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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in St. Louis County, Missouri
How probate works in St. Louis County: the Circuit Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
St. Louis County Circuit Court - Probate Division
St. Louis County · 21st Judicial Circuit
Phone
1-314-615-2629 (press 0)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
105 South Central Avenue, 5th Floor, Clayton, MO 63105
Website
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
AllowedMost probate matters in St. Louis County need an attorney. A surviving spouse, a creditor or an unmarried minor child may apply for a refusal of letters without one, and the court publishes a packet for each.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCredit card, Debit card.Credit and debit cards are accepted in person at the court. Cards cannot pay for copies ordered by phone or mail.
County forms
- St. Louis County Probate Court filing fees (CCPR306)The court's schedule of cost deposits for estates, refusals of letters, small estate affidavits, wills, guardianships and trusts.
- Probate general FAQThe court's answers on attorney requirements, payment, death certificates, copies and finding probate records.
Fax
1-314-615-8293
Departments
- Circuit Clerk1-314-615-8029The circuit clerk's main line, printed on every page of the court's website.
- Issue Department1-314-615-2616Answers questions about the time limits for filing probate proceedings.
- Certified Copy Department1-314-615-2618Takes orders for certified or authenticated copies of probate documents and wills, in person, by mail or by phone.
- Division 661-314-615-7565 · 105 South Central Avenue, Room 502 · slcdiv66clerk@courts.mo.govA probate court division on the 5th floor.
- Division 671-314-615-2624 · 105 South Central Avenue, Room 536 · slcdiv67clerk@courts.mo.govA probate court division on the 5th floor.
About the court
- St. Louis County is a separate court from St. Louis City. The Probate Division is on the 5th floor of the St. Louis County Courts Building in Clayton.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works 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, 5th Floor, 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 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 St. Louis County
What probate costs in St. Louis 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 105 South Central Avenue, 5th Floor, Clayton. The court is part of the 21st Judicial Circuit.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Newspaper publication fees and sheriff service fees are paid directly to the publisher and the sheriff's office, not to the court.
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 St. Louis County, Missouri are filed at the Circuit Court - Probate Division. The court sits in the 21st Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Circuit Clerk, Issue Department, Certified Copy Department, and Division 66.
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 St. Louis County Self-Filing Assessment.
St. Louis County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Document Requirements
Every decedent's estate filing includes a copy of the death certificate; a certified copy is not needed.
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 St. Louis County
In Missouri a death is registered locally, and in St. Louis County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Saint Louis County Office of Vital Records, St. Louis County as well as by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Bureau of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
St. Louis County · Saint Louis County Office of Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (first Friday of the month from 09:00)
Office
6121 North Hanley Road, Berkeley, MO 63134
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Order online
Office of Vital Records
6121 North Hanley Road
Berkeley, MO 63134
Local rule
- No refund is issued once a certificate leaves the office. A certificate may be exchanged within 30 days only for one naming the same person as the original request.
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
St. Louis County · Office of the Medical Examiner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
6059 North Hanley Road, Berkeley, MO 63134
Website
Release of remains
1-314-615-0898 · Death reporting line · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in St. Louis 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 St. Louis County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at 41 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. Phone: 1-314-615-7100. 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.
St. Louis County accepts electronic recording through ePN, CSC, iCounty and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
St. Louis County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM
Office
41 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $26 |
| 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, 50.1190
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving St. Louis County
Missouri allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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.
St. Charles practice serving St. Charles, St. Peters, O'Fallon, Lake St. Louis, Wentzville, Maryland Heights, and St. Louis. Guides personal representatives through Missouri probate and its court filings, and helps successor trustees manage and distribute trust assets. Amy E. Fennell limits her practice to elder law and estate planning; consultations are free.
Ladue Road probate practice serving St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County. Handles probate of wills, refusal of letters, small estate affidavits, determination of heirship, independent and supervised administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and probate and trust litigation. The first conversation with a lawyer is free.
Law Offices of Stephen J. Hoffmann, serving St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Jefferson County, and St. Charles County. Guides executors and administrators through full administration, small-estate procedures, and petitions to determine heirship, and handles will and trust contests and removal of a personal representative. Initial consultations are free.
Serves the St. Louis area from Des Peres Road in St. Louis County, with a second office in St. Charles. Handles formal and small-estate probate and intestate estates, from validating the will through notifying creditors and distributing to heirs, plus will contests, guardianships, and conservatorships. Consultations are free, in-office, at home, or by video or phone.
Serves St. Charles County from Lake St. Louis, with offices in St. Charles and O'Fallon (by appointment). Guides executors through Missouri probate, from filing the will and creditor notice to court-approved distribution, and handles contested will and trust disputes, guardianships, and conservatorships. Founder Charles J. Moore has practiced since 2005; consultations are free.
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, 50.1190
- St. Louis County Circuit Court - Probate Division, official page
- St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds, official page
- St. Louis 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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