---
title: "Kansas Executor Checklist: First 30 Days | MCC Solutions"
description: "Kansas executor checklist: first 30 days, up to $75,000 small estate limit, notarized affidavit, 2 will witnesses, official court links."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/kansas-executor-checklist"
---

Executor checklist · Kansas

# Kansas executor and estate paperwork checklist

The first 30 days, the small estate route, the will at probate, and the official pages to ask, from this state's own court and statute pages.

**Quick answer.** In the first 30 days, an executor in Kansas orders certified death certificates, finds the original will, secures the home, car and mail, lists what the person owned and owed, and holds off on paying debts until it's clear who has authority. For the small estate route, Kansas's official pages give a limit of up to $75,000 and a notarized affidavit; the paperwork goes to the bank or other holder.

✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials)

**Short answer.** Kansas: up to $75,000 small estate limit; notarized affidavit; handed to the bank or holder; 2 will witnesses; self-proving affidavit allowed. 11 of 11 state facts below are confirmed on official pages.

**This is an organizer, not legal advice.** An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation.

## The first 30 days

Work down the list; nothing you tick is saved or sent. The steps are general, the dates come from the official pages.

- **Order certified death certificates**Through the funeral director or the vital records office. Order several: banks, insurers, pension plans and the court may each want one.
- **Confirm the death was reported to Social Security**Usually the funeral home does this. If it didn't, phone 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778); a widow or widower, or certain children, may qualify for $255.
- **Track down the will**Check the home, a safe deposit box and the lawyer who drafted it. Leave the original exactly as you found it and work from copies.
- **See whether a self-proving affidavit is attached**It's a sworn page signed by the witnesses, usually at the end of the will; the rule for this state is below.
- **Secure the home, car and mail**Lock up, keep the insurance in force, photograph valuables and forward the mail to yourself.
- **Pause before paying creditors or dividing keepsakes**Who may act, and in what order bills get paid, depends on the route. Ask before you spend or distribute anything.
- **Know that a power of attorney has ended**A power of attorney ends when the principal dies; the agent's authority stops there.
- **Write down every asset and debt**For each, record whose name it's in and whether a beneficiary or co-owner is listed; those usually go straight to that person.
- **Check the total against $75,000**The official page's small estate figure. Leave out anything the page says isn't counted.
- **Keep an account of every transaction**Write down each payment and each deposit with the date and a receipt; heirs and the court may ask to see it.
- **Once you have authority: EIN and an estate account**The IRS says you need an EIN before filing the estate's Form 1041, which is due if the estate has more than $600 of gross income in a year.

Sources for the federal steps: [Social Security Administration: When someone dies](https://ssa.gov/personal-record/when-someone-dies) · [IRS: Deceased taxpayers, filing the estate income tax return (Form 1041)](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/deceased-taxpayers-filing-the-estate-income-tax-return-form-1041) · power of attorney: [Power of attorney at a real estate closing](/notary/guides/power-of-attorney-at-a-real-estate-closing).

## The small estate route

- #### ConfirmedSmall estate limit Total assets subject to probate worth no more than $75,000 (amended in 2024). The affidavit transfers personal property only; it doesn't transfer real estate."if the total assets of the estate of the decedent subject to probate do not exceed $75,000 in value" Sources: [K.S.A. 59-1507b, Transfer of property by affidavit (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_015_0007b.html); [Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form under K.S.A. 59-1507b (Rev. 02/2024, PDF)](https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Kansas (Nolo)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-probate-shortcuts-32035.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedReal estate Real estate isn't counted, and the affidavit doesn't transfer it; it needs its own route. Sources: [K.S.A. 59-1507b, Transfer of property by affidavit (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_015_0007b.html); [Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form under K.S.A. 59-1507b (Rev. 02/2024, PDF)](https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Kansas (Nolo)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-probate-shortcuts-32035.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedWaiting period after the death No waiting period: K.S.A. 59-1507b lets the holder transfer once the successor furnishes the affidavit, and the Kansas Judicial Council form (rev. 02/2024) states none."upon such successor furnishing the entity or person with an affidavit showing entitlement thereto" Sources: [K.S.A. 59-1507b, Transfer of property by affidavit (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_015_0007b.html); [Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form under K.S.A. 59-1507b (Rev. 02/2024, PDF)](https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedNotary or oath Signed before a notary. The Kansas Judicial Council's form ends with a notary jurat; it is sworn or affirmed before a notary."SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to (or affirmed) before me on" Source: [Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form under K.S.A. 59-1507b (Rev. 02/2024, PDF)](https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedWhere the paperwork goes Handed to the bank or other holder. The successor furnishes the affidavit to the entity or person holding the asset."upon such successor furnishing the entity or person with an affidavit showing entitlement thereto" Sources: [K.S.A. 59-1507b, Transfer of property by affidavit (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_015_0007b.html); [Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form under K.S.A. 59-1507b (Rev. 02/2024, PDF)](https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Kansas (Nolo)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-probate-shortcuts-32035.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedOfficial form Small Estates Affidavit, Transferring Certain Personal Property in Estates Under $75,000 (Kansas Judicial Council, Rev. 02/2024). Kansas Judicial Council form under K.S.A. 59-1507b, revised 02/2024; it can be used in place of KDOR Form TR-83b and asks for a certified copy of the death certificate. Sources: [Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form under K.S.A. 59-1507b (Rev. 02/2024, PDF)](https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000); [K.S.A. 59-1507b, Transfer of property by affidavit (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_015_0007b.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedSimplified court procedure Simplified administration: As Nolo's summary describes it: for small estates that don't fit the affidavit, the probate court may, at its discretion, grant simplified administration, in which the representative takes more steps without court supervision. Source: [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Kansas (Nolo)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-probate-shortcuts-32035.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedWorth knowing The Judicial Council form notes that the limit was raised from $40,000 effective July 1, 2023. Vehicle VIN and odometer details are needed only when the form goes to the Department of Revenue's Division of Vehicles for a title transfer. Source: [Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form under K.S.A. 59-1507b (Rev. 02/2024, PDF)](https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000), checked November 2026

## The will at probate

How the will had to be signed matters when it's offered to the court.

- #### ConfirmedWitnesses the will needed Two or more witnesses who saw the testator sign or heard the testator acknowledge the will, signing in the testator's presence."two or more competent witnesses, who saw the testator subscribe or heard the testator acknowledge the will" Sources: [K.S.A. 59-606, Execution and attestation; self-proved wills (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_006_0006.html); [K.S.A. 59-604, Devise or bequest to witness (Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_006_0004.html); [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make Will in Kansas (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-make-will-32192.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedSelf-proving affidavit Allowed at signing or later during the lives of the testator and witnesses, before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments and administer oaths."before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments to deeds of conveyance and to administer oaths" Sources: [K.S.A. 59-606, Execution and attestation; self-proved wills (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_006_0006.html); [K.S.A. 59-604, Devise or bequest to witness (Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_006_0004.html); [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make Will in Kansas (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-make-will-32192.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedIf the will is handwritten Not recognized, per Nolo's Kansas page (updated September 2025)."Kansas doesn't allow holographic wills." Source: [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make Will in Kansas (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-make-will-32192.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedA witness who inherits A gift to a witness is void unless two other competent witnesses who get nothing also signed. A witness who would inherit with no will can still take up to that share."A beneficial devise or bequest made in a will to a subscribing witness thereto shall" Sources: [K.S.A. 59-606, Execution and attestation; self-proved wills (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_006_0006.html); [K.S.A. 59-604, Devise or bequest to witness (Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes)](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_006_0004.html); [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make Will in Kansas (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-make-will-32192.html), checked November 2026

## Want us to handle it?

We order certified records, pick up and deliver documents, get the small estate affidavit signed and notarized, and file papers near where the estate is, in any state. We are not lawyers.

**Price:** Quote-based, from $199 per job plus government and court fees at cost. Starting rates. Your exact price is quoted after we confirm a local notary/runner, before you pay.

[Ask for estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state#request)

## Documents to gather

- The last few years of tax returns
- Recent bills, loan and credit card statements
- Pension, Social Security and benefit letters
- Safe deposit box location and keys
- Certified death certificates
- The original will and any codicils
- Deeds and mortgage statements
- Vehicle titles and registrations
- Recent bank, brokerage and retirement statements
- Life insurance policies and annuities
- The official small estate form: Small Estates Affidavit, Transferring Certain Personal Property in Estates Under $75,000 (Kansas Judicial Council, Rev. 02/2024)

## Who to notify

Credit card companies, Pension or employer, Social Security (if the funeral home hasn't), Banks and credit unions, Brokerage and retirement accounts, Life insurance companies, Utilities and phone, Landlord or mortgage servicer. Write once to each, enclose a death certificate copy, and record the reply.

## Documents needed abroad

- #### ConfirmedA death certificate needed abroad Apostilles for this state's documents come from the Kansas Secretary of State. $10 per document (raised from the earlier fee on March 2, 2026). Vital records: The original or a certified copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate or divorce decree; certified copies come from the Office of Vital Statistics. Source: [Kansas Secretary of State](https://www.kssos.org/general-services/apostilles-authentications.html), checked November 2026

## Where to ask

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Official pages for Kansas:

- [Probate Shortcuts in Kansas (Nolo)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/kansas-probate-shortcuts-32035.html)

Kansas kit

## Kansas Executor and Estate Kit

This checklist as printable Word and PDF files: a start-here guide, the first 30 days, the small estate route with its official links, a documents and accounts tracker, plain notification letters (bank, utilities, Social Security), and an Excel estate ledger for assets, debts, payments and distributions.

[Get the kit, $25](/toolkits/ks-executor-kit)

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. We are not lawyers, and MCC Solutions is not a law firm. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Facts checked November 2026.

## Common questions

**Is there a small estate route in Kansas?**

On the official pages we read: Total assets subject to probate worth no more than $75,000 (amended in 2024). The affidavit transfers personal property only; it doesn't transfer real estate. Handed to the bank or other holder. The successor furnishes the affidavit to the entity or person holding the asset.

**How soon after the death can the Kansas small estate paperwork be used?**

No waiting period: K.S.A. 59-1507b lets the holder transfer once the successor furnishes the affidavit, and the Kansas Judicial Council form (rev. 02/2024) states none.

**Does the small estate paperwork in Kansas need a notary?**

Signed before a notary. The Kansas Judicial Council's form ends with a notary jurat; it is sworn or affirmed before a notary.

**Is there an official Kansas form?**

Small Estates Affidavit, Transferring Certain Personal Property in Estates Under $75,000 (Kansas Judicial Council, Rev. 02/2024). Kansas Judicial Council form under K.S.A. 59-1507b, revised 02/2024; it can be used in place of KDOR Form TR-83b and asks for a certified copy of the death certificate. Link: https://kjc.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2400/638624814827330000

**How many witnesses did a will in Kansas need?**

Two or more witnesses who saw the testator sign or heard the testator acknowledge the will, signing in the testator's presence.

**What about a self-proving affidavit in Kansas?**

Allowed at signing or later during the lives of the testator and witnesses, before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments and administer oaths.

**Who answers questions about an estate in Kansas?**

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. The official pages behind this checklist: Probate Shortcuts in Kansas (Nolo).

Related: [Executor guide by state](/notary/executor-guide-by-state) · [Will signing requirements](/notary/will-signing-requirements-kansas) · [Apostille steps](/notary/apostille-kansas) · [Estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state)

## Family far from the estate?

[See estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)