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Missouri estate administration

Missouri probate: rules, process, costs, executor fees and deadlines

Small-estate limit: $40,000

In Missouri, estates up to $40,000 can use the small-estate route; executor fees run at least 5% down to 2% on a sliding scale (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.153.1); and claims close six months after notice of letters is published, or two months after mailed notice if later, a year after death at most. Missouri permits a small-estate affidavit after 30 days for estates not exceeding $40,000 after liens, debts, and encumbrances.

Sources reviewed August 7, 2026. Sources rechecked October 3, 2026. This page last revised .

Answer first

Missouri simplified probate route

Up to $40,000; usable 30 days after death. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.097.

Small estate affidavit

No combined Missouri probate total

The Probate Division of Circuit Court where the estate is opened sets or collects the filing charge. The commission rates (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.153.1) run on the totals in the estate’s court accounting. Each side in full: Missouri probate filing cost and Missouri executor fees.

Screen a specific Missouri estate with the calculators on the small-estate page and the executor-fee page, or compare states in the full estate navigator.

What the reviewed rules establish

Executor compensation

Statutory schedule

A statutory percentage schedule applies. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.153.1.

Compensation detail

Statutes read in full for Missouri

Read on the enacting state’s own site, with the date each was read.

CitationWhat reading it establishedRead on
RSMo § 473.097 (small estates, distribution without letters), eff. Aug. 28, 2002Missouri’s affidavit comes with a bond, a clerk’s certificate and, above $15,000, a published notice — small estate route note2026-10-13
RSMo § 473.153 (compensation of personal representatives and attorneys)Missouri’s percentages are a floor, paid on personal property and on land the court ordered sold — representative pay note2026-10-13
RSMo § 473.360 (limitations on filing of claims), eff. May 23, 1996Missouri runs two clocks at once and takes whichever ends later, then bars the claim outright — creditor deadline note2026-09-17

Missouri decision map

The four facts that change the Missouri route

Each Missouri answer below links to the page that sets out its source.

QuestionRecorded Missouri answer
What route is being screened?Small estate affidavit
What property and basis count?probate property within the rule's stated scope; net of enforceable liens and encumbrances.
What is the amount screen?$40,000
What is the time or deadline record?30 days after death; creditor deadlines: separate clocks by triggering event
What does the cost record establish?1 published schedule; the proceeding and value basis control the total.
What does compensation use?Statutory percentage schedule, measured on the estate accounting.

Limits and unresolved costs

  • The filing amounts in section 488.012 apply before adjustment by the supreme court, which sets the operative court costs by rule. The published figure is a statutory baseline, not a confirmed current charge.
  • The statute measures the estate "less liens, debt, and encumbrances". Liens come from the asset entries and unsecured debt is asked for separately, because it cannot be read off an asset list. Until that figure is entered the route stays undecided rather than being resolved as though the debt were zero.
  • A bond is required unless the court dispenses with it, and estates above $15,000 generally require published notice to creditors. Both add cost.
  • The court may award compensation above the statutory minimum.

Continue

What Missouri courts publish

Each link goes to the court’s own page and is checked before every release.

No Missouri court document is linked here. The notes below state why, rather than leaving the absence unexplained.

Limits on court material

  • Missouri publishes no statewide small-estate affidavit form. The probate division of the circuit court in the county of residence supplies the affidavit and states its local requirements.
  • No link to the Missouri Courts self-help probate page is given: it had not been confirmed as working when the Missouri sources were last checked.

Missouri primary sources

Each rule on the Missouri pages comes from one of these 5 sources; the citation opens the publisher’s own text. All were last rechecked October 3, 2026.

  1. Simplified-procedure rule

    Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.097, Revised Statutes of Missouri, Small Estate Affidavit.

    • Small-estate limit: $40,000
    • Waiting period: 30 days
    • How the estate is valued: net of liens and encumbrances
    • Eligibility rules also name the $15,000 creditor-notice line

    Missouri Revisor of Statutes · Effective 28 Aug 2002

  2. Court cost rule

    Mo. Rev. Stat. § 488.012(16), Revised Statutes of Missouri, Probate Fees.

    • Filing fee bands, in dollars: 75 / 115 / 155 / 245 / 305 / 365 by estate value
    • Caveat: these amounts apply prior to adjustment by the supreme court

    Missouri Revisor of Statutes · Effective 28 Aug 2014

  3. Executor compensation rule

    Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.153.1, Revised Statutes of Missouri, Personal Representative Compensation.

    • Personal representative's commission schedule: 5%/4%/3%/2.75%/2.5%/2% across $5,000/$25,000/$100,000/$400,000/$1,000,000 bands

    Missouri Revisor of Statutes · Effective 28 Aug 1989

  4. Creditor deadline rule

    Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.360.1, Revised Statutes of Missouri, Limitations on Filing of Claims.

    • Creditor deadline after published notice: six months after first published notice of letters
    • Creditor deadline after actual notice: two months after actual notice, whichever later

    Missouri Revisor of Statutes · Effective 23 May 1996

  5. Creditor deadline rule

    Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.444.1, Revised Statutes of Missouri, Absolute One-Year Claim Bar.

    • Outer limit on creditor claims: one year after death, regardless of notice or administration

    Missouri Revisor of Statutes · Effective 13 Jul 1989

Sources rechecked October 3, 2026: Missouri source list · how sources are checked · report a correction