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DeKalb County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | DeKalb County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of DeKalb County, at the DeKalb County Courthouse |
| Courthouse address | 109 W. Main St., Maysville, MO 64469 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 248, Maysville, MO 64469 |
| Phone | (816) 449-2602, extension 2, for the Circuit, Associate, and Probate Divisions |
| Fax | (816) 449-7949 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office observes state holidays. |
| Court cost | DeKalb County does not publish a county probate fee schedule. Under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, the state component for original letters is $115, with $50 added for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565, plus any local surcharges. Ask the DeKalb County clerk for the current total before you file. |
| Local forms | No DeKalb County-specific probate packet or checklist is posted on the county clerk page. Use Missouri Judiciary probate forms and ask the clerk whether any local cover sheet is needed. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file under COR 27.03(b)(4), effective October 1, 2019, and should ask the DeKalb County clerk whether the filing type can be submitted electronically. |
| Case search | Case.net provides public probate case information for DeKalb County. The Judiciary lists DeKalb County probate case information as available for public cases pending as of, or filed after, January 23, 2006. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk before any hearing. No DeKalb County probate remote-appearance procedure is posted on the county clerk page. |
| Website | https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/circuit-clerk.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in DeKalb County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations, and any will. The right route depends on what is actually in the probate estate, what passes outside probate, and whether someone must have letters testamentary or letters of administration to deal with a bank, vehicle, or real estate buyer.
Sunset's estate settlement process includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps families find accounts before they file in Maysville. That matters because a missed account can change the court cost, the notice plan, and whether a smaller Missouri procedure is available.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of DeKalb County serves DeKalb County from the courthouse in Maysville. Communities in the county include Maysville, Stewartsville, Union Star, Weatherby, and Osborn.
DeKalb County is in Missouri's 43rd Judicial Circuit with Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, and Livingston counties. A shared circuit does not mean a shared courthouse. Missouri venue for letters is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled, and later estate proceedings remain in the county where letters were granted (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the DeKalb County path. If the decedent was domiciled in DeKalb County, file the estate matter with the clerk of the Probate Division at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Maysville. If the decedent had no Missouri domicile, use Missouri's property-based venue rule (RSMo 473.010).
- Prepare the petition, any will, death certificate information, interested-party information, asset list, and proposed personal representative information. A non-attorney personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7), although the personal representative may prepare and file inventories and settlements.
- File in person or by mail with the circuit clerk's office, which handles the Probate Division, at 109 W. Main St. or P.O. Box 248, Maysville, MO 64469. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers should ask the clerk whether the filing type is open for electronic submission, because COR 27.03(b)(4), effective October 1, 2019, does not require self-represented e-filing.
- Pay the opening court cost or arrange payment as directed by the clerk. DeKalb County does not publish a local probate fee schedule, so use the clerk's current total. The state component for original letters is set by Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, at $115, with $50 added for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565, plus any local surcharges.
- Deliver the original will to the probate division on paper if there is one. Electronic filing does not replace the need to lodge the original will with the probate division.
- After letters testamentary or letters of administration are issued, the clerk causes notice of appointment and notice to creditors to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033). Known creditors who receive mailed or served notice get the later of the statutory six-month period from first publication or two months from mailing or service (RSMo 473.360).
- Attend any hearing the court sets in Maysville unless the court allows another appearance method. Ask the clerk before the hearing if travel is difficult, because no DeKalb County probate remote-appearance procedure is posted on the county clerk page.
- When the court grants authority, use the letters testamentary or letters of administration to collect assets, manage claims, and work with banks, buyers, and title companies.
- Administer the estate, file required inventories and settlements, pay allowed claims and expenses, distribute the remaining property, and close the estate under Missouri procedure. Estate settlement timing depends on the creditor period, the asset mix, whether administration is independent or supervised, and whether objections are filed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in DeKalb County
DeKalb County does not post a county-specific probate packet, checklist, or local form set on the county clerk page. The clerk's office lists contact information for the Circuit, Associate, and Probate Divisions, but not a DeKalb County probate forms section.
Use the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page for statewide probate forms, and call the DeKalb County clerk before filing to ask whether the local office wants a cover sheet, copies, envelopes, or a specific payment method. Do not list a Missouri probate form number unless you have the current form in front of you.
Local nuance
DeKalb County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in DeKalb County |
|---|---|
| One courthouse office | The county clerk page describes one office handling the Circuit, Associate, and Probate Divisions at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Maysville. No separate probate room, floor, or mailing address is posted. |
| 43rd Judicial Circuit | DeKalb County shares the 43rd Judicial Circuit with Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, and Livingston counties. Probate for a DeKalb County decedent is still filed in DeKalb County when Missouri venue points there. |
| Case.net dates | The Judiciary's DeKalb County case-help page lists probate case information as available for public cases pending as of, or filed after, January 23, 2006. It also states DeKalb County's electronic case information for listed case types became available beginning May 18, 2015. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely DeKalb County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home was titled and whether it passed outside probate. If DeKalb County probate is needed for other assets, the filing goes to the Maysville courthouse. A refusal of letters may be worth discussing if the facts fit Missouri's spouse or unmarried minor children path (RSMo 473.090). | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary designations, debts, and title issues before the spouse chooses a court path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Missouri small estate affidavit requirements fit, the filing is made with the DeKalb County probate division after the statutory waiting period. The Missouri small estate limit is $40,000 net, effective August 28, 2002 (RSMo 473.097). Call the clerk about paper filing, copies, and whether any electronic option is open to a self-represented filer. | Sunset helps gather balances and documents remotely so the adult child can avoid unnecessary trips to Maysville where the court allows paper or mail handling. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate often requires authority from a full estate administration unless the property passed outside probate. File in DeKalb County if venue belongs there, and plan for counsel if a personal representative must appear in court (RSMo 473.153.7). | Sunset helps organize the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the court-facing parts of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County Circuit Clerk | Local filing counter for the Circuit, Associate, and Probate Divisions in Maysville. Call for current court costs, copy needs, and filing logistics. | 109 W. Main St., Maysville, MO 64469. Mailing: P.O. Box 248, Maysville, MO 64469. Phone: (816) 449-2602, extension 2. Fax: (816) 449-7949. Website: https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/circuit-clerk.html |
| Case.net | Missouri's statewide public case search for circuit court case information, including DeKalb County probate case information available to the public. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide probate forms for Missouri matters. Use the forms page together with any instructions from the DeKalb County clerk. | Missouri Judiciary website, Probate Court Forms page |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | A consumer guide from The Missouri Bar. Treat it as general background, not as DeKalb County court instructions. | https://missourilawyershelp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Probate-Guide-Updated-2024.pdf |
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Missourians. The St. Joseph office lists DeKalb County among the counties it serves. | 3110 Karnes Road, Suite 100, St. Joseph, MO 64506. Phone: (816) 364-2325 or (800) 892-2101. Website: https://lawmo.org/contact-locate/st-joseph/ |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | Official Missouri statutes and constitutional provisions, including probate statutes cited in court filings and orders. | https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel makes sense in a DeKalb County full administration when a personal representative will need to appear in court, sell real estate, handle creditor disputes, or close a supervised estate. Missouri law says a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, although the personal representative may prepare and file inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). Sunset connects families to a vetted DeKalb County probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, debts, and other property before they choose a Missouri probate path. A complete asset picture makes estate settlement in DeKalb County more predictable.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the court forms and supporting documents, then helps you understand what gets filed with the DeKalb County probate division in Maysville.
Find a local probate attorney. When a full administration needs court appearances, real estate authority, or contested issues, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Missouri probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset discovery, and attorney matching without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in DeKalb County, Missouri?
File DeKalb County probate matters with the clerk of the Probate Division at the DeKalb County Courthouse, 109 W. Main St., Maysville, MO 64469. Mail filings to P.O. Box 248, Maysville, MO 64469.
What phone number should I call for DeKalb County probate?
Call (816) 449-2602, extension 2. The county clerk page states that this office handles the Circuit, Associate, and Probate Divisions. The fax number is (816) 449-7949.
What are the DeKalb County probate office hours?
The office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office observes state holidays.
Can I e-file a DeKalb County probate case if I am not a lawyer?
Self-represented filers are not required to e-file under COR 27.03(b)(4), effective October 1, 2019. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. If you are filing without a lawyer, ask the DeKalb County clerk whether your specific probate filing type can be submitted electronically or should be filed in person or by mail.
Does DeKalb County have local probate forms?
No DeKalb County-specific probate packet or checklist is posted on the county clerk page. Use the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page and ask the DeKalb County clerk whether a cover sheet, copies, or envelopes are needed.
How much does it cost to open letters in DeKalb County?
DeKalb County does not publish a local probate fee schedule. Under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, the state component for original letters is $115, with $50 added for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565, plus any local surcharges. Ask the DeKalb County clerk for the current total before you file.
Can I look up a DeKalb County probate case online?
Yes. Use Case.net for public case information. The Judiciary's DeKalb County help page lists probate case information as available for public cases pending as of, or filed after, January 23, 2006. A matter before that date may require review at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Maysville.
Do I have to travel to Maysville for a DeKalb County probate hearing?
Ask the clerk before the hearing. No DeKalb County probate remote-appearance procedure is posted on the county clerk page, so do not assume a phone or video appearance is available unless the court allows it for your matter.
Can I use a Missouri small estate affidavit in DeKalb County?
Possibly, if the Missouri requirements fit. The statewide small estate limit is $40,000 net, effective August 28, 2002 (RSMo 473.097), and the affidavit is filed with the clerk of the probate division. If DeKalb County real estate is involved, the clerk's certificate may also need to be recorded with the recorder of deeds after the probate filing.
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.