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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationMissouri

Probate in Missouri

What Missouri’s own law and courts say about probate, from how an estate comes before the court to when creditors must claim. Nothing on this page decides whether a particular estate needs probate. That question belongs to the court, or to an attorney in Missouri.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

What the probate division of the circuit court hears

The probate division of the circuit court may hear and determine all matters pertaining to probate business, to granting letters testamentary and of administration … settling the accounts of personal representatives

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §472.020

The deadlines to present a will and to apply for letters, and a will presented late

1. A will, to be effective as a will, must be presented for and admitted to probate.

(2) In cases where notice has not previously been given in accordance with section 473.033 of the granting of letters on the estate of testator, within one year after the date of death of the testator;

5. A will not presented for probate within the time limitations provided in subsection 3 of this section is forever barred from admission to probate in this state.

6. … no letters of administration shall be issued unless application is made to the court for such letters within one year from the date of death of the decedent.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.050.1, .3(2), .5, .6

When any interested person may petition for letters, and the time limit on it

1. If no application for letters testamentary or of administration is filed by a person entitled to such letters pursuant to section 473.110 within twenty days after the death of a decedent, then any interested person may petition the probate division of the circuit court

2. The petition must be filed within one year after the date of death of the decedent

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.020.1–.2

Proving a will: the certificate of probate, or of rejection

When any will is exhibited to be proven the judge or clerk may immediately receive the proof and grant a certificate of probate, or, if the will is rejected, grant a certificate of rejection.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.047

The clerk’s published notice of the appointment, with the notice to creditors, and how often it runs

The clerk, as soon as letters testamentary or of administration are issued, shall cause to be published in some newspaper a notice of the appointment of the personal representative, in which shall be included a notice to creditors of the decedent to file their claims in the court or be forever barred. The notice shall be published once a week for four consecutive weeks.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.033

The claims deadline after the published notice

which are not filed in the probate division of the circuit court within six months after the date of the first published notice of letters testamentary or of administration … are forever barred

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.360.1

The outer limit on claims, whether or not an estate is opened

all claims against the estate of a deceased person … shall become unenforceable and shall be forever barred against the estate, the personal representative, the heirs, devisees and legatees of the decedent one year following the date of the decedent's death, whether or not administration of the decedent's estate is had or commenced within such one-year period

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.444.1

What the person holding the will must do, wills in safe deposit boxes, and compelling production

1. After the death of the testator, the person having custody of his will shall deliver it to the probate division of the circuit court which has jurisdiction of the estate or to the probate division of the circuit court of the county where the will is found

2. Wills of decedents found in safe deposit boxes are in the custody of the depository for the purposes of this section

the court may summon the person, and compel him, by attachment and commitment, to produce the same.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.043.1–.3

Depositing a will with the court during life, and what the clerk does at death

1. A will may be deposited by the person making it, or by such person's agent, with the probate division of any circuit court, to be safely kept until delivered or disposed of as hereinafter provided. The clerk of the court shall receive and keep the will, and give a certificate of deposit for it.

After the testator's death, the clerk shall notify the person named in the endorsement on the wrapper of the will, if there is a person so named, and deliver it to such person.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §474.510.1, .3

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

1. A will, to be effective as a will, must be presented for and admitted to probate.

(2) In cases where notice has not previously been given in accordance with section 473.033 of the granting of letters on the estate of testator, within one year after the date of death of the testator;

5. A will not presented for probate within the time limitations provided in subsection 3 of this section is forever barred from admission to probate in this state.

6. … no letters of administration shall be issued unless application is made to the court for such letters within one year from the date of death of the decedent.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.050.1, .3(2), .5, .6

1. A will, to be effective as a will, must be presented for and admitted to probate.

(2) In cases where notice has not previously been given in accordance with section 473.033 of the granting of letters on the estate of testator, within one year after the date of death of the testator;

5. A will not presented for probate within the time limitations provided in subsection 3 of this section is forever barred from admission to probate in this state.

6. … no letters of administration shall be issued unless application is made to the court for such letters within one year from the date of death of the decedent.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.050.1, .3(2), .5, .6

1. If no application for letters testamentary or of administration is filed by a person entitled to such letters pursuant to section 473.110 within twenty days after the death of a decedent, then any interested person may petition the probate division of the circuit court

2. The petition must be filed within one year after the date of death of the decedent

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.020.1–.2

The probate division of the circuit court may hear and determine all matters pertaining to probate business, to granting letters testamentary and of administration … settling the accounts of personal representatives

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §472.020

which are not filed in the probate division of the circuit court within six months after the date of the first published notice of letters testamentary or of administration … are forever barred

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.360.1

all claims against the estate of a deceased person … shall become unenforceable and shall be forever barred against the estate, the personal representative, the heirs, devisees and legatees of the decedent one year following the date of the decedent's death, whether or not administration of the decedent's estate is had or commenced within such one-year period

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.444.1

The clerk, as soon as letters testamentary or of administration are issued, shall cause to be published in some newspaper a notice of the appointment of the personal representative, in which shall be included a notice to creditors of the decedent to file their claims in the court or be forever barred. The notice shall be published once a week for four consecutive weeks.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.033

1. After the death of the testator, the person having custody of his will shall deliver it to the probate division of the circuit court which has jurisdiction of the estate or to the probate division of the circuit court of the county where the will is found

2. Wills of decedents found in safe deposit boxes are in the custody of the depository for the purposes of this section

the court may summon the person, and compel him, by attachment and commitment, to produce the same.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §473.043.1–.3

1. A will may be deposited by the person making it, or by such person's agent, with the probate division of any circuit court, to be safely kept until delivered or disposed of as hereinafter provided. The clerk of the court shall receive and keep the will, and give a certificate of deposit for it.

After the testator's death, the clerk shall notify the person named in the endorsement on the wrapper of the will, if there is a person so named, and deliver it to such person.

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §474.510.1, .3

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

A couple. A parent. An adult child and a parent, doing it together. One sitting starts it; keep it current, and tell someone where it is.

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