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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Jackson County, Missouri
How probate works in Jackson County: the Circuit Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Jackson County Circuit Court - Probate Division
Jackson County · 16th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
415 East 12th Street, 9th Floor, Kansas City, MO 64106
Website
Files probate
Probate Department, Kansas City
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys file probate cases through the statewide Missouri eFiling System. The original will is filed on paper with the probate division. On paper: Self-represented filers file on paper with the clerk; the eFiling system is open to Missouri attorneys and approved agency filers.
Self-represented filing
AllowedA self-represented filer files original pleadings on paper with the clerk of the probate division. The court's probate forms page carries new-estate checklists, small estate affidavits and refusal of letters packets.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Credit card.The Probate Department takes cash (exact change), checks payable to the 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri, and credit cards. A card payment carries a $2.00 fee up to $50.00 and a 4% fee above that.
County forms
- Application for Letters Testamentary ChecklistWhat the probate division requires to open a testate estate.
- Application for Letters of Administration ChecklistWhat the probate division requires to open an intestate estate.
- Abbreviated Matters ChecklistRequirements for refusals of letters, small estate affidavits and will filings.
- Instructions Re SettlementsThe probate division's instructions for preparing settlements.
- Probate Filing FeesThe deposits due with each new probate application or petition.
Fax
1-816-881-3228
Departments
- Probate Department, Kansas City1-816-881-3755 · Takes probate filings · 415 East 12th Street, 9th FloorThe Kansas City front desk of the Probate Department takes probate filings at the Kansas City Courthouse.
- Probate Department, Independence1-816-881-3755 · 308 West Kansas, Suite 304, Independence, MO 64050The Probate Division and the Probate Records Department are also housed in the Independence Courthouse, which takes probate filings for the cases section 478.473 RSMo places there.
About the court
- The Probate Division has offices in the Kansas City Courthouse and the Independence Courthouse, both reached at the same Probate Department number.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Jackson 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 Jackson County, probate runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 415 East 12th Street, 9th Floor, Kansas City. The court sits in the 16th Judicial Circuit.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Missouri intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Missouri estates take 12 months to 18 months to move through this process. Creditors have 6 monthsRSMo §§ 473.033, 473.360, 473.380, 473.397, 473.403, 473.444Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Jackson County
What probate costs in Jackson County, Missouri comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 415 East 12th Street, 9th Floor, Kansas City. The court is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit.
The Circuit Court - Probate Division charges $115 - $565 (based on estate value)Mo. Sup. Ct. Op. R. 21.01(a)(12)-(13); RSMo §§ 488.012, 483.580Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Missouri sets attorney fees by statute — a percentage of the estate's gross value. Every attorney charges the same schedule, so the decision to hire one comes down to complexity, not price.
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. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Missouri requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under RSMo §§ 473.157 (requirement), 473.160 (waiver by will)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Missouri typically runs 12 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Circuit Court - Probate Division
Probate cases in Jackson County, Missouri are filed at the Probate Department, Kansas City of the Circuit Court - Probate Division. The court sits in the 16th Judicial Circuit.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Jackson County Self-Filing Assessment.
Jackson County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Probate pleadings are filed in the probate division in either Kansas City or Independence, as section 478.473 RSMo determines.
SourceThe probate division reviews new estate filings and dismisses a case when the missing items are not filed within 30 days of its notice.
The checklists on the probate forms page list what each new estate needs, including the MO HealthNet disclosure or release.
SourceDocument Requirements
The original will is filed on paper with the probate division within 48 hours after the electronic filing.
SourceOther Requirements
The probate division publishes a Probate Procedures Manual with its filing requirements.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Circuit Court - Probate Division: Copy of the death certificate; Original will and any codicils, delivered to the probate division after death (RSMo 473.043); OSCA: "the Original Will must be filed with Probate (RSMo 473.043) before Letters will be granted"; Application for Letters Testamentary / of Administration stating decedent, heirs/devisees, probable value of the estate, the attorney for the applicant, and whether supervised or independent administration is sought (RSMo 473.017.1(1)-(10)); Bond, unless waived by the will or excused by the court (RSMo 473.157, 473.160)RSMo 473.017 (application for letters - content); 473.020 (who may apply / time limits); 473.023 (court or clerk to grant letters); 473.073 (proof required for probate and grant of administration); 473.110 (priority for letters); 473.780-.843 (independent administration)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Jackson County
In Missouri a death is registered locally, and in Jackson County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Jackson County Public Health, Vital Records as well as by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Bureau of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Jackson County · Jackson County Public Health, Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
3651 Northeast Ralph Powell Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Website
Certified copies
At the counter, issued while you wait
Jackson County Public Health
Vital Records
3651 Northeast Ralph Powell Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Local rule
- Identification must be a printed document; digital documents and photos shown on a phone are not accepted. The Kansas City Health Department's Office of Vital Records on Troost Avenue also issues certified copies of Missouri deaths from 1980 on.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $14 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $11 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Jackson County · Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
950 East 21st Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Website
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Jackson County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Recorder of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Jackson County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at 112 West Lexington, Suite 30, Historic Truman Courthouse, Independence, MO 64050. Phone: 1-816-881-4483. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Recorder of Deeds charges $23 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Jackson County accepts electronic recording through CSC.
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Jackson County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
112 West Lexington, Suite 30, Historic Truman Courthouse, Independence, MO 64050
E-recording
available via CSC
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $23 |
| Each additional page | $3 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
RSMo 59.310.6(1), 59.319, 59.321, 59.800, 67.1063
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Jackson County
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.
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.
Independence firm in practice since 1883, serving Jackson County, whose Probate Division hears eastern-county estates at the Independence courthouse. Represents personal representatives and heirs through estate and trust administration, will contests, and trust and probate litigation. Partner Kent Minton wrote the Contested Claims chapter of Missouri Estate Administration.
Main office on Madison Avenue in Kansas City with a by-appointment Lenexa, Kansas office, serving Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass counties. Works with executors on valuing assets, creditor claims, unclear wills, heir disputes, and contested estates, plus guardianships and conservatorships. Founded by Stacey Janssen; Jeremy Keel also practices with the firm.
Liberty elder law firm handling probate for families whose loved one lived in Kansas City, Liberty, Gladstone, Parkville, or anywhere in Clay or Platte counties. Guides executors through small-estate and full administration, intestate estates, and determinations of heirship. Cassie M. Rocha, Kara T. Burgess, and Tessa R. Carr also handle Medicaid and nursing home planning.
Kansas City father-and-son firm on Ward Parkway, founded in 1981, handling probate in Missouri and Kansas. Takes estates from the petition and notice to heirs through inventory, payment of creditors, and final distribution, and handles probate and trust litigation. Donald J. Quinn II worked in the Jackson County Probate Court during law school and is fluent in Spanish.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- Mo. Sup. Ct. Op. R. 21.01(a)(12)-(13); RSMo §§ 488.012, 483.580
- 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)
- RSMo §§ 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)
- RSMo §§ 473.033, 473.360, 473.380, 473.397, 473.403, 473.444
- RSMo 473.017 (application for letters - content); 473.020 (who may apply / time limits); 473.023 (court or clerk to grant letters); 473.073 (proof required for probate and grant of administration); 473.110 (priority for letters); 473.780-.843 (independent administration)
- RSMo 59.310.6(1), 59.319, 59.321, 59.800, 67.1063
- Jackson County Circuit Court - Probate Division, official page
- Jackson County Recorder of Deeds, official page
- Jackson County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Missouri statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Missouri
Free tools for settling an estate in Missouri: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Missouri.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Missouri happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeMo. Rev. Stat. § 456.1-101 et seq. (Missouri Uniform Trust Code)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 120 daysRSMo §§ 456.8-813, 456.10-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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.
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