Publication
A court or statute may require creditor notice in a newspaper. Publisher pricing is set commercially and is not a statewide fee.
Missouri court costs
Missouri probate filing cost: not published
When letters are applied for, section 488.012 lists a graduated fee from $75 below $10,000 to $365 above $500,000. The statute states these amounts apply before adjustment by the supreme court, which sets the operative figures by rule.
not published is not published as a current figure, because the statute states its amounts apply before adjustment by another authority. Sources reviewed August 7, 2026.
What the statute charges
Missouri does not publish a current total here.
The schedule below is stated in the statute as applying before adjustment by another authority, so it is shown as a labelled baseline rather than as the amount the clerk collects today. Confirm the current figure before relying on it.
Every line below is computed from the statutory schedule quoted at the end of this page. These are court charges only. They are not an estimate of the total cost of settling an estate.
Application for letters in a probate proceeding Statutory baseline, superseded
These amounts are stated in the statute as applying before adjustment by another authority, so they are not the amount collected today. Section 488.012(2) directs the Missouri Supreme Court to set the operative court costs by rule. Confirm the current amount with the probate division of the circuit court.
| Charge | $25,000 estate | $100,000 estate | $400,000 estate | $1,000,000 estate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduated probate fee by estate value | $115 | $245 | $305 | $365 |
| Total from this schedule | $115 | $245 | $305 | $365 |
Not included in this total
- Publication of notice to creditors
- Bond premium
- The $30 charge for each additional twelve months the estate remains open
Section 488.012 states these amounts apply "prior to adjustment by the supreme court", and subsection 2 directs the supreme court to set the operative amounts by rule. Treat this schedule as the statutory baseline and confirm the current figure with the probate division before relying on it. The small-estate affidavit fee is set separately under section 483.580.
Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 488.012(16), Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Verified August 7, 2026.(16) When letters are applied for in probate proceedings, pursuant to section 483.580 , when the value of the estate is: (a) Less than $10,000 $ 75.00 (b) From $10,000 to $25,000 115.00 (c) From $25,000 to $50,000 155.00 (d) From $50,000 to $100,000 245.00 (e) From $100,000 to $500,000 305.00 (f) More than $500,000 365.00
Costs no statute prices
These are the costs executors most often meet after the filing fee. None of them has a statewide statutory amount, so this site does not estimate them.
Bond
A bond may be required unless a will, consent, or court order waives it. Premiums depend on the bond amount, the estate, and the applicant.
Copies and local charges
Certified copies, recording, inventory, accounting fees, and county surcharges are billed separately from the filing charge.
Professional fees
Attorney, accountant, and appraiser fees are negotiated or court-reviewed. They are not part of any filing schedule.
State-specific limits
- The filing amounts in section 488.012 apply before adjustment by the supreme court, which sets the operative court costs by rule. The published figure is a statutory baseline, not a confirmed current charge.
- The statute measures the estate "less liens, debt, and encumbrances". Liens come from the asset entries and unsecured debt is asked for separately, because it cannot be read off an asset list. Until that figure is entered the route stays undecided rather than being resolved as though the debt were zero.
- A bond is required unless the court dispenses with it, and estates above $15,000 generally require published notice to creditors. Both add cost.
- The court may award compensation above the statutory minimum.
Use this as a starting point.
This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Probate law varies by state and county and changes over time. Verify the current rule with the court or a licensed attorney in the relevant state.
Continue in Missouri
Filing-cost source
Each legal input links to the government source reviewed for this page. Source text can change; confirm the current rule before acting.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 488.012(16)
Reviewed source note: (16) When letters are applied for in probate proceedings, pursuant to section 483.580 , when the value of the estate is: (a) Less than $10,000 $ 75.00 (b) From $10,000 to $25,000 115.00 (c) From $25,000 to $50,000 155.00 (d) From $50,000 to $100,000 245.00 (e) From $100,000 to $500,000 305.00 (f) More than $500,000 365.00