The Estate Planning Guide Est. 2026

How much does probate cost in Missouri?

Published June 3, 2026 3 min read

Quick answer

Missouri sets a statutory MINIMUM fee schedule for both the personal representative and the attorney — a sliding percentage of the personal property administered plus any real estate sold (5% of the first $5,000, scaling down). Most estates use the cheaper 'independent administration' when the will allows or the heirs consent, so a straightforward Missouri probate commonly runs about $3,000 to $7,000-plus in fees and court costs; supervised administration costs more.

Educational guide — not legal advice. Laws and figures change; confirm current details with a licensed Missouri attorney before relying on them.

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

Filing fees vary by county but are modest — commonly around $150 to $200 to open the estate (for example, roughly $155 for an intestate and $190 for a testate estate in some counties), plus newspaper publication costs of about $150 to $200.

Appraisal / probate referee

How long probate takes in Missouri

Roughly 9 to 15 months for a routine estate; the law requires a minimum six-month creditor claim period that cannot be shortened, so a full estate almost never closes faster than about six to nine months. Contested estates, missing heirs, or real estate sales can extend that.

How to skip full probate (or shrink the bill)

  • Small-estate procedure. Estates valued at $40,000 or less (after liens and encumbrances) qualify for a small estate affidavit under Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.097, available 30 days after death. Above $15,000, 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.
  • 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.

Do you need a lawyer?

For most Missouri estates that go through full probate, yes — the court process has formal requirements and missed deadlines can cost more than the legal fees they were meant to avoid. For genuinely simple estates, or where a small-estate procedure applies, many families handle it themselves or use a legal document preparer for a flat fee.

The honest takeaway

The cheapest probate cost is the one you avoid in advance — by titling assets correctly, keeping beneficiary designations current, and, where it makes sense, using a living trust. If your estate is likely to exceed Missouri’s small-estate thresholds, it’s worth talking to a licensed Missouri estate attorney while you still have the option to plan.

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).

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