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Missouri follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesMo. Rev. Stat. § 456.7-708Verified Jun 1, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The Missouri trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Missouri is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 6 months in Missouri — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the Missouri trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Missouri average $328 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $984–$1,968 for a simple individual will and $3,570–$5,355 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Missouri allows estates under $40,000 to use a simplified Small Estate Affidavit procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Missouri probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Missouri, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
17 firms
Kansas City law firm specializing in estate planning, probate, elder law, and trust litigation. Led by Megan Alfano, the firm provides comprehensive estate planning and administration services including special needs planning.
Location
2300 Main St, Suite 900Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone
(816) 774-1107
Service Area
3 counties
One of the largest and most established law firms in Jefferson City, founded in 1965. Strong estate planning team within a full-service firm. Stephen Rehagen and Dean Cooper focus on estate planning, probate, and trust administration.
Location
312 E Capitol AveJefferson City, MO 65101
Phone
(573) 635-7166
Established
1965
Service Area
5 counties
Cape Girardeau estate planning and business law firm. Kelvin Birk brings over 30 years of accounting and tax experience combined with 20+ years of legal practice, offering a unique perspective on estate planning and administration.
Location
2851 Professional Court, Suite CCape Girardeau, MO 63703
Phone
(573) 332-8585
Service Area
4 counties
Carthage law firm established in 1977 serving the Joplin area and Southwest Missouri. Kevin Checkett brings 41 years of estate and trust experience with an AV rating; Tymon Bay focuses on estate planning, probate, and real estate.
Location
517 S Main StCarthage, MO 64836
Phone
(417) 358-4049
Established
1977
Service Area
4 counties
Kansas City estate planning and probate firm serving Kansas and Missouri clients. Specializes in estate planning, probate and trust administration, elder law, special needs planning, and guardianship. Led by Polly Bartle Blomquist with 15+ years of experience.
Location
10401 Holmes Rd, Suite 210Kansas City, MO 64131
Phone
(816) 601-1234
Service Area
4 counties
Springfield elder law firm with over 50 years of combined legal experience. Provides legal services in estate planning, probate, adult guardianship, special needs planning, trust administration, and nursing home asset protection.
Location
1730 E Republic Rd, Suite FSpringfield, MO 65804
Phone
(417) 708-2044
Established
2019
Service Area
5 counties
St. Louis estate planning law firm specializing in estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning. Attorney Stephanie Copp Martinez leads the practice with experience from top national law firms.
Location
3890 S Lindbergh Blvd, Suite 100BSt. Louis, MO 63127
Phone
(314) 303-3218
Service Area
3 counties
A boutique law firm that focuses exclusively on probate and estate administration. Attorney John P. Fritz provides highly personalized legal experience in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
Location
8909 Ladue RdSt. Louis, MO 63124
Phone
(314) 396-7622
Established
2018
Service Area
4 counties
Attorney Tiffanie M. Kennedy and partner Jason M. Cantrell focus on probate and probate-related law. Serves Kansas City, Missouri and Prairie Village, Kansas, along with surrounding areas.
Location
912 E 63rd St, Suite 202Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone
(816) 673-3223
Service Area
3 counties
Warrenton elder law and estate planning firm led by Brian Mense. Provides estate planning, probate, trust administration, Medicaid planning, and special needs planning. Also serves Washington, MO.
Location
603 E Veterans Memorial Pkwy, Suite 300Warrenton, MO 63383
Phone
(636) 456-2345
Service Area
5 counties