Missouri Probate Costs
Statutory fees under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 473.153
Missouri Probate Overview
Missouri uses a statutory fee schedule for probate, meaning attorney and executor compensation is set by law rather than negotiated. The fee structure is defined under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 473.153, and fees are calculated based on the gross value of the estate. This provides predictability -- you can calculate the exact cost before the process begins.
The statutory fee schedule starts at 5% for the first $5,000 of the estate, with rates decreasing for higher amounts. The court filing fee in Missouri is $150, as set by MO circuit court probate filing fee schedule. Additional costs include surety bond premiums and newspaper publication fees for required legal notices.
The probate process in Missouri typically takes 6 to 12 months from filing to final distribution. For smaller estates valued at $40,000 or less, Missouri offers a small estate affidavit that can bypass the full probate process (Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 473.097).