Probate Plainly

State guide

Kansas

Kansas requires a notice to creditors when a petition for administration or probate of a will is filed, and the publication period was lengthened to three consecutive weeks. Kansas also has a short outside window: creditors generally cannot reach probate property unless a probate or administration petition is filed within six months after death. ([kslegislature.gov](https://kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/laws/059_000_0000_chapter/059_007_0000_article/059_007_0009_section/059_007_0009_k/?utm_source=openai))

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

Publishing the notice
In Kansas, the petitioner gives notice pursuant to court order by publishing once a week for three consecutive weeks in a county newspaper authorized by law to publish legal notices; qualified newspapers are defined by K.S.A. 64-101. ([kslegislature.gov](https://kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/laws/059_000_0000_chapter/059_007_0000_article/059_007_0009_section/059_007_0009_k/?utm_source=openai))
Creditor claim deadline
later of 4 months after first publication or 30 days after actual notice to a known or reasonably ascertainable creditor ([kslegislature.gov](https://kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/laws/059_000_0000_chapter/059_022_0000_article/059_022_0039_section/059_022_0039_k/?utm_source=openai))
Outside deadline
6 months after death to file a probate or administration petition if a creditor wants to reach probate property ([kslegislature.gov](https://kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/laws/059_000_0000_chapter/059_022_0000_article/059_022_0039_section/059_022_0039_k/?utm_source=openai))
Law
K.S.A. 59-709; 59-2236; 59-2239; 64-101
Small-estate limit
$75,000 in probate assets for successor affidavit under K.S.A. 59-1507b ([kslegislature.gov](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/laws/059_000_0000_chapter/059_015_0000_article/059_015_0007b_section/059_015_0007b_k/?utm_source=openai))

Official resources in Kansas

K.S.A. 59-709

Official current statute requiring notice to creditors and actual notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors.

K.S.A. 59-2236

Official current statute stating the contents of the publication notice to creditors.

K.S.A. 59-2239

Official current nonclaim statute with the four-month publication deadline and six-month after-death outside limit.

K.S.A. 64-101

Official statute describing what newspaper is qualified to publish Kansas legal notices.

Kansas Judicial Council Probate Forms

Official Kansas Judicial Council probate forms and instructions page used by self-represented filers.

Key facts for Kansas

What to do next

  1. When filing the petition, calendar the 30-day deadline to get the creditor notice published and preserve the proof of publication.
  2. Send actual notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors by first-class mail as soon as their identities and addresses are known.
  3. Check whether the estate qualifies for the $75,000 small-estate affidavit before opening a full probate case.

Helpful guides

Creditor deadline calculator →

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