How Does Probate Work in St. Louis County, Missouri?
Losing someone you love is hard enough without the confusion of legal paperwork. Probate in St. Louis County depends on estate size—estates under $40,000 may qualify for a simplified procedure. The Circuit Court - Probate Division accepts filings in person and online.
The Probate Process in St. Louis 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 St. Louis County, probate runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton. The court sits in the 21st 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 monthsRSMo § 473.050Verified May 14, 2026 to 18 monthsRSMo § 473.050Verified May 14, 2026 to move through this process. The 6 monthsRSMo § 473.360Verified May 14, 2026 creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
Filing at the Circuit Court - Probate Division
Probate cases in St. Louis County are filed with the Circuit Court - Probate Division, located at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. The clerk's office is open Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm. Reach the clerk at 314-615-8029.
Circuit Judge, Division 5 (Probate) William J. Gust presides over probate matters at the Circuit Court - Probate Division. The clerk's office is open Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm.
E-filing is available but optional in St. Louis County. Many families filing without an attorney prefer paper filing at the clerk's office.
First Steps After a Death in St. Louis County
Handling an estate in St. Louis County, Missouri means working through both immediate tasks (securing property, ordering death certificates, stopping benefits) and the formal probate process at the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton. The court is part of the 21st Judicial Circuit.
Do I Need Probate?
Whether probate is necessary in St. Louis County depends on how the deceased's assets were titled and what estate planning was in place. The local court is the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton. The court sits in the 21st Judicial Circuit.
Assets in a funded revocable living trust pass directly to beneficiaries without probate. Life insurance, retirement accounts with named beneficiaries, and jointly-held property with survivorship rights also transfer automatically. Only assets titled solely in the deceased's name — or caught by a pour-over will for unfunded trust assets — go through the Circuit Court - Probate Division.
Missouri has a low threshold for simplified procedures — only estates under $40,000§ 473.097Verified May 14, 2026 qualify. Most estates in St. Louis County with real property will require full probate through the Circuit Court - Probate Division.
See what portion of this estate may require probate:
Opening probate at the Circuit Court - Probate Division requires the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, and documentation of assets — deeds, account statements, vehicle titles. Asset titling is what separates probate property from everything that passes automatically.
Missouri allows independent administration, which gives the executor authority to manage estate assets, pay debts, and distribute property without returning to the court for approval on each step.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
If there's no will, Missouri intestacy statutes control who receives the estate. The rules follow a specific hierarchy of family relationships, and the split between a surviving spouse and children can surprise families who haven't seen it before.
Check who would inherit this estate based on Missouri's rules:
Surviving spouses in Missouri can elect to take 33%RSMo §§ 474.160, 474.180, 473.083Verified May 14, 2026 of the estate regardless of the will. This election must be filed at the Circuit Court - Probate Division within 193 daysRSMo §§ 474.160, 474.180, 473.083Verified May 14, 2026 of receiving probate notice.
The Circuit Court - Probate Division can approve a family allowance for the surviving spouse and minor children while the estate is being settled. This has priority over creditor claims.
Missouri has adopted digital asset access laws, allowing executors to manage the deceased's email, social media, and online accounts as part of estate administration.
Legal Sources
- § 473.097
- RSMo § 473.050
- RSMo § 473.360
- RSMo §§ 474.160, 474.180, 473.083
Data sourced from Missouri statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Circuit Court - Probate Division for St. Louis County is located in Clayton, Missouri. Full address, phone, hours, and e-filing details are listed on this page.
A simple probate in Missouri typically closes in 6–12 months. Average estates run 12–18 months. Complex estates with disputes or tax issues can take 18–36 months. Timing in St. Louis County tracks the state range unless the docket is unusually backed up.
No. Missouri allows estates under $40,000 to use a Small Estate Affidavit and skip formal probate. The waiting period is 30 days after death. Use the Missouri probate decision tool to see if the estate qualifies.
When there is no will, Missouri's intestate succession rules decide who inherits. Spouses, children, and parents are prioritized in that order. The St. Louis County probate court applies the state rules without variation. See who inherits in Missouri for the exact order.
A revocable living trust is the cleanest way for most families to skip probate entirely. Assets titled to the trust pass to beneficiaries without court involvement, filing fees, or the St. Louis County probate docket. Create a revocable trust online to avoid putting your family through this process later.
Circuit Court - Probate Division
St. Louis County
105 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
Phone:
314-615-8029Fax:
314-615-8739
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
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