Missouri allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Jackson County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Missouri are set by statute as a percentage of the estate's value, so every Jackson County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Circuit Court - Probate Division and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court - Probate Division, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmKansas City, MO
Serves 3 counties
Kansas City probate and estate firm on Main Street, with a second Lee's Summit location for mailings and dropoffs. Handles large and small estate administration, determination of heirship, guardianship, and conservatorship, along with trust administration and special needs planning. Led by Megan Alfano; meetings are by appointment.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawGuardianshipand 2 more
- Office
- 2300 Main St, Suite 900Kansas City, MO 64108
FirmKansas City, MO
Serves 4 counties
Kansas City firm on Holmes Road handling probate and trust administration for families on both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the metro. Takes personal representatives through each stage of a probate estate, and also handles guardianship and conservatorship, estate and trust litigation, Medicaid planning, and mediation. Probate is billed hourly in six-minute increments.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 5 more
- Office
- 10401 Holmes Rd, Suite 210Kansas City, MO 64131
FirmIndependence, MO
Serves 1 county
Near the historic Independence Square, the firm practices before the Jackson County Probate Division, which hears eastern-county estates at the Independence courthouse. Represents personal representatives and heirs through estate and trust administration, contested claims, and will contests. Partner Kent Minton wrote the contested-claims chapter of Missouri Estate Administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationElder Lawand 5 more
- Office
- 501 W. Lexington Ave.Independence, MO 64050
FirmLeawood, MO
Serves 3 counties
Serves Kansas City metro families on both sides of the state line from a Leawood office on State Line Road. Drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary deeds, and handles adult guardianship and conservatorship and special needs planning. Emily Sullivan and Bethany Shelton also mediate estate-related disputes.
PracticesEstate PlanningBeneficiary DeedsHealthcare DirectivesMediationand 2 more
- Office
- 8900 State Line Rd, Suite 330Leawood, MO 66206
FirmKansas City, MO
Serves 4 counties
Main office on Madison Avenue in Kansas City with a by-appointment Lenexa office, covering Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass counties. Works with executors, personal representatives, and beneficiaries on identifying and valuing assets, creditor claims, unclear wills, and contested estates, alongside guardianships and long-term care planning. Founded by Stacey Janssen.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationElder LawGuardianshipand 3 more
- Office
- 4505 Madison Ave, Suite 230Kansas City, MO 64111
FirmLiberty, MO
Serves 3 counties
Helps families in Kansas City, Clay, Platte & Jackson Counties with probate administration, estates & heirship cases. Specializes in elder law and Medicaid planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawMedicaid PlanningHeirshipProbate Administration
- Office
- 1508 NE 96th St, Suite DLiberty, MO 64068
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
