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Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 59-501 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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59-501. Definitions. As used in K.S.A. 59-502 through 59-514, inclusive:

(a) "Children" means biological children, including a posthumous child; children adopted as provided by law; and children whose parentage is or has been determined under the Kansas parentage act or prior law.

(b) "Issue" includes adopted children of deceased children or issue.

History: L. 1939, ch. 180, § 23; L. 1985, ch. 114, § 25; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1956–2024 · leading case: Reese v. Muret, 150 P.3d 309 (Kan. 2007).
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Reese v. Muret, 150 P.3d 309 (Kan. 2007). · cites it 8× “K.S.A. 59-501 defines children for purposes of intestate succession, stating: “ ‘Children’ means biological children, including a posthumous child; children adopted as provided by law; and children whose parentage is or has been determined under the Kansas parentage act or prior…”
Labine v. Vincent, 401 U.S. 532 (1971). · cites it 2× “222 (1971); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-501 (1964); Mich. Stat.”
Cresto v. Cresto, 358 P.3d 831 (Kan. 2015). “See K.S.A. 59-501(a) (defining “children” as used in intestate succession statutes as biological children, adopted children, or children determined under Kansas Parentage Act, but not unadopted stepchildren).”
Ankrom v. State, 152 So. 3d 397 (Ala. 2013). “220 (1992); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-501 (a) (2008); Ky.Rev.”
Baugh v. Baugh Ex Rel. Smith, 973 P.2d 202 (Kan. Ct. App. 1999). “59-501(a) provides that “ ‘[c]hildren’ means biological children, including a posthumous child; children adopted as provided by law; and children whose parentage is or has been determined under the Kansas parentage act or prior law.” Based on the foregoing statutes and Johnson ,…”
Aslin v. Seamon, 587 P.2d 875 (Kan. 1978). “For the purposes of inheritance under both our statutory law, K.S.A. 59-501, and our case law, In re Estate of Case, 180 Kan.”
Gross v. VanLerberg, 646 P.2d 471 (Kan. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 4× “38-1109 which provide the mother's action to determine paternity shall survive the death of the alleged father, and by the provisions of K.S.A. 59-501 relating to intestate succession, wherein the definition of "children" includes illegitimate children when applied to father and…”
In re Est. of Fechner, 432 P.3d 93 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 6× “" K.S.A. 59-501(a). That definition applies when determining who takes property when a person dies without a will, K.”
Hood v. Lawrence Nat'l Bank, 446 P.2d 738 (Kan. 1968). “The agreement here provides for the disposition of the estate exactly in accord with the terms of the will and, also, with the statutes providing for intestate succession (K.S.A. 59-501 et seq. ). The effect of a holding that a family settlement agreement is not a valid defense…”
Carty v. Martin, 660 P.2d 540 (Kan. 1983). “In fact, Carty was for a time accorded visitation privileges. The idea that paternity can be established by acknowledgement of the parties is not a new or novel principal.”
Gross v. VanLerberg, 646 P.2d 471 (Kan. 1982). · cites it 2× “For example, under K.S.A. 59-501, for the purpose of distribution of property of a decedent, the word "children" is defined as including illegitimate children when applied to mother and child, and also when applied to father and child (1) where the father has notoriously or in…”
In re Parentage of E.A., 518 P.3d 419 (Kan. Ct. App. 2022). “See K.S.A. 59-501. That, too, reverses a common-law prohibition on children born out-of-wedlock from inheriting.”
Show all 22 citing cases →
— K.S.A. § 59-501(a) — 5 cases
Reese v. Muret, 150 P.3d 309 (Kan. 2007). “K.S.A. 59-501 defines children for purposes of intestate succession, stating: “ ‘Children’ means biological children, including a posthumous child; children adopted as provided by law; and children whose parentage is or has been determined under the Kansas parentage act or prior…”
Cresto v. Cresto, 358 P.3d 831 (Kan. 2015). “See K.S.A. 59-501(a) (defining “children” as used in intestate succession statutes as biological children, adopted children, or children determined under Kansas Parentage Act, but not unadopted stepchildren).”
Baugh v. Baugh Ex Rel. Smith, 973 P.2d 202 (Kan. Ct. App. 1999). “59-501(a) provides that “ ‘[c]hildren’ means biological children, including a posthumous child; children adopted as provided by law; and children whose parentage is or has been determined under the Kansas parentage act or prior law.” Based on the foregoing statutes and Johnson ,…”
In re Est. of Fechner, 432 P.3d 93 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). “" K.S.A. 59-501(a). That definition applies when determining who takes property when a person dies without a will, K.”
In Re the Est. of Foley, 925 P.2d 449 (Kan. Ct. App. 1996).
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