In Missouri, probate runs through the probate division of the circuit court, and St. Louis City and St. Louis County are separate jurisdictions with separate courts. Knowing which applies is the first step for an executor.
Missouri has no estate or inheritance tax, and it was an early adopter of beneficiary deeds, which let a home pass outside probate. A local estate attorney can tell a family which tools fit.
St. Louis estate attorneys draft wills, trusts, beneficiary deeds and powers of attorney, handle probate in the City or County probate division, plan for Medicaid and nursing home costs, and handle guardianship and conservatorship.
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The probate division of the circuit court where the person lived. St. Louis City and St. Louis County each have their own.
A deed that names who will receive a home at the owner’s death, so the house passes without probate. The owner keeps full control while alive.
Missouri law applies to both, but each has its own probate division and procedures. File where the person lived.
Yes. Missouri allows a small estate affidavit for estates under a set value. An attorney can confirm eligibility.
Property in another state may need a separate ancillary probate there, which a trust can often avoid. An attorney licensed in both states helps.