Probate in Missouri · 115 counties

Missouri Probate Courts

Estates here go through the Circuit Court (Probate Division). Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.

Small-estate limit

$40,000

Wait 30 days

Death taxes

None

No state death tax

Executor fee

Statute

Percentage set by statute

Handwritten wills

Witnesses required

Plate · MO

Every Missouri county, on one map

Population, low → high courthouse probate office checked

§ I

Missouri probate rules

Court: Circuit Court (Probate Division)In Missouri, probate is administered by the Probate Division of the County Circuit Court in each of the 46 judicial circuits.
Small estates: $40,000 (net estate value)Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.097 (Small Estate Affidavit)
Filing the will: Must present will for probate within 1 year from death (strict absolute bar Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.050)
Creditor claims: 6 months from the date of first publication of notice of letters, or 1 year from death if no noticeMo. Rev. Stat. § 473.360
Executor fees: Mandatory Statutory Minimum Schedule: 5% on first $5k, 4% next $20k, 3% next $75k, 2.75% next $300k, 2.5% next $600k, 2% over $1MMo. Rev. Stat. § 473.153 · calculator
Estate tax: NoneMissouri has no state estate tax.
Inheritance tax: NoneNo inheritance tax in Missouri.
Typical duration: 6 to 12 months
Official courts site: courts.mo.govCase search: Missouri Case.net State Court Portal

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: revisor.mo.gov (statute)

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§ II · Register

All 115 counties

Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.

#	County	Seat	Population	Record
1	St. Louis County	Clayton	987,059	office checked
2	Jackson County	Independence	718,560	office checked
3	St. Charles County	Saint Charles	416,659	county site
4	Greene County	Springfield	304,611	courthouse mapped
5	St. Louis city	Clayton	281,754	county site
6	Clay County	Liberty	259,772	courthouse mapped
7	Jefferson County	Hillsboro	231,230	county site
8	Boone County	Columbia	189,463	courthouse mapped
9	Jasper County	Carthage	125,056	courthouse mapped
10	Platte County	Platte	111,940	county site
11	Cass County	Harrisonville	111,732	courthouse mapped
12	Franklin County	Union	106,404	courthouse mapped
13	Christian County	Ozark	94,422	county site
14	Cape Girardeau County	Jackson	82,984	courthouse mapped
15	Buchanan County	Saint Joseph	82,956	courthouse mapped
16	Cole County	Jefferson	77,278	courthouse mapped
17	St. Francois County	Farmington	67,058	county site
18	Lincoln County	Troy	64,699	county site
19	Newton County	Neosho	60,677	courthouse mapped
20	Taney County	Forsyth	56,775	county site
21	Johnson County	Warrensburg	54,962	courthouse mapped
22	Pulaski County	Waynesville	53,812	courthouse mapped
23	Phelps County	Rolla	45,284	courthouse mapped
24	Callaway County	Fulton	44,731	county site
25	Camden County	Camdenton	44,044	courthouse mapped
26	Pettis County	Sedalia	43,530	courthouse mapped
27	Butler County	Poplar Bluff	41,948	courthouse mapped
28	Webster County	Marshfield	41,472	county site
29	Howell County	West Plains	40,735	courthouse mapped
30	Lawrence County	Mount Vernon	38,872	county site
31	Scott County	Benton	37,889	county site
32	Warren County	Warrenton	37,806	courthouse mapped
33	Laclede County	Lebanon	36,680	county site
34	Barry County	Cassville	35,265	courthouse mapped
35	Lafayette County	Lexington	33,196	county site
36	Polk County	Bolivar	32,780	county site
37	Stone County	Galena	32,658	courthouse mapped
38	Stoddard County	Bloomfield	28,397	county site
39	Marion County	Palmyra	28,336	courthouse mapped
40	Dunklin County	Kennett	27,032	courthouse mapped
41	Texas County	Houston	25,619	county site
42	Miller County	Tuscumbia	25,590	county site
43	Adair County	Kirksville	25,122	courthouse mapped
44	Audrain County	Mexico	24,394	county site
45	Randolph County	Huntsville	24,109	county site
46	McDonald County	Pineville	23,903	county site
47	Washington County	Potosi	23,534	county site
48	Ray County	Richmond	23,182	courthouse mapped
49	Saline County	Marshall	23,049	county site
50	Crawford County	Steelville	22,719	county site
51	Henry County	Clinton	22,485	courthouse mapped
52	Morgan County	Versailles	21,970	courthouse mapped
53	Clinton County	Plattsburg	21,548	courthouse mapped
54	Nodaway County	Maryville	20,695	courthouse mapped
55	Benton County	Warsaw	20,552	courthouse mapped
56	Vernon County	Nevada	19,710	courthouse mapped
57	Wright County	Hartville	19,403	county site
58	Perry County	Perryville	18,950	courthouse mapped
59	Ste. Genevieve County	Ste. Genevieve	18,642	county site
60	Andrew County	Savannah	18,127	courthouse mapped
61	Pike County	Bowling Green	17,935	courthouse mapped
62	Dallas County	Buffalo	17,768	courthouse mapped
63	Cooper County	Boonville	16,947	courthouse mapped
64	Bates County	Butler	16,242	courthouse mapped
65	New Madrid County	New Madrid	15,424	courthouse mapped
66	Moniteau County	California	15,256	courthouse mapped
67	Macon County	Macon	15,161	county site
68	Gasconade County	Hermann	14,705	courthouse mapped
69	Cedar County	Stockton	14,672	county site
70	Dent County	Salem	14,647	courthouse mapped
71	Pemiscot County	Caruthersville	14,613	courthouse mapped
72	Livingston County	Chillicothe	14,557	courthouse mapped
73	Osage County	Linn	13,468	county site
74	Madison County	Fredericktown	12,698	county site
75	Douglas County	Ava	12,228	county site
76	Mississippi County	Charleston	11,822	county site
77	Linn County	Linneus	11,791	courthouse mapped
78	Barton County	Lamar	11,731	courthouse mapped
79	Montgomery County	Montgomery	11,459	courthouse mapped
80	Wayne County	Greenville	10,811	courthouse mapped
81	Ripley County	Doniphan	10,806	courthouse mapped
82	Bollinger County	Marble Hill	10,544	courthouse mapped
83	Ralls County	New London	10,489	courthouse mapped
84	Howard County	Fayette	10,101	courthouse mapped
85	DeKalb County	Maysville	9,899	courthouse mapped
86	Lewis County	Monticello	9,818	courthouse mapped
87	Grundy County	Trenton	9,815	courthouse mapped
88	St. Clair County	Osceola	9,752	county site
89	Iron County	Ironton	9,440	courthouse mapped
90	Ozark County	Gainesville	8,970	county site
91	Caldwell County	Kingston	8,955	courthouse mapped
92	Oregon County	Alton	8,720	courthouse mapped
93	Hickory County	Hermitage	8,718	county site
94	Monroe County	Paris	8,698	courthouse mapped
95	Daviess County	Gallatin	8,551	courthouse mapped
96	Maries County	Vienna	8,430	courthouse mapped
97	Carroll County	Carrollton	8,391	courthouse mapped
98	Harrison County	Bethany	8,220	courthouse mapped
99	Dade County	Greenfield	7,716	county site
100	Chariton County	Keytesville	7,399	county site
101	Shannon County	Eminence	7,238	courthouse mapped
102	Clark County	Kahoka	6,641	courthouse mapped
103	Gentry County	Albany	6,287	courthouse mapped
104	Reynolds County	Centerville	5,950	courthouse mapped
105	Shelby County	Shelbyville	5,931	courthouse mapped
106	Sullivan County	Milan	5,797	courthouse mapped
107	Carter County	Van Buren	5,303	courthouse mapped
108	Atchison County	Rock Port	5,107	courthouse mapped
109	Scotland County	Memphis	4,676	courthouse mapped
110	Putnam County	Unionville	4,638	courthouse mapped
111	Holt County	Oregon	4,248	county site
112	Schuyler County	Lancaster	4,053	courthouse mapped
113	Knox County	Edina	3,723	courthouse mapped
114	Mercer County	Princeton	3,469	courthouse mapped
115	Worth County	Grant	1,907	courthouse mapped

§ III

Missouri probate questions

What is the small estate affidavit limit in Missouri?

$40,000 (net estate value) (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.097 (Small Estate Affidavit)). It can be used 30 days after death. Wait 30 days after death. Net estate value under $40,000. Real property can transfer if affidavit is filed and published.

How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Missouri?

Mandatory Statutory Minimum Schedule: 5% on first $5k, 4% next $20k, 3% next $75k, 2.75% next $300k, 2.5% next $600k, 2% over $1M (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.153). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.

What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Missouri?

6 months from the date of first publication of notice of letters, or 1 year from death if no notice (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.360). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.

Does Missouri recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?

No — witnesses are required. Missouri does NOT recognize unwitnessed holographic wills; must be signed in presence of two witnesses.

Does Missouri have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?

Missouri has no state estate tax. There is no inheritance tax.