What Happens to Jointly Owned Property in Missouri When an Owner Dies?
When a joint owner dies in Missouri: Missouri law names no affidavit or certificate to record when a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety dies. Survivorship rights in jointly held property fall outside Missouri's nonprobate transfers lawRSMo chs. 442 (§§ 442.025, 442.380, 442.400, 442.450), 59 (§§ 59.310, 59.313, 59.330), 461, 473, 474 and 193Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Missouri law names no affidavit or certificate to record when a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety dies. Survivorship rights in jointly held property fall outside Missouri's nonprobate transfers lawRSMo chs. 442 (§§ 442.025, 442.380, 442.400, 442.450), 59 (§§ 59.310, 59.313, 59.330), 461, 473, 474 and 193Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Missouri's survivorship vestings are joint tenancy, which the grant or devise must expressly declare, and tenancy by the entirety between spouses. No Missouri statute names an instrument to record at a joint owner's death; a recorder of deeds may record a certified copy of a death certificate without meeting the page-format requirementsRSMo chs. 442 (§§ 442.025, 442.380, 442.400, 442.450), 59 (§§ 59.310, 59.313, 59.330), 461, 473, 474 and 193Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Missouri law names no affidavit, notice or acceptance for a beneficiary deed's grantee to record after the owner's death. At the owner's death the property passes to the surviving beneficiary by operation of lawRSMo §§ 461.001 to 461.300; chs. 59, 442, 473 and 474; §§ 379.808 and 313.285Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
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Learn moreForms for Settling an Estate in Missouri
Free forms for settling an estate in Missouri: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Renunciation of Executor
In Missouri, a person named as executor may renounce the right to serveRSMo 473.113Verified Sep 23, 2026View source before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
In Missouri, heirs put their identity on the land records with an affidavit of heirship recorded with the countyRSMo 490.370; RSMo 301.682; RSMo 474.250; RSMo 473.663Verified Sep 24, 2026View source; once recorded it is admissible as evidence of the facts stated.
Estate Inventory
In Missouri, the personal representative files the estate inventory within 30 daysRSMo §§ 473.233, 473.240Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment.
Estate Closing
In Missouri, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runsRSMo § 473.840.6; § 473.837; § 473.660Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and a final accounting is required.
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 inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
In Missouri, certified death certificates come from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $14Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, additional copies $11Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source each.
Do I Need Probate?
In Missouri, estates valued at $40,000RSMo § 473.097Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Small Estate AffidavitRSMo § 473.097Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysRSMo § 473.097Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Missouri requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Mo. Rev. Stat. § 143.011Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
After a death in Missouri, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $40,000RSMo § 473.097Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 6 monthsRSMo § 473.360Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Missouri levies no estate or inheritance taxMo. Rev. Stat. §§ 145.011, 145.1000; Mo. Dept. of Revenue, Estate Tax (no Missouri estate tax imposed; no return required for deaths on or after Jan. 1, 2005)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; only the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
Missouri imposes no inheritance or estate taxMo. Rev. Stat. §§ 145.011, 145.1000; Mo. Dept. of Revenue, Estate Tax (no Missouri estate tax imposed; no return required for deaths on or after Jan. 1, 2005)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 6 months to 12 months for a simple estate.
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Missouri Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering Missouri probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.