Inheritance & Estate Distribution Lawyers in Wichita

Whether you are planning your estate or inheriting from a recently deceased loved one, a Wichita inheritance attorney at Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A. can answer your questions and advise you regarding the best way to proceed. Inheritance lawyers can:

Structure your estate to avoid probate and reduce taxes
Assist trustees and successor trustees with trust administration
Guide executors through the probate process
Represent heirs when someone dies without a will

If a family member passed away without leaving a will, or if that loved one’s estate is complicated, get the legal assistance you need by scheduling a consultation with a Wichita inheritance lawyer at Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A.

What Happens to Your Will After Your Death?

In Kansas, when someone who has left a will passes away, the will usually must be verified by a probate court and subjected to the probate process. Handwritten wills aren’t valid, but oral wills are allowed for giving away personal property if they are made during someone’s final illness.

A written will must be signed and witnessed by two individuals who are 18 or older and who also sign the will. Assets with assigned beneficiaries (such as bank accounts and life insurance policies) and jointly owned property don’t require probate and pass directly to the beneficiaries.

But most assets held solely in the decedent’s name require probate before they can be transferred to the beneficiaries named in a will. Kansas offers simplified probate for modest estates if the decedent’s estate (excluding real estate) is valued at $75,000 or less.

What if You Leave No Will?

Under Kansas inheritance laws, if you die “intestate” (without leaving a will), your estate goes to your spouse if there are no children. If both a spouse and children survive, the spouse inherits 50%, and the children split the remaining 50%.

If you have no spouse and no children, your estate goes to your parents, or if they are deceased, to your siblings. If you die in Kansas without any relatives and without a will, your assets and property go to the state.

A Wichita inheritance attorney at Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A. can create a will for you that is precise and unambiguous to reduce the possibility of family conflict. Contact our offices at 316-530-8621 as early as possible to retain the experienced legal representation you will need.

How Are Estates Taxed in Kansas?

Kansas does not impose estate or inheritance taxes, but if you inherit property in another state, that state may impose an inheritance tax. If you are the executor of an estate in Kansas, depending on the nature and size of the estate, you may have to pay:

Final federal and state income taxes: These returns must still be filed by the deadline of the year after the decedent’s death.
Federal estate and trust income taxes: Estates and trusts are separate taxable entities that report gains, losses, and income to the Internal Revenue Service. An executor must file estate and trust income tax returns by the deadline of the year after the decedent’s death.
Federal estate taxes: Few Kansas estates are subject to it. The federal estate tax exemption as of 2026 is $15 million per individual and $30 million for married couples. Federal estate taxes are adjusted annually for inflation.

Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A. assists executors in the Wichita area with estate administration. We can answer your questions and provide the legal services you may need.

When Should You Contact Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A.?

The lawyers at Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A. provide comprehensive estate planning, probate, and estate administration services. Schedule a consultation with a Wichita inheritance lawyer if:

You need to prepare a will or a comprehensive estate plan.
You’ve been named as the executor of a will, and you have questions or concerns.

Should your will include a no-contest clause? That’s one of the questions you should discuss with us at Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A. when we prepare your will or estate plan.

Let Us Help You Plan for the Future

Effective estate planning and administration require the guidance of a legal team that makes your needs and your concerns its top priority. The Kansas inheritance lawyers at Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A. can help prepare your will and help your loved ones through the probate process.

We help families throughout the state of Kansas with all aspects of probate, estate planning, and trust administration. We can discuss your family’s finances, needs, and options, and find solutions that provide your loved ones with the financial security they need.

No one can forecast the future, so now is the time to plan your estate and have your probate and inheritance questions answered. Schedule your first consultation with Larson, Brown & Ebert, P.A. by calling our Wichita law office promptly at 316-530-8621