording deeds, mortgages or other instruments, first page (not to exceed legal size); $17 for second page and each additional page (Heritage & Tech fee included; fees set by K.S.A. 28-115) Fee schedule
Kansas rules that apply
| Small estate affidavit | If the total probate assets of a Kansas resident do not exceed $75,000, personal property (for example bank accounts and vehicles) can be transferred to a successor without opening probate, by giving the holder an affidavit showing entitlement. A successor is a person entitled to the property under the will or by intestate succession, or the person named as executor in the will. The affidavit is sufficient if it substantially follows the Kansas Judicial Council form; it is not filed with the court. It covers personal property only, not real estate. The statute does not set a waiting period. The $75,000 limit took effect July 1, 2023 (L. 2023, ch. 77); the statute was amended again in 2024 to clarify who is a successor. Source: K.S.A. 59-1507b |
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| Probate steps | File a petition for probate of the will or for administration in district court (a will must generally be offered for probate within six months after death to pass property). The petition lists heirs, beneficiaries and the general value of the estate. Notice is published, including notice to creditors, and mailed to known creditors. The executor or administrator receives letters, files a verified inventory and valuation within 30 days after appointment, pays valid claims, and then petitions for final settlement. At the hearing the court approves the account and issues a decree assigning the estate; a decree that includes real estate is sent to the county for the transfer record. |
| Signing and recording a deed | A deed must be signed by the grantor or the grantor's authorized agent. It is acknowledged before a notary under Kansas notary law and recorded with the register of deeds of the county where the property is located; the full name and mailing address of the person receiving the property must be given when recording. A real estate sales validation questionnaire must accompany most deeds for recording (it is not itself recorded). |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Yes. An owner can sign a transfer-on-death (TOD) deed naming one or more beneficiaries. It must be signed, acknowledged before a notary and recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the property is located before the owner's death; the statute provides the form wording. The beneficiary does not need to be told or consent, and the deed can be revoked or changed by a later recorded instrument, but not by a will. On death, title vests in the beneficiary subject to existing mortgages, liens and any state Medicaid claim. Source: K.S.A. 59-3501 to 59-3504 |
All Kansas wills, probate and estate rules · Eviction court and tenant help in Sedgwick County (Wichita)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.