St. Louis County, Missouri Probate Court Records

St. Louis County, Missouri, does not have a dedicated probate court. Instead, the St. Louis County Circuit Court has a Probate Division that handles probate matters arising in the County. Probate matters encompass court cases involving the estates of deceased persons (decedents), the decedents' wills, and guardianship or conservatorship for both adults and minors. The primary laws that regulate how probate matters are handled in St. Louis County are Missouri’s Probate Codes codified in Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) Chapter 472 to 475.

St. Louis County probate court records are official documents filed with or generated by the county Probate Division in connection with probate matters it handles. These official documents include, but are not limited to, wills, petitions, estate inventory, letters of administration, creditor claims, letters testamentary, distribution orders, and final settlements.

Understanding the Parties Involved in Probate Cases

Some of the key parties involved in St. Louis County probate cases include the following:

• The decedent: a deceased individual whose estate requires probate.
• Distributee: this is an individual or entity that stands to receive assets from a decedent’s estate through probate.
• Devisee: this is a distributee named in a decedent’s will who is designated to receive certain assets from the decedent’s estate.
• Heirs: these are distributees determined by Missouri Intestate Succession Laws, codified in RSMo Chapter 474, who may inherit assets from an intestate (i.e., an individual who dies without a valid will).
• Personal representative: This is an individual appointed by a court (i.e., an administrator) or named in a decedent’s will (i.e., executor) who is responsible for overseeing the decedent’s probate estate.
• Creditors: these are individuals or entities to whom a decedent owed money or assets before their death. They may file a claim against the decedent’s estate during probate proceedings to recoup the debt they are owed.

Legal Purpose and Importance of Probate Court Records in St Louis County

The primary purpose of probate court records in St. Louis County is to document probate proceedings, providing in-depth insights about the process. These records may also contain information about an individual’s family history, making them a valuable resource for identifying interpersonal and familial relationships during genealogical research. Probate courts may also reveal details about the ownership history of real and personal properties and how it was transferred across generations.

Additionally, probate court records are essential for resolving legal disputes arising from estate administration, as they constitute official accounts of the proceedings. The roles and authority of different individuals or entities involved in a probate proceeding may also be verified by reviewing these records.

Differences Between Wills, Estates, and Other Probate Filings in St Louis County

St. Louis County probate court records consist of several distinct documents, each with differing contents and uses. Examples of these documents include, but are not limited to:

• Wills: this contains an individual's wishes regarding how their estate’s assets should be distributed and managed after they pass away.
• Letters testamentary: This is a court-issued document that grants an individual named as an executor in a will the legal authority to carry out their duties.
• Letter of administration: This is issued by a court when a decedent does not have a will, and it grants an individual the legal authority to administer (manage and distribute) the decedent's estate.
• Estate inventory: this is a detailed report that lists all assets a decedent owned or had an interest in at the time of their death. These may include real estate, investment accounts, business interests, retirement accounts, bank accounts, personal properties (i.e., jewelry, vehicles, collectibles), life insurance policies, and debts.
• Estate accountings: These are reports periodically prepared by the personal representative of an estate that document the estate's income and expenses.
• Probate petition: This is a formal request filed with a court requesting to initiate probate proceedings or to appoint a personal representative for an estate
• Guardianship and conservatorship records: Guardianship records document court proceedings in which a court appoints an individual to care for and have custody of a minor or an adult deemed legally incapacitated. Meanwhile, conservatorship records detail court proceedings in which a court appoints an entity or individual to manage the finances of a minor or an adult deemed legally disabled.
• Final settlement: This is the last formal report that an estate’s personal representative files with a court before an estate may be closed. It contains details about debts paid and assets distributed by the estate.

Public Access to Probate Court Records in St. Louis County

Most probate court records in St. Louis County are considered public pursuant to the Missouri Sunshine Law, codified in Missouri Statutes Chapter 610. As a result, there are usually no restrictions on who may access these records.

However, Missouri Court Operating Rule 2 (COR 2), RSMo Section 610.021, and other similar laws and court rules established several exceptions to the Missouri Sunshine Law that restrict public access to certain probate records and information. These include, but are not limited to;

• Sealed records
• Records protected from disclosure by law
• Names of minors in probate filing
• Sensitive personal identification numbers, such as social security numbers and state identification numbers.

Methods for Searching St. Louis County Probate Court Records

In St. Louis County, interested persons can search for probate court records through the Probate Division of the County Circuit Court. The division offers three (3) methods for searching probate records: in person, by mail, or by phone. Alternatively, searches may also be conducted online through the Missouri Courts Case.Net portal.

To conduct searches using any of the aforementioned methods, an individual must possess sufficient information to identify the records being sought. These may include the case party name, estate name, estate number, and filing date.

How to Find St. Louis County Probate Cases Online for Free

St. Louis County public probate case information may be found online for free via the Missouri Courts Case.Net portal. However, only cases filed on or after July 12, 2004, are available on the portal. Users may conduct searches on the portal by case party name, case number, or filing date. Generally, users may view lists of case parties, docket entries (i.e., motions, orders, court filings, judgments, and court notes), and upcoming court hearings of probate cases on the portal.

Accessing St. Louis County Probate Court Records in Person

Interested persons can visit the St. Louis County Circuit Court and navigate to the Probate Division’s file counter to access probate court records in person. They may be allowed to inspect probate court documents for free or may request plain and certified copies of such documents for a fee. In either case, record seekers must provide sufficient identifying information about the record they desire to facilitate a record search. These may include the estate name, case number, case party name, and filing date. The St. Louis County Probate Division is located at:

Requesting St. Louis County Probate Court Records by Mail

To request St. Louis County probate court records by mail, record seekers may draft a written request containing a detailed description of the sought-after record and the Estate name and number connected to the record. The request must also include the requester’s name and contact information. After drafting the request, they can mail it with the appropriate fees to the St. Louis County Probate Division at:

St. Louis County Probate Court Record Access Methods

Applicable Fees for St. Louis County Probate Court Record Requests

Per the St. Louis County Probate’s Fee and Estate Charges Schedule and General FAQ, record seekers may be charged the following fees when requesting probate court records:

• Plain copies: $1.00 per page
• Certified copies: $1.50 plus $1.00 per page
• Authenticated copies: $4.50 plus $1.00 per page
• Wills: $1.00 per page

Note that individuals granted in forma pauperis status (i.e., those the court determines can not afford applicable fees) are not charged for copies of probate documents.