Full Probate Administration in Missouri

When an estate is worth more than $40,000, or the situation is more involved, Missouri generally requires full probate administration. Legal Hero guides personal representatives through each step, from opening the estate to final distribution.

When Is Full Probate Needed?

• The estate’s value is over the $40,000 small estate limit.
• Assets are titled in the decedent’s name alone, with no beneficiary or transfer-on-death designation.
• Heirs disagree, the will may be contested, or there are significant debts to resolve.

The Missouri Probate Process

1. Open the estate. The will and a petition are filed in the probate division of the county where the decedent lived. Under RSMo 473.050, a will must generally be presented within one year of death.
2. Appointment. The court issues letters testamentary (with a will) or letters of administration (without one) to the personal representative.
3. Notice to creditors. Notice is published once a week for four weeks (RSMo 473.033). Creditors have six months from first publication to file claims (RSMo 473.360).
4. Inventory. The personal representative files an inventory of estate assets within 30 days of appointment (RSMo 473.233).
5. Pay debts and taxes. Valid claims, expenses and final tax returns are handled in the order Missouri law requires.
6. Final settlement and distribution. After the claims period, a final settlement is filed, assets are distributed and the estate is closed.

How Long Does It Take?

Because of the six-month creditor period, most Missouri probate estates stay open at least six months. Straightforward estates often close in six to nine months; contested or complex ones can take longer.

How Legal Hero Helps

We handle the court filings, deadlines, creditor notices and record-keeping, so the personal representative is not navigating the process alone.