Missouri allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Perry 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 Perry 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.
FirmCape Girardeau, MO
Serves 4 counties
Serves Cape Girardeau County plus Scott, Perry, and Bollinger counties in southeast Missouri. Guides personal representatives through probate — filing the will, Letters Testamentary, inventory, creditor claims, and distribution — in both supervised and independent administration, and handles farm and business succession. Kelvin Birk is both an attorney and a CPA, and consultations are free.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationBusiness LawProbate AdministrationReal Estate
- Office
- 2851 Professional Court, Suite CCape Girardeau, MO 63703
Solo PracticeSainte Genevieve, MO
Serves 3 counties
Ste. Genevieve solo practice serving Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, and Perry counties. Robert D. Huelskamp handles estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and real estate matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationReal EstateWills Trusts
- Office
- 296 Market StSainte Genevieve, MO 63670
FirmSainte Genevieve, MO
Serves 3 counties
Founded in Ste. Genevieve, with additional offices in Festus and Perryville reaching Jefferson and Perry counties. Handles trust and probate administration for families settling an estate, along with revocable trust planning, wills, powers of attorney, Medicaid planning, and business succession. James M. Kreitler directs the firm's estate planning practice.
PracticesEstate PlanningBusiness LawProbate AdministrationReal Estate
- Office
- 545 Rozier StSainte Genevieve, MO 63670
FirmCape Girardeau, MO
Since 1972 · Serves 4 counties
Practices in the Cape Girardeau, Perry, and Scott county probate courts from offices in Cape Girardeau and Perryville. Handles probate and trust administration for families after a death, plus wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, and Medicaid planning for long-term care. John Layton and Stephen Southard have practiced here since 1972, and the initial consultation is free.
PracticesEstate PlanningMedicaid PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
- Office
- 2845 Professional CtCape Girardeau, MO 63703
FirmFarmington, MO
Serves 9 counties
Serves St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Jefferson, Perry, and Cape Girardeau counties from Farmington, with a second office in St. Louis. Estate work runs from simple wills and beneficiary designations through revocable and irrevocable trusts, built around keeping the family out of probate court. Family law, LGBTQ+ family law, and mediation are the firm's other practice areas.
PracticesEstate PlanningWills Trusts
- Office
- 406 E Karsch BlvdFarmington, MO 63640
FirmSpringfield, MO
Serves the whole state
Springfield law firm helping families understand Missouri probate laws. Experienced lawyers handle probate in many county courts throughout Missouri, guiding clients from opening estates to closing them.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawAsset ProtectionProbate Administration
- Office
- 1546 E Bradford PkwySpringfield, MO 65804
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.
