Estate Planning for St. Louis City, Missouri Property Owners

For most St. Louis City homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a St. Louis City property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Circuit Court - Probate Division. The two tools that keep a St. Louis City home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, St. Louis City property passes through the Circuit Court - Probate Division — even simple Missouri probates run 6+ months and start with $231 in filing fees. Missouri also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in St. Louis City

A beneficiary deed names a beneficiary who receives St. Louis City property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Missouri beneficiary deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentRSMo 461.003 to 461.081Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathRSMo 461.003 to 461.081Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a MissouriTOD deed →St. Louis Citysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for St. Louis City are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar, led by Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler, at 1200 Market St, City Hall Room 128, St. Louis, MO 63103. Phone: 314-622-4610. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (land records recording).

The Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar charges $26 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page beneficiary deed in St. Louis City comes to $29. A beneficiary deed is exempt from transfer tax.

St. Louis City accepts electronic recording through CSC.

Recording Office Record

Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar

St. Louis City · Recorder of Deeds · Michael Butler

Address

1200 Market St, City Hall Room 128St. Louis, MO 63103

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (land records recording)

E-recording

Available via CSC

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$26
Each additional page$3
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

RSMo 59.310.6(1), 59.319, 59.321, 59.800, 50.1190

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 7, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving St. Louis City

FirmSt. Louis, MO

Amen, Gantner & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, L.L.C.

Since 2012 · Serves 4 counties

Serves St. Louis County and surrounding metro communities including Ballwin, Chesterfield, and Clayton. Represents executors, personal representatives, and heirs through probate and trust administration, from creditor notification and appraisals to intestate succession and contested will disputes over validity, undue influence, and testator capacity. Runs free public estate planning seminars.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more

Office
10733 Sunset Office Dr, Suite 425St. Louis, MO 63127

FirmSt. Louis, MO

Hoffmann Legal Services

Serves 3 counties

Represents clients across the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Jefferson County, and St. Charles County. Works with administrators and executors through probate and estate administration and the responsibilities that come with the role, alongside estate planning. Initial consultations are free.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbate Administration

Office
105 Concord Plaza, Suite 209St. Louis, MO 63128
Free consultation

FirmSt. Louis, MO

Lake Munro Attorneys at Law

Serves 3 counties

Serves the St. Louis area from Des Peres Road, with a second office in St. Charles. Handles probate and estate administration — validating the will, distributing assets to heirs, and resolving outstanding debts — alongside wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical care directives. Consultations are free, and meetings can be in-office, at home, or by video or phone.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationElder LawMedicaid Planningand 2 more

Office
1650 Des Peres Rd, Suite 220St. Louis, MO 63131
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmClayton, MO

Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C.

Since 1994 · Serves 3 counties

Multi-practice Clayton firm on North Meramec Avenue, with a St. Charles County meeting location by appointment. Its estate practice covers probate and estate administration, trust administration, estate and trust income tax returns, and estate and gift tax planning, drawing on the firm's own business and tax attorneys.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawProbate Administration

Office
165 N Meramec Ave, Suite 110Clayton, MO 63105

FirmSt. Charles, MO

Polaris Law Group, LLC

Serves 3 counties

Serves St. Charles and St. Louis county families from St. Charles, with a second office in Creve Coeur. Handles probate and estate administration — executor representation, estate filings, and distribution of inheritances — alongside estate planning and elder law. First meetings are free and can be held over video.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationElder LawPower Of Attorneyand 2 more

Office
1551 Wall St, Suite 240St. Charles, MO 63303
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmSt. Louis, MO

Probate Law Center, PC

Serves 3 counties

Serves the southwest St. Louis metro from Old Tesson Road, where attorney Richard J. Keyes has practiced for more than 35 years. Handles estate and probate administration — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and guardianship — and probate litigation over disputes that arise in administering an estate, including the validity of a will. The initial consultation is free.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationGuardianshipProbate Administration

Office
12300 Old Tesson Rd, Suite 100-BSt. Louis, MO 63128
Free consultation
See all 10 firms serving St. Louis City→

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.

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