How much does probate cost in Missouri?

The short answer

Missouri is one of the states where the core probate fees are set by statute — fixed by law rather than negotiated. Here’s how those fees work, what else gets added on top, and the ways many families avoid full probate entirely.

Attorney fees

Statutory minimum under Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.153: 5% of the first $5,000, 4% of the next $20,000, 3% of the next $75,000, 2.75% of the next $300,000, 2.5% of the next $600,000, and 2% of everything over $1,000,000. The court may allow additional compensation above the minimum where reasonable.

Executor / personal representative fees

The personal representative is entitled to the same statutory minimum percentage schedule under Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.153. A representative named in the will may instead take the compensation the will provides, unless renounced. Both representative and attorney fees can apply.

What the fee is based on

The percentages apply to the value of the PERSONAL PROPERTY administered plus the PROCEEDS OF ANY REAL ESTATE SOLD under court order — not to real estate that passes directly to heirs. This is why a Missouri beneficiary deed on the home keeps that value out of the fee base.

Court filing fees

RSMo §483.580 charges probate court costs against the estate but sets no dollar amount itself; the amounts are 'determined pursuant to sections 488.010 to 488.020' and collected by the clerk of the probate division, so they differ by county. We have not verified current county amounts against a primary source. Newspaper publication of the notice to creditors is a separate cost billed by the newspaper.

Appraisal / probate referee

How long probate takes in Missouri

We found no published source for how long probate takes in Missouri as of September 2026. No Missouri court publishes case-duration data, and the ranges that circulate come from law firms and from sites paid to refer customers to them, so none is cited here. The statutory floor is the creditor period: Six months after the date of the first published notice of letters testamentary or of administration, or, where notice was actually mailed to or served upon the creditor, two months after the date that notice was mailed or served, "whichever later occurs" (Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.360(1)). Claims not filed in the probate division within that period, and claims not paid by the personal representative within six months after the first published notice, are forever barred against the estate, the personal representative and the heirs, devisees and legatees.

Creditor claim period

Six months after the date of the first published notice of letters testamentary or of administration, or, where notice was actually mailed to or served upon the creditor, two months after the date that notice was mailed or served, "whichever later occurs" (Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.360(1)). Claims not filed in the probate division within that period, and claims not paid by the personal representative within six months after the first published notice, are forever barred against the estate, the personal representative and the heirs, devisees and legatees. In practice, this window is often the real floor on how quickly an estate can close, because the personal representative usually waits it out before making final distributions.

How to skip full probate (or shrink the bill)

• Small-estate procedure. Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.097(1) measures the threshold on "the value of the entire estate, less liens, debt, and encumbrances" and sets it at forty thousand dollars; (2) requires thirty days to have elapsed with no application for letters or for refusal of letters under §473.090 pending or granted. Under §473.097(5), where the value of the property listed in the affidavit is more than fifteen thousand dollars the clerk must publish a notice to creditors.
• Real-property shortcut. Real estate that passes directly to heirs or by beneficiary deed is excluded from the statutory fee base, since fees apply only to personal property administered and real estate actually sold under court order.
• Transfer-on-death deed. Missouri allows a beneficiary deed (its version of a transfer-on-death deed) for real estate under Mo. Rev. Stat. §461.025. The owner records a deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes automatically at death without probate, while the owner keeps full control during life.
• A funded living trust. Assets in a properly funded revocable living trust skip probate entirely. The successor trustee distributes them privately, usually in a month or two.
• Beneficiary designations and joint ownership. Life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death (POD) accounts, and jointly held property pass directly to the named person and never enter probate.
• Family member as executor. When a relative serves as executor, they can often waive the commission — meaningfully cutting the total bill.

Whether representation is required in Missouri

Missouri does not require an estate to be represented by counsel in every proceeding; the court’s self-help materials set out where a personal representative may file without an attorney. Full probate carries formal filing requirements and statutory deadlines, and estates qualifying for a small-estate or summary procedure follow a shorter track with lower filing costs. Legal document preparers operate in some states at a flat fee, subject to state rules on unauthorised practice.

What the record shows

Probate cost in Missouri is the sum of separately-set components: statutory or court-approved attorney fees, executor commissions, court filing fees, and appraisal costs. Each is documented above with its citation.

Assets that pass outside probate — by beneficiary designation, joint ownership with survivorship, transfer-on-death instrument, or a funded living trust — are not part of the estate these fees are calculated on. Missouri’s small-estate threshold, above, determines which estates can use the simplified procedure.

Frequently asked questions about probate cost in Missouri

How much does probate cost in Missouri?

Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.153 sets a statutory MINIMUM compensation schedule as a sliding percentage of the value of the personal property administered and the proceeds of all real property sold under order of the probate court, beginning at 5 percent of the first $5,000. Most estates use 'independent administration' when the will allows or the heirs consent. We found no published source for what probate costs in total in Missouri as of September 2026; the ranges that are published come from law firms and from sites paid to refer customers to them.

What is the small-estate limit in Missouri?

Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.097(1) measures the threshold on "the value of the entire estate, less liens, debt, and encumbrances" and sets it at forty thousand dollars; (2) requires thirty days to have elapsed with no application for letters or for refusal of letters under §473.090 pending or granted. Under §473.097(5), where the value of the property listed in the affidavit is more than fifteen thousand dollars the clerk must publish a notice to creditors.

Who pays the probate costs in Missouri?

The estate does. Attorney fees, the executor’s commission, court filing fees, and any appraisal costs are all paid out of the estate’s assets before anything is distributed to the beneficiaries — so in practice the heirs bear the cost through a smaller inheritance rather than paying out of pocket.

Can you avoid probate costs in Missouri?

Because Missouri's fee schedule is calculated on personal property and real estate sold, a beneficiary deed (§461.025) on the home and payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations on accounts keep those assets out of both probate and the fee base. Independent administration, available when the will allows it or all heirs consent, carries less court oversight than supervised administration.

How long does probate take in Missouri?

We found no published source for how long probate takes in Missouri as of September 2026. No Missouri court publishes case-duration data, and the ranges that circulate come from law firms and from sites paid to refer customers to them, so none is cited here. The statutory floor is the creditor period: Six months after the date of the first published notice of letters testamentary or of administration, or, where notice was actually mailed to or served upon the creditor, two months after the date that notice was mailed or served, "whichever later occurs" (Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.360(1)). Claims not filed in the probate division within that period, and claims not paid by the personal representative within six months after the first published notice, are forever barred against the estate, the personal representative and the heirs, devisees and legatees. The deadlines that run alongside it: How Long Does Probate Take in Missouri?.

Related reading

• What Is Probate and How Does It Work? — the full plain-English explanation of how probate works in the US.

• How to Avoid Probate in Missouri — the state-specific avoidance playbook.

• Executor Deadlines in Missouri — the statutory dates the executor works to, quoted from Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.360(1).

• How Long Does Probate Take in Missouri? — the companion timeline guide for Missouri.

• Will vs. Trust: How They Differ — the documented differences between the two instruments.

• Estate Planning Checklist: Everything in One Place — the documents and decisions that determine what passes through probate.

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This page explains Missouri probate costs in general terms as of 2026. It is not legal advice, and fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs change and depend on your specific situation. Confirm current figures with the Missouri courts or a licensed Missouri attorney. Sources: Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.153 (compensation of personal representatives and attorneys), Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.097 (small estate affidavit), Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.780 (independent administration), Mo. Rev. Stat. §461.025 (beneficiary deed).