Back to Missouri
Cape Girardeau County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Cape Girardeau County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cape Girardeau County, 32nd Judicial Circuit |
| Courthouse address | Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, 203 North High Street, Jackson, MO 63755 |
| Mailing address | 203 North High Street, Jackson, MO 63755 |
| Probate phone | (573) 335-8253 |
| Probate email | [email protected], for questions, not as a published filing route |
| Fax | (573) 331-2565 |
| Hours | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays |
| Court costs and deposits | The 32nd Judicial Circuit's probate schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists deposits including $183.00 for application for probate of will and letters testamentary, $148.00 for letters of administration, and $68.00 for a small estate without a will. Call the probate desk at (573) 335-8253 before sending a filing. |
| Local forms | No Cape Girardeau County probate packet is published. Use Missouri Judiciary statewide probate forms and the required filing information sheet. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. The 32nd Judicial Circuit's local rules state that non-lawyer pro se litigants are not required to e-file. |
| Case search | Case.net, https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Remote appearance | The circuit publishes no local probate remote-appearance rule. If the court sets a virtual hearing, the notice of hearing and Case.net scheduled-hearings entry control. |
| Website | Missouri Courts Cape Girardeau County local rules and filing information page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Jackson, identify what the decedent owned, what debts exist, whether any account had a beneficiary, and whether any real estate is actually part of the probate estate. That asset picture decides whether the estate settlement belongs in a full administration, a small estate affidavit, a refusal of letters, or no probate filing at all.
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, investments and other assets before they choose a filing path. In Cape Girardeau County, that preparation matters because the courthouse is in Jackson, the probate desk has its own direct line, and the deposit can depend on the route and the later inventory value.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cape Girardeau County serves decedents whose Missouri probate venue belongs in Cape Girardeau County. Missouri venue for probating a will and granting letters is the county where the decedent was domiciled; if the decedent had no Missouri domicile, venue can be in a county where Missouri property is left, with the real-estate location controlling when the major part of the Missouri estate is real estate (RSMo 473.010).
Cape Girardeau County is in the 32nd Judicial Circuit with Bollinger and Perry counties. Missouri has forty-six judicial circuits (RSMo 478.011), but a shared circuit is not a shared courthouse. A Cape Girardeau County estate is filed in Jackson, while Bollinger County and Perry County probate matters are filed in their own counties.
Use the Jackson courthouse for Cape Girardeau County residents from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Delta, Oak Ridge, Whitewater and other county communities. The county's largest city is Cape Girardeau, but the probate counter is at the courthouse in Jackson.
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, beneficiaries and real estate before choosing a filing path. Property that passes outside probate may change which Missouri route fits the estate settlement.
- Call the Cape Girardeau County probate desk at (573) 335-8253 before a trip to Jackson or before mailing papers. Ask what the counter wants for the specific filing and what deposit should be sent.
- Choose the Missouri route. A full administration asks for letters testamentary or letters of administration. A small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) or a refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090) does not appoint a personal representative.
- Get the statewide Missouri Judiciary probate forms when a statewide form fits. Cape Girardeau County publishes no local probate packet, but Missouri Judiciary forms include the required filing information sheet and forms for small estates, refusal of letters and determination of heirship.
- Deliver the original will to the probate division on paper if there is a will. The 32nd Judicial Circuit's probate schedule, effective December 23, 2013, charges $3.00 for depositing a will for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime and lists no charge for filing a decedent's will alone.
- File the application or affidavit with the circuit clerk's office at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, 203 North High Street, Jackson, MO 63755, which serves as the clerk of the probate division. Local Rule 4.3 says probate papers are filed with the Circuit Clerk.
- Pay the deposit required for the filing path, or ask about the circuit's written request to proceed as a poor person if the deposit is out of reach. The judge decides that request under the circuit's local rules.
- For a full administration, the clerk causes notice of letters to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033). In this circuit, the publication charge for letters and small-estate notices is billed by the newspaper rather than collected with the court deposit.
- If a hearing is set, follow the court's notice. The probate docket is assigned to Division IV, an associate circuit judge division. Whether a hearing is in person in Jackson or in the Judiciary's virtual hearing room is the court's decision, and not every case is eligible for a virtual hearing.
- After the court grants authority, use the certified letters testamentary or letters of administration to administer the estate, watch the Case.net docket, handle claims and inventory requirements, and close the estate settlement under Missouri law. If a small-estate certificate or refusal order must move Cape Girardeau County real estate, record the required document with the recorder of deeds at the Barton Square county administration building.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County does not publish a local probate packet, local probate cover sheet or local probate checklist. The 32nd Judicial Circuit's local rules include probate filing and deposit rules, but they do not prescribe a Cape Girardeau County probate form.
Use the Missouri Judiciary statewide probate forms where they fit the filing. The statewide probate forms page includes FI-50 Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet, which the Judiciary says is required on each case filed, along with small-estate affidavits, refusal of letters applications, determination of heirship forms and property-listing exhibits.
| Form source | What to use it for | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide probate forms, including FI-50, PR 16, PR 17, PR 22, PR 23, PR 25, PR 28, PR 30 and PR 33 | Use the statewide form set because Cape Girardeau County publishes no local probate packet. |
| 32nd Judicial Circuit local rules | Where papers are filed, deposits, fee-waiver requests and local procedural rules | Local Rule 4.3 sends probate papers to the circuit clerk in Jackson. |
| Probate desk in Jackson | Questions about which forms the clerk can help with and what deposit to send | Call (573) 335-8253 or use [email protected] for questions. |
Fees
The 32nd Judicial Circuit publishes a schedule of deposits and fees for its probate divisions as Appendix C to its local court rules. The schedule carries an effective date of December 23, 2013, and a reader should call the probate desk at (573) 335-8253 to confirm the amount to send with a filing today.
The statewide probate cost structure is set by Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023. That rule includes $115 when original letters are applied for in a decedent's estate, one certified copy of letters at no additional cost, an additional $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, and a total cap of $565.00 under that provision (Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023). County totals can include local statutory surcharges, so use the 32nd Judicial Circuit's own schedule for the Cape Girardeau County deposit and call the probate desk before sending payment.
| Filing or service | 32nd Judicial Circuit probate schedule amount | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Application for probate of will and letters testamentary | $183.00, including one certified copy of the letters | December 23, 2013 |
| Application for letters testamentary when the will was admitted previously | $115.00, including one certified copy of the letters | December 23, 2013 |
| Application for letters of administration | $148.00, including one certified copy of the letters | December 23, 2013 |
| Order refusing letters to spouse, creditor or unmarried minor child | $68.00, including one certified copy of the order | December 23, 2013 |
| Small estate affidavit without a will | $68.00, including one certified copy | December 23, 2013 |
| Small estate affidavit with a will | $103.00, including one certified copy | December 23, 2013 |
| Petition to determine heirship | $68.00 | December 23, 2013 |
| Petition to require administration | $148.00 | December 23, 2013 |
| Petition to dispense with administration | $35.00 | December 23, 2013 |
| Annual charge for a deceased estate | $30.00 | December 23, 2013 |
| Copies | $1.00 per page | December 23, 2013 |
| Certified copies | $1.50 plus $1.00 per page | December 23, 2013 |
| Certified copies of letters | $2.50 | December 23, 2013 |
| Authenticated copies | $3.00 plus $1.00 per page | December 23, 2013 |
| Court reporter fee | $15.00 | December 23, 2013 |
The initial deposit is not always the total cost. The circuit's schedule also lists an additional charge tied to final inventory value, beginning with $50.00 for a final inventory value of $50,001 to $100,000 and increasing by $50.00 bands to $450.00 for a final inventory value over $450,000, all under the schedule effective December 23, 2013.
If the deposit is out of reach, Local Rule 5.4 allows a written request to proceed as a poor person, supported by a statement of income and expenses and a statement of property. The judge decides the request, and Appendix C lists no deposit where that request is granted.
Local nuance
Cape Girardeau County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Cape Girardeau County |
|---|---|
| Courthouse city | File in Jackson, the county seat. The city of Cape Girardeau is not the courthouse location for county probate filings. |
| One current court location | The county's circuit court divisions now operate from the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse at 203 North High Street in Jackson. |
| Probate contact | The probate desk has its own direct line, (573) 335-8253, and office email, [email protected]. |
| Filing officer | Local Rule 4.3 says all pleadings, motions, claims and papers in a probate matter are filed with the Circuit Clerk. In this county, the circuit clerk's office serves as the clerk of the probate division. |
| E-filing | The circuit's rules state that non-lawyer pro se litigants are not required to e-file. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. |
| Published deposits | Appendix C to the 32nd Judicial Circuit local rules lists probate deposits and fees for the circuit's probate divisions, with an effective date of December 23, 2013. |
| Publication bills | For letters and small-estate notices, the circuit's schedule says publication is billed by the newspaper rather than collected with the court deposit. |
| Recorder of deeds | If a small-estate certificate or refusal order must be recorded for Cape Girardeau County real estate, the recorder of deeds is in the county administration building at #1 Barton Square, Suite 203, Jackson, not at the courthouse. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| December 2020 | Cape Girardeau County's circuit court divisions, including the probate docket, began operating from the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse at 203 North High Street in Jackson. | Older paperwork or older online listings may point to a former court location and should not be used for a current estate. |
Use the Jackson courthouse address and the probate desk number when working from older papers or an older online listing.
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the probate desk in Jackson at (573) 335-8253. A refusal of letters may fit a surviving spouse when Missouri's statewide requirements are met (RSMo 473.090), and that route does not appoint a personal representative. Use the statewide surviving-spouse refusal form and property exhibit where they fit, then record a certified order with the Cape Girardeau County recorder of deeds if the order must move local real estate. | Sunset finds accounts and assets, helps decide whether property is in the probate estate, prepares the packet for the Jackson counter, and identifies when a full administration or attorney review is safer. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Do not go to the city of Cape Girardeau. File with the circuit clerk's office at 203 North High Street in Jackson, in person or by mail, and send the original will to the probate division on paper if there is one. A small estate affidavit produces the clerk's certificate that banks and title companies look for (RSMo 473.097). | Sunset lets the child work from another state by finding assets, organizing debts and beneficiaries, assembling the statewide small-estate paperwork, and connecting the family with Missouri counsel if the filing becomes contested. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A sale often points to a full administration. Plan for the Jackson courthouse, Division IV, and counsel for any court appearance because a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). The circuit's schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists $183.00 for application for probate of will and letters testamentary and $148.00 for letters of administration, with later inventory-value charges also possible. | Sunset helps build the asset picture, generates the estate settlement packet, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the appearance, sale process and closing steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau County local rules and filing information | Provides the 32nd Judicial Circuit local rules, including probate filing, deposit and fee-waiver rules. | Missouri Courts website, Cape Girardeau County local rules and filing information page |
| Cape Girardeau County probate desk | Answers local questions about the counter in Jackson, current deposits, copies and what to send with a filing. | (573) 335-8253, [email protected] |
| Case.net | Lets a person look up a Cape Girardeau County estate docket by the decedent's name, see scheduled hearings and access available public documents. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Provides statewide probate forms, including the filing information sheet, small-estate affidavits, refusal of letters applications and determination of heirship forms. | Missouri Courts website, probate forms page |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | Provides the official text of Missouri probate statutes, including small estates, refusal of letters, notice, claims and inventory provisions. | https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | Provides a plain-language Missouri probate guide published by The Missouri Bar. | https://missourilawyershelp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Probate-Guide-Updated-2024.pdf |
| Legal Services of Southern Missouri | Provides free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Missourians. Cape Girardeau County applications are listed through the Sikeston office, online application and toll-free number. | https://www.lsmo.org/page/951/offices, (573) 683-3783, 1-800-444-4863 |
When to hire an attorney
In Missouri, a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7), though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements. Counsel is especially important in a Cape Girardeau County full administration when a house must be sold, an heir objects, a creditor claim is disputed, the personal representative lives out of state, or the matter becomes contested under the 32nd Judicial Circuit's local rules. A small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) and a refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090) do not appoint a personal representative, and this circuit's rules expect self-represented filers at the clerk's counter. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance and other assets before the family chooses a Missouri probate path. That matters in Cape Girardeau County because the route, the deposit and the need for letters all depend on what is actually in the estate.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset information into an organized estate settlement packet, using Missouri statewide forms where they fit and tailoring the filing checklist to the Cape Girardeau County counter in Jackson.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs a full administration, a sale of real estate or a court appearance, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney who can appear in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cape Girardeau County.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to find assets, understand next steps, prepare paperwork and connect with counsel at no cost, so the estate settlement starts with a clear plan before anyone files in Jackson.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Cape Girardeau County?
File with the clerk of the probate division at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, 203 North High Street, Jackson, MO 63755. Local Rule 4.3 says probate papers are filed with the Circuit Clerk, and in this county that office serves as the clerk of the probate division.
I live in the city of Cape Girardeau. Do I file there or in Jackson?
File in Jackson. Cape Girardeau is the county's largest city, but the county courthouse for probate is at 203 North High Street in Jackson.
What is the phone number for the probate division in Cape Girardeau County?
The probate desk number is (573) 335-8253. The probate office email for questions is [email protected], but nothing published makes that email a filing route.
When is the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson open?
The courthouse hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. No lunch closure or daily filing cutoff is published, so call the probate desk before a trip if timing is tight.
Can I file a Cape Girardeau County probate case myself, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. The 32nd Judicial Circuit's rules state that non-lawyer pro se litigants are not required to e-file, and Court Operating Rule 27.03 says electronic filing shall not be required for self-represented filers.
What does it cost to open an estate in Cape Girardeau County?
The 32nd Judicial Circuit's probate schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists $183.00 for application for probate of will and letters testamentary and $148.00 for letters of administration, each including one certified copy of the letters. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, also creates an inventory-value charge structure, so call the probate desk at (573) 335-8253 for the current amount to send.
Does Cape Girardeau County have its own probate forms?
No Cape Girardeau County probate packet is published. Use the Missouri Judiciary statewide probate forms, including the filing information sheet, and call the probate desk if you are unsure which statewide form fits.
Can I look up a Cape Girardeau County estate case online?
Yes. Use Case.net, the Missouri Judiciary's public case search, and search by the decedent's name. Cape Girardeau County probate cases are included, and public documents filed on or after July 1, 2023 may appear as links in the docket entries.
Will I have to appear in person in Jackson?
The court's notice controls. The 32nd Judicial Circuit publishes no local probate remote-appearance rule, and the Judiciary's virtual hearing room page says not every case is eligible. If a hearing is set virtually, the notice of hearing and Case.net scheduled-hearings entry will show it.
Do I need a lawyer for a Cape Girardeau County estate?
For a full administration, plan on legal help if a court appearance is needed because a non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). Small estate affidavits (RSMo 473.097) and refusals of letters (RSMo 473.090) do not appoint a personal representative, so that rule does not reach those routes.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.