Serves Cole, Boone, Miller, Moniteau, Osage, Camden, and Gasconade counties from Jefferson City. Represents personal representatives and beneficiaries in probate estates, advises trustees through trust administration, and handles smaller estates by small-estate affidavit or refusal of letters. Appointments can be scheduled in-office, by telephone, or by video conference.
Probate in Warren County
Probate Court Record
Warren County Circuit Court - Probate Division
Warren County · 12th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Warren County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Warren County? →Settling an estate in Warren County →
Probate Firms Serving Warren County
Serves St. Charles County from Lake St. Louis, with offices in St. Charles and O'Fallon (by appointment). Guides executors through Missouri probate, from filing the will and creditor notice to court-approved distribution, and handles contested will and trust disputes, guardianships, and conservatorships. Founder Charles J. Moore has practiced since 2005; consultations are free.
Lake of the Ozarks firm with offices in Osage Beach and Columbia, serving the mid-Missouri region including Hickory, Benton and Morgan counties. Guides executors through Missouri probate: filing the will, notifying heirs and creditors, the inventory, paying debts and the final accounting, and drafts wills and trusts. Partner Staci Birdsong also handles minor and adult guardianships.
Hermann office of a Washington, Missouri firm practicing since 1983, drawing clients from Gasconade, Warren, and Montgomery counties. David Politte handles decedents' estates, will administration, small estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and will and trust contests. He has served as Hermann's city attorney since 2004.
Mexico firm, founded in 1976, with a branch in Montgomery City. Handles administration of a loved one's estate after death, guardianships and conservatorships, and elder law matters including protecting an elder from abuse or fraud. Six attorneys practice here; co-founder Dan K. Erdel's work covers wills, probate, trusts, and taxation.
Springfield firm serving Greene County and southwest Missouri, handling probate in county courts throughout the state. Runs estate administrations, small estates, refusals of letters, heirship determinations and affidavits, guardianship and conservatorship estates, and ancillary probate. Its elder law practice covers Medicaid (MO HealthNet) planning and special needs trusts.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Missouri
Free Missouri forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Missouri.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Last Will and Testament
In Missouri, a will is signed before 2RSMo § 474.320Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyRSMo § 474.320Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Missouri
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Missouri: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Missouri.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Missouri costs an estimated $28,815RSMo § 473.153(3) (statutory minimum: 5% first $5K, 4% next $20K, 3% next $75K, 2.75% next $300K, 2.5% next $600K, 2% over $1M); § 473.153(1) (base: personal property administered)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees are statutory (set by law)RSMo § 473.153(3) (statutory minimum: 5% first $5K, 4% next $20K, 3% next $75K, 2.75% next $300K, 2.5% next $600K, 2% over $1M); § 473.153(1) (base: personal property administered)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Missouri: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 30 daysRSMo §§ 473.233, 473.240Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsRSMo §§ 473.033, 473.360, 473.380, 473.397, 473.403, 473.444Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 12 months.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Missouri sets executor compensation by statute — about $14,050 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.8%RSMo § 473.153(1) (statutory minimum: 5% first $5K, 4% next $20K, 3% next $75K, 2.75% next $300K, 2.5% next $600K, 2% over $1M, on personal property administered and court-ordered real estate sales)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Do I Need Probate?
In Missouri, estates valued at $40,000RSMo § 473.097Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Small Estate AffidavitRSMo § 473.097Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysRSMo § 473.097Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Missouri, creditors have 6 monthsRSMo § 473.360Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
Can I Self-File Probate?
Missouri has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableRSMo §§ 473.023 (court or clerk grants letters), 473.073 (clerk or court admits the will and grants letters), 473.047 (judge or clerk grants a certificate of probate), 473.065 (self-proved will)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
