Probate Court

5th Floor, 105 South Central Avenue

Probate Information: 314-615-2629

Copy Department: 314-615-2618

Finance Department: 314-615-2623

Fax Telephone Number: 314-615-8293

Hon. Ellen Levy, Division 11

HISTORY AND FUNCTION OF THE PROBATE COURT

The St. Louis County Circuit Court, Probate Court, hears and determines matters pertaining to the body of Missouri law which provides for the orderly transfer of property upon death, the appointment of guardians and conservators, and the commitment for treatment of mentally ill persons.

The probate court was created in 1877 when St. Louis County became a governmental entity separate from the City of St. Louis.

From carefully handwritten inventories listing wagon wheels and farm implements to computer print-outs detailing the administration of estates with millions of dollars of "worldly goods", probate records reflect the growth and change of St. Louis County. Even with the volume and complexity of current probate proceedings, staff strive to maintain that same attention to detail and concern for "making the record" with which the clerk in 1877 carefully hand copied the wills filed in the court.

Probate Email Subscription List

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Time Standards

How long does it take to process a case in Probate Court?

Probate Division Copy Orders
Ordering and Payment Options
(314) 615-2618 – Voice Mailbox

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Filing Fees

Schedule of Deposits and Fees
St. Louis County Circuit Court, Probate Division

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Forms

Click below for a complete listing of forms used in Probate.

Forms

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out if any proceedings have been filed in Probate?

Proceedings in probate consist of estates for deceased persons, guardianship and/or conservatorship for adults and minors, and wills for deceased persons. They are filed in the Probate Division which is located on the 5th Floor of the Courts Building at 7900 Carondelet, Clayton, Missouri. Our records are open to the public with the exception of confidential matters.

For information about whether any proceedings have been filed in the Probate Division:

1.Probate case information is available on Case.Net for cases filed on or after July 12, 2004. The web address for Case.Net is www.courts.mo.gov/casenet;
2.For older cases not found on Case.Net (filed prior to July 12, 2004), call our General Information telephone number at 314-615-2629 and press zero (0);
3.Inquire in person at the Probate Division’s file counter.

You will need to know the name of the person for which you are requesting information. If this person is deceased, it would be helpful to have an approximate date of death. If you have a number of people that you are looking for, please fax your request with a return fax number to (314) 615-8293. Court staff will retrieve the information you need and fax it back to you.

Is there a time limit on when a proceeding may be filed in Probate?

Do I need an attorney to handle a probate matter?

By law, most probate matters require you to be represented by an attorney – Sections 473.153 (7) and 475.020 RSMo. However, Applications for a Refusal of Letters for a Spouse, for a Creditor or for an Unmarried Minor Child can be filed without an attorney. Applications for Guardianship of a Minor Child can be filed without an attorney but it is highly recommended that you have an attorney to represent you.

Where do I find forms for filing a probate matter?

How much does it cost to file a probate matter?

Is a death certificate needed on decedent’s estates? Does it have to be a certified copy?

How do I get guardianship of a minor child?

There is a packet of information and forms for getting guardianship of a minor child available in the Forms section of our website. Scroll down to Probate Court Guardian/Conservator/Minor and in the Form Description look for Guardianship Packet. Applications for Guardianship of a Minor Child can be filed without an attorney but it is highly recommended that you have an attorney to represent you. You may also click here for minor guardianship information.

Where do I get a copy of a will?

How do I obtain a certified or authenticated copy of documents in a probate file?

You may request a certified or authenticated copy in person at the court, by mail, or by calling our Certified Copy Department at (314) 615-2618. Partial documents cannot be certified or authenticated – it must be the entire document. You will need the following information:

a. Estate name and number.
b. Document(s) needed.
c. Type of copy requesting – certified or authenticated.
d. Quantity.
e. Requester’s name and call back number.

The cost is $1.00 per page for plain copies. Certified copies are an additional $1.50 per document. Authenticated copies are an additional $4.50 per document. Prepayment is required in some instances.

Can I use a credit or debit card for payment?

Please Note: Circuit Probate Case information is available for all public cases that were converted from the previous automated system or entered into the courts case management system (JIS) on or after July 12, 2004. If you are attempting to search for a probate case filed prior to July 12, 2004 and it is not in Case.net, please call the General Information number for St. Louis County Court 314-615-2629 or inquire at the St. Louis County Courthouse, Circuit Probate Division in St. Louis County, Missouri.

Please Note: There is a ten (10) page limit for all fax filings. Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Probate Court

HISTORY AND FUNCTION OF THE PROBATE COURT

Probate Email Subscription List

Time Standards

Ordering and Paying for Copies

Filing Fees

Forms

Frequently Asked Questions

VISITING THE COURTHOUSE