The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Missouri with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Missouri reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Missouri probate pages.
Missouri probate fees
| Item | Missouri |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | 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. |
| 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. |
| Fee basis | percentage |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Missouri estate the statutory minimum executor fee is about $14,050 ($250 on the first $5,000 + $800 on the next $20,000 + $2,250 on the next $75,000 + $8,250 on the next $300,000 + $2,500 on the remaining $100,000). The estate's attorney may be paid a fee on the same schedule separately, so statutory fees can roughly double that figure.
Missouri thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Missouri |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | 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. |
| Creditor claim period | Six months from the date of first published notice of letters, under Mo. Rev. Stat. Ch. 473. Claims not filed within this period are forever barred. This minimum period cannot be shortened. |
| Typical duration | 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. |
| Simplified real-property transfer | 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. |
What passes outside Missouri probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- 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.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: 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)
- State authority: Missouri Revisor of Statutes (revisor.mo.gov)
- Attorney fees: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=473.153
- Executor fees: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=473.153
- Small-estate procedure: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=473.097
- Transfer-on-death deed: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=461.025
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Missouri court before relying on it.
The full Missouri guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in Missouri? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Missouri? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in Missouri? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in Missouri — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in Missouri — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in Missouri? — execution requirements and pricing.
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This sheet sets out Missouri probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Missouri courts or a licensed Missouri attorney.