Estate Planning for St. Louis County, Missouri Property Owners

For most St. Louis County 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.

For a St. Louis County 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 County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Recorder of Deeds, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the Circuit Court - Probate Division decides who receives the property: a simple Missouri probate takes 6+ months and opens with about $115 in court 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 County

A beneficiary deed names a beneficiary who receives St. Louis County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Recorder of Deeds 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.

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for St. Louis County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at 41 S. Central Ave, Clayton, MO 63105. Phone: 314-615-7100. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

The Recorder of Deeds charges $26 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page. A 2-page beneficiary deed costs $29 to record in St. Louis County. A beneficiary deed is exempt from transfer tax.

St. Louis County accepts electronic recording through CSC.

Recording Office Record

Recorder of Deeds

St. Louis County · Recorder of Deeds

Address

41 S. Central AveClayton, MO 63105

Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

E-recording

Available via CSCE-recording info →

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

Verified September 7, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving St. Louis County

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. Charles, MO

Fennell Elder Law & Estate Planning, LLC

Serves 3 counties

Serves St. Charles-area families from an office on Hill Pointe Court. Guides executors through Missouri probate — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and distributing assets under court supervision — and helps successor trustees manage and distribute trust assets. Practice is limited to elder law and estate planning, and consultations are free.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more

Office
60 Hill Pointe Ct, Suite 106St. Charles, MO 63303
Free consultation

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. Charles, MO

Hollander Legal, LLC

Since 2019 · Serves 2 counties

Serves St. Charles County from an office on Kisker Road, with a practice limited to estate planning and probate. Handles probate court administration, disputed cases where an end-of-life plan must be authenticated, and guardianship and conservatorship applications for incapacitated adults. Intake starts with a no-cost phone call.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
1585 Kisker Rd, Suite CSt. Charles, MO 63304
Free consultationVirtual consultations

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
See all 12 firms serving St. Louis County→

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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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Missouri statutes and official state code. How we research.

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