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Jackson County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Jackson County probate detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri |
| Courthouses | Kansas City: 415 E. 12th Street, 9th Floor, Kansas City, MO 64106. Independence: 308 W. Kansas Avenue, Suite 304, Independence, MO 64050. |
| Which courthouse | Independence for the eastern portion and Kansas City for the western portion, based on the decedent's residence or land location under RSMo 478.473. |
| Mailing | Use the street address for the Kansas City or Independence location that holds the case. The court publishes no separate probate post office box. |
| Phone | (816) 881-3755, Probate Department main number for both locations. |
| Fax | Kansas City: (816) 881-3228. Independence: (816) 881-1609. Fax filing is limited to emergency detention applications under Local Court Rule 72.3.3, not estate filings. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Court costs | $190.50 for letters testamentary when the will is admitted at the same time, $155.50 for letters of administration, and $55.50 for a refusal of letters or small estate affidavit, each from the Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. An additional clerk fee begins when the final inventory value is more than $50,000 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023. |
| Local forms | Yes. Jackson County publishes an extensive local probate forms library, new-estate checklists and a Probate Procedures Manual. |
| E-filing | Required for attorneys through the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file and file original papers with the clerk of the probate division by mail or in person. |
| Case search | Case.net for case actions entered after May 16, 2005. The court's Estate Number Inquiry and Party Name Inquiry cover earlier probate information. |
| Remote appearance | The court publishes no general remote-appearance practice for probate matters. Ask the Probate Department about the setting in your case. |
| Website | https://www.16thcircuit.org/probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Jackson County estate settlement path, identify the assets, debts, title paperwork and where the decedent lived. That matters more here than in many Missouri counties because Jackson County has two probate offices, and RSMo 478.473 sends eastern-portion matters to Independence and western-portion matters to Kansas City.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, investments and other assets before they file. That inventory work helps decide whether the estate can use a refusal of letters, needs a lawyer under Jackson County's local notice, or must proceed through letters testamentary or letters of administration.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Jackson County serves all of Jackson County. Jackson County is the whole 16th Judicial Circuit, so probate filings for a Jackson County decedent do not go to another Missouri county.
Missouri venue starts with the county of the decedent's domicile: the will is probated and letters are granted in the county where the deceased was domiciled (RSMo 473.010). Jackson County then adds its own courthouse rule. The probate division must keep two offices, one in Independence and one in Kansas City, and letters are granted at the office assigned by the decedent's residence or land location inside the county (RSMo 478.473).
Kansas City and Independence are the two courthouse cities. Kansas City serves the western portion of Jackson County. Independence serves the eastern portion. Do not treat the Independence office as a limited satellite, because the statute requires both offices and each keeps the records for its assigned portion unless a case is transferred.
The jurisdiction process
- Start by deciding whether the estate needs letters at all. Jackson County's January 1, 2026 Notice to Pro Se Litigants lists refusal of letters, filing a will only and admitting a will as the probate matters a person may file without a lawyer. It lists applications for letters, small estate affidavits, petitions to require administration and petitions for determination of heirship as matters that require a Missouri attorney.
- Choose the correct courthouse before filing. Use Independence if the decedent lived in the eastern portion of Jackson County and Kansas City if the decedent lived in the western portion. If the decedent did not live in Jackson County, RSMo 478.473 uses the portion where the Jackson County land lies, with either location available in other cases.
- Download the Jackson County checklist for the filing type. The court publishes checklists for letters testamentary, letters of administration, abbreviated matters such as refusals, small estates and wills, and determination of heirship.
- Assemble the Jackson County forms and supporting papers. Common local forms include Form 10070 for letters testamentary or letters with will annexed, Form 10030 for letters of administration, Form 10021 for independent administration consents, Form 10620 for the small estate affidavit, and PR33, PR25 or PR23 for refusal of letters. Applications for letters also use the Missouri HealthNet Disclosure, Form 10022.
- File in the correct way. Attorneys file electronically through the Missouri eFiling System. A self-represented filer files original papers with the clerk of the probate division by mail or in person at the Probate Records Department in Kansas City or Independence.
- Deliver the original will on paper. If a will or codicil is submitted electronically, the original must be physically filed with the probate division within 48 hours under Local Court Rule 72.3. Filing a will only costs $0.00 on the Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. Depositing a will for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime costs $3.00 on the Jackson County schedule checked August 2026.
- Pay the court cost with the application. Jackson County lists $190.50 for letters testamentary when the will is admitted at the same time, $155.50 for letters of administration, and $55.50 for a refusal of letters, small estate affidavit or determination of heirship, each on the county schedule checked August 2026. In person, the Probate Department accepts exact cash, checks payable to the 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri and card payments with the court's handling charge. By mail, the court accepts money orders, cashier's checks and personal checks, and asks that no cash be mailed.
- Answer any court checklist quickly. Jackson County's checklist notice gives 30 days from the date of the notice to supply missing items, or the matter may be dismissed without prejudice and at the filer's cost under Local Court Rule 72.5.
- Watch the hearing setting. As a usual matter, decedent estate matters are heard in Kansas City on Thursday or Friday at 9:30 a.m. and in Independence on Monday at 9:30 a.m. or Thursday at 1:30 p.m. A continuance request must be filed by the Wednesday before the setting.
- Use the issued authority document. A personal representative uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is no will. Refusal of letters and small estate matters include one certified or attested copy of the order under the Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. Extra certified and attested copies cost $4.00 each, authenticated copies cost $6.00 each and plain copies cost $0.30 per page on the Jackson County schedule checked August 2026.
- Administer, settle and close. Inventories, settlements, fee applications and petitions for distribution must be signed by the fiduciary as well as counsel. The court mails annual settlement notices at least 40 days before the settlement is due, and a Request for Final Court Costs Estimate, Form 10407, must be e-filed at least two weeks before the final settlement.
- Record real-estate transfer paperwork when required. If Jackson County real estate passes by a refusal-of-letters order or by a small estate affidavit and clerk's certificate, record the paperwork with the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds at the Historic Truman Courthouse, 112 W. Lexington, Suite 30, Independence.
- File a will contest as a civil case, not as a probate filing. Jackson County's Probate Procedures Manual says will contest actions are filed in a Circuit Court division of general jurisdiction and receive a civil case number from the Office of Civil Records.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Jackson County
Jackson County has one of Missouri's deepest local probate form libraries. The Probate Division publishes a forms index, new-estate checklists and a 42-section Probate Procedures Manual. Local Court Rule 72.2 authorizes the probate judge to adopt that manual, and the manual says the court encourages use of its forms to help timely processing.
| Local form or checklist | Use in Jackson County |
|---|---|
| Application for letters testamentary checklist, rev. 12/2024 | Use before filing a testate estate matter. |
| Application for letters of administration checklist, rev. 12/2024 | Use before filing an intestate estate matter. |
| Abbreviated matters checklist, rev. 12/2024 | Use for refusals of letters, small estates and will filings. |
| Determination of heirship checklist, rev. 12/2024 | Use when a determination of heirship petition is filed. |
| Form 10070 | Application for letters testamentary or letters of administration with will annexed. |
| Form 10030 | Application for letters of administration. |
| Form 10021 | Consent for independent administration under RSMo 473.780. |
| Form 10620 | Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee, the Jackson County small estate affidavit form. |
| PR33, PR25 and PR23 | Applications for refusal of letters by surviving spouse, unmarried minor children or creditor under RSMo 473.090. |
| Form 10022 | Missouri HealthNet Disclosure filed with an application for letters. |
| Form 10407 | Request for Final Court Costs Estimate before final settlement. |
The court's forms page is https://www.16thcircuit.org/forms-5. Its Probate Procedures Manual is at https://www.16thcircuit.org/probate-procedures-manual.
Fees
Jackson County publishes its own probate cost schedule. The local totals sit on top of the state probate cost structure set by Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023, with statutory authority in RSMo 483.580 and RSMo 488.010 through 488.020.
| Jackson County item | Amount and date |
|---|---|
| Letters testamentary, will admitted at the same time | $190.50, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Letters testamentary where the will was previously admitted | $155.50, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Letters of administration | $155.50, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Refusal of letters, spouse, unmarried minor child or creditor | $55.50, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Small estate affidavit | $55.50, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Additional charge if a will is admitted with a small estate affidavit | $35.00, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Determination of heirship | $55.50, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026, not including service cost. |
| Admit a will to probate with no other proceeding | $55.50, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| File a decedent's will with no other proceeding | $0.00, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Deposit a will for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime | $3.00, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Plain copies | $0.30 per page, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Certified and attested copies | $4.00 each, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
| Authenticated copies | $6.00 each, Jackson County schedule checked August 2026. |
The initial amount is not always the whole cost. Jackson County's Probate Procedures Manual lists an additional clerk fee when the final inventory value is more than $50,000 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023. The additional amount is $50.00 for $50,001 to $100,000, $100.00 for $100,001 to $150,000, $150.00 for $150,001 to $200,000, $200.00 for $200,001 to $250,000, $250.00 for $250,001 to $300,000, $300.00 for $300,001 to $350,000, $350.00 for $350,001 to $400,000, $400.00 for $400,001 to $450,000 and $450.00 for over $450,000, each from the manual section revised July 2021.
The Probate Department accepts exact cash, checks payable to the 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri and card payments in person. The court lists a $2.00 handling charge for card transactions of $50.00 and under and a 4 percent charge for card transactions of $50.01 and above, from the court payment notice checked August 2026. By mail, the court accepts money orders, cashier's checks and personal checks, but not cash.
Timeline
- Original will timing: if a will is submitted electronically, the original paper will must be physically filed with the probate division within 48 hours under Local Court Rule 72.3.
- Docket days: as a usual matter, decedent estate matters are heard in Kansas City on Thursday or Friday at 9:30 a.m. and in Independence on Monday at 9:30 a.m. or Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
- Continuance deadline: a continuance request for a trial setting or hearing must be filed no later than the Wednesday before the date set under Local Court Rule 72.6.
- Checklist response: if the court sends a new-estate checklist notice, the missing items must be supplied within 30 days of the notice date or the matter may be dismissed without prejudice and at the filer's cost under Local Court Rule 72.5.
- Heirship publication proof: in a determination of heirship matter, the affidavit of publication and any certified mail receipts and certificates of mailing must be e-filed no later than seven days before the hearing.
- Annual settlement notice: the designated clerk computes annual costs and mails the notice to file the annual settlement at least 40 days before the settlement is due.
- Final cost estimate: a Request for Final Court Costs Estimate, Form 10407, must be e-filed at least two weeks before the final settlement is filed.
Local nuance
Jackson County-specific considerations
| Local rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Two full probate offices | Jackson County probate is divided between Kansas City and Independence by statute. RSMo 478.473 controls where letters are granted and where the file is kept. |
| Case-number prefix | Local Court Rule 72.1.2 gives Kansas City cases a P8 prefix and Independence cases a P9 prefix, so the case number shows which office holds the file. |
| Attorney notice | The January 1, 2026 Notice to Pro Se Litigants lists which probate matters require a Missouri attorney and which three a person may file alone. |
| Commissioner review | Local Court Rule 72.4 requires orders entered by the commissioner or deputy commissioner to be confirmed or rejected by the probate judge, and gives parties 15 days from entry to seek rehearing before the judge. |
| Older probate records | Case.net is used for case actions entered after May 16, 2005. The court's own Estate Number Inquiry and Party Name Inquiry cover earlier probate information. |
| Recorder in Independence | The Jackson County Recorder of Deeds has one office, at the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence. A family filing probate at the Kansas City courthouse still records qualifying real-estate paperwork there. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Jackson County has a local small-estate rule that is different from what many families expect after reading the statewide statute. The court's January 1, 2026 Notice to Pro Se Litigants lists the small estate affidavit, called Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee, among the matters that require a Missouri attorney in this court.
The court also publishes local practice rules for the small estate affidavit. Its Probate Procedures Manual says a bond may be required in the amount of the assets, but the court waives bond when a paid funeral bill is shown and all heirs or devisees sign the affidavit, or when the applicant is the sole heir or devisee. It also says no bond is required when only real property is being distributed unless the funeral bill has not been paid or specific bequests in an admitted will have not been satisfied.
For real estate in a small estate or refusal matter, Jackson County requires a valuation by a licensed realtor's letter or a drive-by appraisal dated within the last six months, using the highest figure if the valuation gives a range.
Recent updates
| Current rules | Date |
|---|---|
| The Probate Division reissued its Notice to Pro Se Litigants, listing which probate matters require a Missouri attorney and which three may be filed without one. | January 1, 2026 |
| The 16th Judicial Circuit local rules, including the Rule 72 probate series, took effect in their current form. | January 16, 2026 |
| Probate Procedures Manual Section 4, the published docket schedule for Kansas City and Independence, was revised. | November 6, 2025 |
| Probate Procedures Manual Section 6, covering probate pleadings and the Kansas City versus Independence filing-location rule, was revised. | July 2025 |
| Local Court Rule 72.3, on probate filing mechanics and the 48-hour original-will rule, was revised. | May 31, 2025 |
| The court's new-estate checklists for letters testamentary, letters of administration, abbreviated matters and determination of heirship were revised. | December 2024 |
| Court Operating Rule 21.01, which sets the state component of probate costs and the additional charge tied to final inventory value, took effect in its current form. | September 1, 2023 |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Jackson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First confirm whether the home was jointly owned or otherwise outside probate. If a refusal of letters fits, Jackson County lets a spouse file that matter without a lawyer, charges $55.50 on the county schedule checked August 2026, and its clerks may give limited help with refusal forms under RSMo 473.091. The court's manual says it generally issues a spouse refusal without standard-of-living evidence when assets do not exceed $24,000 plus exempt property, from the local manual checked August 2026. If real estate passes by the order, record it with the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds in Independence. | Sunset helps identify whether the home and accounts are probate assets, organize the refusal packet and flag when the case needs a local attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | In Jackson County, the small estate affidavit requires a Missouri attorney under the court's January 1, 2026 notice. If the child paid funeral expenses, refusal of letters as a creditor may be the self-filed route, but the creditor path is limited to the personal estate and carries a $15,000 limit under RSMo 473.090. A self-represented filer may file original papers by mail with the Probate Records Department at the correct courthouse and include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for a stamped copy. | Sunset helps find accounts before filing, compare refusal of letters with attorney-assisted small estate options and connect the family to a Missouri probate attorney when needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means letters and a court-supervised estate settlement path. Jackson County lists $155.50 for letters of administration on the county schedule checked August 2026, plus an additional inventory-value clerk fee after the final inventory is more than $50,000 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023. The court requires a Missouri HealthNet Disclosure with the application, and its notice requires a Missouri attorney for the application for letters. | Sunset helps gather asset details, prepare the attorney-ready packet, track the court's checklist items and connect the parent to a vetted local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Jackson County | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Jackson County | Local probate page, contacts, court costs, forms, checklists and Probate Procedures Manual. | https://www.16thcircuit.org/probate |
| Probate Department contacts | Use for the Kansas City and Independence Probate Department addresses and main number. | https://www.16thcircuit.org/contacts-3, (816) 881-3755 |
| Probate forms and checklists | Jackson County forms library and new-estate checklists. | https://www.16thcircuit.org/forms-5 |
| Probate Procedures Manual | Local procedure sections on filing, costs, dockets, refusals, small estates and wills. | https://www.16thcircuit.org/probate-procedures-manual |
| Case.net | Public Missouri case lookup and Track This Case notifications for docket activity. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Jackson County probate records search | Estate Number Inquiry and Party Name Inquiry for probate information entered before May 16, 2005. | https://www.16thcircuit.org/probate-records |
| Jackson County Recorder of Deeds | Records qualifying refusal-of-letters orders and small estate affidavit certificates affecting Jackson County real estate. | 112 W. Lexington, Suite 30, Independence, MO 64050, (816) 881-4483, [email protected] |
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Missourians in Jackson County. Intake decides what matters it can accept. | https://www.lsmo.org/page/1129/offices, (816) 474-6750 |
| Kansas City Metro Bar Association Lawyer Finder | Attorney referral by specialty in the Kansas City metro area. | https://www.kcmba.org/, (816) 474-4322 |
| The Missouri Bar LawyerSearch | Statewide tool to find a Missouri lawyer. | https://missourilawyershelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
In Missouri, a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, although the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). Jackson County's January 1, 2026 local notice is more specific: it requires a Missouri attorney for applications for letters, small estate affidavits, petitions to require administration and petitions for determination of heirship, while allowing refusal of letters, filing a will only and admitting a will to be filed without one. If the estate involves letters, a home sale, heirship litigation, a small estate affidavit or a rejected checklist item, counsel usually makes the estate settlement process safer and faster. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, insurance, investments and other assets so the family can decide whether a refusal of letters, small estate affidavit or full administration is the right Jackson County path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information a Jackson County filing needs, including asset details, heirs, addresses, courthouse location and checklist items, so the estate settlement packet is ready for the probate division or for counsel.
Find a local probate attorney. Jackson County requires a Missouri attorney for many probate matters, including applications for letters and small estate affidavits. Sunset can connect families with a vetted local probate attorney when the court's notice or the facts call for counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate, gather documents and move from confusion to a clear plan without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Jackson County, Missouri, Kansas City or Independence?
File in the courthouse assigned by RSMo 478.473. Independence handles matters tied to the eastern portion of Jackson County. Kansas City handles matters tied to the western portion. If the decedent did not live in Jackson County, the location of Jackson County land may control. In all other cases, either location may be used.
How much does it cost to open probate in Jackson County?
Jackson County lists $190.50 for letters testamentary when the will is admitted at the same time and $155.50 for letters of administration, from the county schedule checked August 2026. The initial amount may not be the final court cost because an additional clerk fee begins when the final inventory value is more than $50,000 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023.
Do I need a lawyer to file probate in Jackson County?
For many matters, yes as a local practice rule. Missouri law says a non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). Jackson County's January 1, 2026 notice lists applications for letters, small estate affidavits, petitions to require administration and petitions for determination of heirship as matters requiring a Missouri attorney. It lists refusal of letters, filing a will only and admitting a will as matters a person may file without one.
Can I file probate papers online in Jackson County?
Attorneys must file probate matters electronically through the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file, and Local Court Rule 72.3.2 directs them to file original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division. The court's current manual says self-represented filers may file by mail or by physically delivering the papers to the Probate Records Department in Kansas City or Independence.
Do I have to mail in the original will?
The original will must reach the Probate Division on paper. Local Court Rule 72.3.1 says the original will must be filed physically with the probate division within 48 hours after it is electronically submitted. Jackson County charges $0.00 to file a decedent's will with no other proceeding, from the county schedule checked August 2026.
What day are probate hearings held in Jackson County?
As a usual matter, decedent estate matters are heard in Kansas City on Thursday or Friday at 9:30 a.m. and in Independence on Monday at 9:30 a.m. or Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The court publishes docket days, not a filing-to-hearing wait.
How do I look up a Jackson County probate case?
Use Case.net for case actions entered after May 16, 2005. For earlier probate information, Jackson County also runs its own Estate Number Inquiry and Party Name Inquiry at https://www.16thcircuit.org/probate-records. The court notes that some case types, including mental health and alcohol or drug related estates, are confidential and not available for public viewing.
Does Jackson County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Jackson County publishes a probate forms index, new-estate checklists and a Probate Procedures Manual at https://www.16thcircuit.org/forms-5 and https://www.16thcircuit.org/probate-procedures-manual. The court encourages use of its forms to help timely processing.
Do I have to travel to Kansas City to settle an estate here?
Not always. Jackson County has probate offices in both Kansas City and Independence. A self-represented filer may file by mail or in person at the correct Probate Records Department, and an attorney files electronically. If a hearing is set, ask the Probate Department about the setting because the court does not publish a general remote-appearance practice for probate matters.
Where do I record the paperwork if the estate includes a Jackson County house?
Record qualifying real-estate paperwork with the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds, which has one office at the Historic Truman Courthouse, 112 W. Lexington, Suite 30, Independence. This is separate from the probate division and applies even if the probate filing is handled at the Kansas City courthouse.
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.