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Free · general informationKansas
What to do when someone dies in Kansas
The first things Kansas’s own law asks for after a death, quoted word for word, then the pages for everything that follows, in the order it usually comes. Nothing here decides what a particular family must do. That belongs to the office named, the court, or an attorney in Kansas.
Every fact dated, in the official words
Each state’s own law
Every quotation checked October 24, 2026
Your planner for Kansas is ready.US$39 once, printed at home.
Pages taken from the planner, by email: who to phone first, and a blank records sheet.
Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.
§1Filing the death certificate: how soon, and before burial or removal
Registering the death comes first. These are Kansas’s own words on who files the record, and how soon.
(a) A death certificate or stillbirth certificate for each death or stillbirth that occurs in this state shall be filed with the state registrar within three days after such death and prior to removal of the body from the state
(d) In every instance a certificate shall be filed prior to interment or disposal of the body.
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 65-2412(a), (d)
§2Who files the death certificate, and the state’s electronic system
(b) (1) The funeral director or person acting as such who first assumes custody of a dead body shall file the death certificate.
(e) Any death certificate, stillbirth certificate or certification of cause of death required to be filed by this section shall be filed through the Kansas electronic death registration system maintained by the Kansas department of health and environment.
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 65-2412(b)(1), (e)
§3What the person holding the will must do, and contempt for refusing
The will has its own rules. These are Kansas’s own words on who brings it to the court after a death, and what the court does with it.
After the death of a testator the person having custody of the testator's will shall deliver it to the court which has jurisdiction thereof. Every person who willfully neglects or refuses to deliver a will after being duly ordered to do so shall be guilty of contempt of court.
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 59-621
§4Knowingly withholding a will from the court, and the liability for it
Any person who has possession of the will of a testator dying a resident of this state, or has knowledge of such will and access to it for the purpose of probate, and knowingly withholds it from the district court having jurisdiction to probate it for more than six months after the death of the testator shall be liable for reasonable attorney fees, costs and all damages sustained by beneficiaries under the will
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 59-618
§5Filing a will with the court to preserve it for record, before any probate
(a) Any person possessing a decedent's will may file in the district court of the county of the decedent's last residence the decedent's will or a copy of such will and an affidavit that complies with subsection (b).
that the will is being filed with the district court for the purpose of preserving it for record in the event that probate proceedings are later required
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 59-618a(a), (b)(1)(D)
(a) A death certificate or stillbirth certificate for each death or stillbirth that occurs in this state shall be filed with the state registrar within three days after such death and prior to removal of the body from the state
(d) In every instance a certificate shall be filed prior to interment or disposal of the body.
(b) (1) The funeral director or person acting as such who first assumes custody of a dead body shall file the death certificate.
(e) Any death certificate, stillbirth certificate or certification of cause of death required to be filed by this section shall be filed through the Kansas electronic death registration system maintained by the Kansas department of health and environment.
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 65-2412(b)(1), (e)
After the death of a testator the person having custody of the testator's will shall deliver it to the court which has jurisdiction thereof. Every person who willfully neglects or refuses to deliver a will after being duly ordered to do so shall be guilty of contempt of court.
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 59-621
Any person who has possession of the will of a testator dying a resident of this state, or has knowledge of such will and access to it for the purpose of probate, and knowingly withholds it from the district court having jurisdiction to probate it for more than six months after the death of the testator shall be liable for reasonable attorney fees, costs and all damages sustained by beneficiaries under the will
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 59-618
(a) Any person possessing a decedent's will may file in the district court of the county of the decedent's last residence the decedent's will or a copy of such will and an affidavit that complies with subsection (b).
that the will is being filed with the district court for the purpose of preserving it for record in the event that probate proceedings are later required
Kansas · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · K.S.A. 59-618a(a), (b)(1)(D)
