Estate Planning & Probate in Bates County, Missouri
There are two reasons people look up Bates County probate: to keep a family out of it, or to get a loved one's estate through it. This page points you to the right path—planning ahead, or settling an estate at the Circuit Court - Probate Division.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Circuit Court - Probate Division, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Bates County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Bates County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Bates County→The Probate Process in Bates County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Bates County, probate runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at One North Delaware, Butler. The court sits in the 27th Judicial Circuit. Bates County shares the 27th Judicial Circuit with Benton, Henry and St. Clair.
Full Bates Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Circuit Court - Probate Division
Bates County · 27th Judicial Circuit
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Bates County · Recorder of Deeds · Danyelle Baker
$26 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page; a 2-page TOD deed records for $29; TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax.
Full recording details →Verified September 7, 2026 · Source
Missouri Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Bates County.
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