# K.S.A. § 60-203: 60-203 - Commencement of action

> Kansas · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-203

## Section

- **Citation:** K.S.A. § 60-203
- **Heading:** 60-203 - Commencement of action
- **Jurisdiction:** Kansas
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** KS Code / Chapter 60 / Article 2 / Section 60-203

## Text

60-203. Commencement of action. (a) Time of commencement . A civil action is commenced at the time of: (1) Filing a petition with the court, if service of process is obtained or the first publication is made for service by publication within 90 days after the petition is filed, except that the court may extend that time an additional 30 days upon a showing of good cause by the plaintiff; or (2) service of process or first publication, if service of process or first publication is not made within the time specified by paragraph (1).

(b) Curing invalid service . If service of process or first publication purports to have been made but is later adjudicated to have been invalid due to an irregularity in form or procedure or a defect in making service, the action is considered to have been commenced at the applicable time under subsection (a) if valid service is obtained or first publication is made within 90 days after that adjudication, except that the court may extend that time an additional 30 days upon a showing of good cause by the plaintiff.

(c) Entry of appearance . The filing of an entry of appearance has the same effect as service. Written contact with the court by a defendant, or an attorney for the defendant invoking protection for the defendant under the servicemembers civil relief act (50 U.S.C. § 501 et seq.), and amendments thereto, is not an entry of appearance.

(d) Electronic filing . As used in this section, filing a petition with the court includes receipt by the court of a petition by electronic means complying with supreme court rules.

## Nearby sections

- [K.S.A. § 60-201 60-201 - Rules of civil procedure; citation; scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-201.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-202 60-202 - One form of action.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-202.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-203 60-203 - Commencement of action.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-203.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-204 60-204 - Process, generally.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-204.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-205 60-205 - Service and filing of pleadings and other papers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-205.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-206 60-206 - Time, computation and extension; accessibility of court; definitions; extension or suspension of computation rules or time limitations by chief justice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-206.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-207 60-207 - Pleadings allowed; motions; form.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-207.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-208 60-208 - General rules of pleadings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-208.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-209 60-209 - Pleading special matters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-209.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-210 60-210 - Form of pleadings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-210.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-211 60-211 - Signing of pleadings, motions and other papers; representations to the court; sanctions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-211.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-212 60-212 - Defenses and objections; presentations, when and how; certain motions; waiver.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-212.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-213 60-213 - Counterclaims and cross-claims.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-213.md)
- [K.S.A. § 60-214 60-214 - Third-party practice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-214.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C60_A2_S60-203. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.