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.

There are statutory time limits for filing on most probate proceedings. The most common being when there is a will being filed, it must be filed within 1 year from date of death. Further questions on these time limits should be directed to the Issue Department – (314) 615-2616.

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.

Forms are available on our website. Click on the Forms link.

(**As stated in #4 above, only 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.)

Costs for the initial filing a probate matter vary from $67.00 to $668.00. A complete schedule of probate deposits and fees can be found on our website - Forms and Fees. Click on the Filing Fees link.