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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

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

Free · general informationMissouri

What to do when someone dies in Missouri

The first things Missouri’s own law asks for after a death, quoted word for word, then the pages for everything that follows, in the order it usually comes. Nothing here decides what a particular family must do. That belongs to the office named, the court, or 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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Pages taken from the planner, by email: who to phone first, and a blank records sheet.

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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.

Filing the death certificate: who files it, and how soon

Registering the death comes first. These are Missouri’s own words on who files the record, and how soon.

A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar, or as otherwise directed by the state registrar, within five days after death and shall be registered if such certificate has been completed and filed pursuant to this section.

4. The funeral director or person in charge of final disposition of the dead body shall file the certificate of death.

within seventy-two hours after death

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §193.145.1, .4, .5

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

The will has its own rules. These are Missouri’s own words on who brings it to the court after a death, and what the court does with it.

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

A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar, or as otherwise directed by the state registrar, within five days after death and shall be registered if such certificate has been completed and filed pursuant to this section.

4. The funeral director or person in charge of final disposition of the dead body shall file the certificate of death.

within seventy-two hours after death

Missouri · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · RSMo §193.145.1, .4, .5

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. 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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