Back to Missouri
Jasper County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Jasper County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Jasper County, 29th Judicial Circuit |
| Probate office | Jasper County Courthouse, 302 South Main Street, Room 206, Carthage, MO 64836 |
| Mailing address | Jasper County Probate Division, 302 S. Main, Courthouse Room 206, Carthage, MO 64836 |
| Phone | (417) 358-0403 |
| Fax | The court does not publish a probate fax number. |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch and on state holidays |
| Court costs | Full decedent estate, $170.50 testate or $135.50 intestate; small estate, $90.50 testate or $55.50 intestate, including one certified copy; refusal of letters, $55.50, including one certified copy. Additional inventory-value charges apply when value is above $50,000. Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023, supplies the statewide structure for original letters, the inventory-value add-on and annual charges. |
| Local forms | No local probate filing packet is published. Jasper County publishes a Probate Records Request Form, and statewide Missouri probate forms are available through the Missouri Judiciary. |
| E-filing | Attorneys must file electronically under the 29th Circuit's local rule. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file. Ask the probate office whether any self-represented probate filing can be submitted electronically. |
| Case search | Case.net, the Missouri Judiciary's statewide public case search |
| Remote appearance | Check the hearing notice, or ask the probate office when a hearing is set. |
| Website | Jasper County Probate Division |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Jasper County probate path, get a clear list of the decedent's assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, beneficiaries and co-owners. Missouri venue follows the decedent's domicile (RSMo 473.010), and Jasper County's local costs can depend on whether the estate is opened with a will, without a will, through a no-letters route, or as a full decedent estate.
Sunset's estate settlement platform searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, balances and insurance policies before paperwork is filed. That matters in Jasper County because the court's published schedule adds an inventory-value charge once the estate's value passes the first inventory tier, and because the no-letters routes depend on knowing what is actually in the estate.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Jasper County serves Jasper County from the Carthage courthouse. Jasper County is the entire 29th Judicial Circuit, so the circuit and the county cover the same territory. The court's own division page describes the Twenty-Ninth Judicial Circuit as a single-county circuit whose jurisdiction is Jasper County.
Jasper County communities include Carthage, Joplin, Webb City, Carl Junction, Sarcoxie, Duenweg, Jasper and Airport Drive. Most of Joplin is in Jasper County, but part of Joplin lies in Newton County. A Joplin mailing address alone does not decide probate venue. File in Jasper County only if the decedent's domicile was in Jasper County, because Missouri probates a will and grants letters in the county of the decedent's domicile (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct county before filing. If the decedent lived in Carthage, Webb City, Carl Junction, Sarcoxie, Duenweg or the Jasper County part of Joplin, the estate is handled in Jasper County. If a Joplin home address is in Newton County, the Jasper County probate office is not the venue.
- Decide whether the estate needs a full administration, a small estate affidavit, a refusal of letters, or another Missouri probate route. The statewide rules for those routes are set by Missouri law; the local filing point for a Jasper County estate is the Probate Division in Room 206 of the Carthage courthouse.
- Use the right forms. Jasper County does not publish a local probate filing packet. For statewide Missouri forms, use the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page, including the FI-50 filing information sheet when a new case is filed. For a full estate, the court says most probate estates require an attorney licensed in Missouri.
- Deliver the original will to the probate division when there is one. After death, the person with custody of the will must deliver it to the probate division with jurisdiction over the estate (RSMo 473.043). Jasper County states there is no charge to file a decedent's will, but a petition to admit or reject a will is $55.50 under the court's published schedule.
- File at the Jasper County Probate Division, Jasper County Courthouse, 302 South Main Street, Room 206, Carthage, MO 64836. The service window is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a noon to 1:00 p.m. lunch closure and state-holiday closures.
- Bring or mail the correct court cost. Jasper County publishes $170.50 for a full testate decedent estate, $135.50 for a full intestate decedent estate, $90.50 for a testate small estate, $55.50 for an intestate small estate, and $55.50 for a refusal of letters. Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023, supplies the statewide structure for original letters, the inventory-value add-on and annual charges. Jasper County adds $50.00 for each additional $50,000 of value once the estate's value is above $50,000. The court accepts personal checks, money orders and cashier's checks payable to Jasper County Probate Division, and cash in person. Do not mail cash. The court does not accept debit or credit cards.
- Follow the notice requirements for the route you filed. In a full administration, the clerk causes notice of letters to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033). Missouri creditors have the later of six months from first publication of notice of letters or two months from mailed or served notice, with a separate one-year bar from the date of death (RSMo 473.360; RSMo 473.444).
- Watch for the court's setting. The 29th Circuit's local rule says court sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise scheduled, and the court posts a dated daily docket. Follow the hearing notice. If a hearing notice creates a question about appearing, ask the probate office or the attorney handling the estate.
- Receive authority if the court grants letters. A testate full estate receives letters testamentary, and an intestate full estate receives letters of administration. A refusal of letters or small estate affidavit does not appoint a personal representative, which is why those routes work differently under Missouri law.
- Administer and close the estate. A personal representative gathers assets, files the inventory and appraisement within 30 days after letters unless the court grants more time (RSMo 473.233), handles creditor claims, pays allowed expenses, distributes property and completes the settlement or closing steps required by Missouri law. For Jasper County real estate transferred through a small estate affidavit or refusal order, plan a separate stop with the Jasper County Recorder of Deeds.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Jasper County
Jasper County does not publish a local probate filing packet, estate-opening checklist or set of local decedent-estate forms. The court's probate page says not all forms used by the court are available on its website and that most probate estates require representation by an attorney licensed in Missouri. The court does publish one probate-specific local document, a Probate Records Request Form, but that form is for copies and record searches, not for opening an estate.
The statewide Missouri Judiciary probate forms page is the place to start for court-approved probate forms used in Jasper County. Confirmed statewide forms include FI-50 Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet for probate and non-domestic relations cases, PR 23 Application of Creditor for Refusal of Letters, PR 25 Application of Unmarried Minor Children for Refusal of Letters, PR 33 Application of Surviving Spouse for Refusal of Letters, PR 30 Application to Amend Order Refusing Letters, PR 16 Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee, Small Estate, Intestate, PR 28 Petition for Determination of Heirship, PR 22 Exhibit A for property listings, and PR 26 Exhibit B for heirs.
The 29th Circuit's local rules add two Jasper County practice points. Local Rule 3.1 says probate pleadings are captioned in the Circuit Court of Jasper County and uses a probate caption instruction, but the current court assignment page and the older local rule do not align on a division number. An attorney or the probate office should confirm the current caption before a pleading is filed. Local Rule 72, Probate, says there is no local probate rule.
Fees
Jasper County publishes its own probate cost schedule, and these are the amounts a Jasper County filer sees. Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023, supplies the statewide structure for original letters, the inventory-value add-on and the annual charge. The court asks a filer to call the probate office for the exact amount before submitting paperwork.
| Jasper County item | Jasper County published amount |
|---|---|
| Full decedent estate, testate | $170.50 |
| Full decedent estate, intestate | $135.50 |
| Inventory-value add-on | Add $50.00 for each additional $50,000 when estate value is above $50,000 |
| Small estate, testate | $90.50, including one certified copy |
| Small estate, intestate | $55.50, including one certified copy |
| Refusal of letters, spouse | $55.50, including one certified copy |
| Refusal of letters, creditor | $55.50, including one certified copy |
| Refusal of letters, minor | $55.50, including one certified copy |
| Petition to admit or reject wills | $55.50 |
| Will filed during lifetime | $6.50 |
| Annual adult or decedent fee | $30.00 |
| Petition to require administration | $55.50 |
| Petition to determine heirship | $55.50 |
| Trust registration | $65.50 |
| Probate copies | $1.00 per page |
| Certification and seal | $1.50 |
| Authentication | $2.50 plus $1.00 per page |
Jasper County separates three will-related costs. There is no charge to file a decedent's will with the probate division. A petition to admit or reject a will is $55.50. A will filed during the maker's lifetime is $6.50, which is the lifetime will-deposit step, not the same thing as filing a decedent's will after death.
Payment is local and practical. The probate office accepts personal checks, money orders and cashier's checks payable to Jasper County Probate Division. It accepts cash in person, asks that cash not be mailed, and does not accept debit or credit cards.
Local nuance
Jasper County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Jasper County |
|---|---|
| Carthage is the probate office | The Probate Division is at the Jasper County Courthouse, 302 South Main Street, Room 206, Carthage. The circuit also has a Joplin building, but the probate office publishes only the Carthage address, phone line and e-mail. |
| Joplin crosses a county line | Most of Joplin is in Jasper County, but part of Joplin is in Newton County. A family with a Joplin address should confirm the county of the decedent's domicile before filing because venue follows domicile (RSMo 473.010). |
| Lunch closure | The probate counter and phone service are available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, but the office is closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. |
| Attorney statement | The court publishes that most probate estates require representation by an attorney licensed in Missouri. That fits the Missouri rule that a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, while still allowing the personal representative to prepare and file inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). |
| Refusal of letters help | Jasper County states that clerks cannot give legal advice (RSMo 484.020), but may provide limited help completing forms needed to obtain an order of refusal of letters (RSMo 473.091). |
| Session time | The 29th Circuit's local rule says all sessions of court begin at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise scheduled. The circuit publishes no fixed probate day, so use the hearing notice for the actual setting. |
| Recorder stop for real estate | The Jasper County Recorder of Deeds is in Annex 2 at 116 West 2nd Street in Carthage, separate from the probate office. Recordings are accepted until 4:00 p.m. |
| Old probate records | Jasper County says probate records are available from 1844 to the present. Records before June 2000 may require an index search through the probate office. |
| Public administrator | The court states that the Public Administrator is a separate elected county office and may be appointed when family members are unable or unwilling to serve as guardian, conservator or personal representative. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Jasper County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with how the Carthage, Joplin, Webb City or Carl Junction home is titled. A home held by spouses as tenants by the entirety or under a recorded beneficiary deed may be outside the probate estate, which changes the Jasper County filing. If a refusal of letters is the right no-letters route, Jasper County publishes that clerks may provide limited help with refusal forms (RSMo 473.091), and the court's published spouse-refusal charge is $55.50, including one certified copy. If real estate moves by the order, a certified copy is recorded with the Jasper County Recorder of Deeds at 116 West 2nd Street in Carthage. | Sunset identifies accounts, policies, titles and balances so the spouse can see whether a no-letters route fits, then assembles the estate settlement paperwork the probate office expects. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | The local trip is to Room 206 in Carthage, and the counter is closed noon to 1:00 p.m., so a one-day visit needs planning. Many questions can be handled before travel because the probate office publishes a phone line, e-mail address and mailing address. Where the estate is small enough for the small estate affidavit route (RSMo 473.097), Jasper County's published small-estate amounts are $55.50 intestate and $90.50 testate, each including one certified copy. Payment can be made by personal check, money order or cashier's check payable to Jasper County Probate Division, but not by card. If the decedent had a Joplin address, confirm whether the home was in Jasper County or Newton County before filing. | Sunset finds accounts from out of state, organizes the asset picture and generates a probate packet so the Carthage filing is not built on guesses. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A sale often means a full administration. Jasper County publishes that most probate estates require a Missouri-licensed attorney, and Missouri law bars a non-lawyer personal representative from appearing in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). The court's published charge for a full decedent estate is $135.50 without a will and $170.50 with one, with an additional $50.00 for each additional $50,000 of value once estate value is above $50,000. The original will is delivered to the probate division on paper at no charge, while a petition to admit or reject a will is $55.50. An attorney files electronically under the circuit's local rule. | Sunset locates accounts and liabilities that affect the inventory value, helps assemble the estate settlement packet and connects the family to a vetted local probate attorney at no cost. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Jasper County Circuit Court, Probate Division | The court's own probate page, including the Room 206 address, probate phone line, probate e-mail, records policy, payment methods and probate FAQ. |
| Jasper County Circuit Court fee page | The court's published probate cost schedule for full estates, small estates, refusals, wills, annual charges and copies. |
| Case.net | The Missouri Judiciary's statewide public case search. Use it in a browser to search Jasper County probate cases by name or case number. |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | The statewide probate forms page, including the FI-50 filing information sheet and PR forms used for refusal of letters, small estates and heirship filings. |
| Jasper County Local Rules and Filing Information | The Missouri Judiciary's Jasper County page for the 29th Circuit's local rules and local filing information. |
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income Missourians. The Joplin office takes applications for Jasper County. |
| Jasper County Recorder of Deeds | The separate county office where a small-estate certificate or refusal-of-letters order is recorded when Jasper County real estate is transferred through one of those routes. |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | A Missouri Bar consumer guide to probate. It is a bar publication, not a court checklist. |
When to hire an attorney
Jasper County's probate page states that most probate estates require representation by an attorney licensed to practice in Missouri, and Missouri law says a personal representative who is not a lawyer may not appear in court except through an attorney, although a personal representative may prepare and file inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). Counsel is especially important when a full administration is opened, real estate must be sold, the inventory value increases court costs, a will or heirship issue is disputed, or a personal representative must appear in court. A refusal of letters or small estate affidavit appoints no personal representative, and Jasper County specifically says clerks may provide limited help with refusal-of-letters forms while not giving legal advice (RSMo 473.091; RSMo 484.020). Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney at no cost.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance policies and other assets. In Jasper County, that asset picture affects the estate settlement path and can affect the court costs tied to inventory value.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset details, debts and documents needed to prepare a probate packet for the Jasper County Probate Division or for an attorney to review.
Find a local probate attorney. When a full Jasper County administration requires court appearances, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney who understands the Carthage probate office, electronic filing for attorneys and the local cost schedule.
Sunset is free for families. Families pay nothing to use Sunset for estate settlement support, asset discovery, document organization or attorney matching.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Jasper County, Missouri?
File with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Jasper County at the Jasper County Courthouse, 302 South Main Street, Room 206, Carthage, MO 64836. The probate office's phone number is (417) 358-0403, and its e-mail address is [email protected].
Is the Jasper County probate office in Carthage or Joplin?
The probate office is in Carthage, Room 206 of the Jasper County Courthouse. The circuit also has a court building in Joplin, but the court's probate page gives the probate address as 302 S. Main, Courthouse Room 206, Carthage, MO 64836.
I live in Joplin. Which county do I file probate in?
Venue follows the decedent's domicile (RSMo 473.010). Most of Joplin is in Jasper County, but part of Joplin lies in Newton County. If the decedent had a Joplin address, confirm which county the home address sits in before filing.
What does it cost to open a probate estate in Jasper County?
Jasper County's published schedule lists a full decedent estate at $170.50 testate or $135.50 intestate. The schedule also says estates with value above $50,000 add $50.00 for each additional $50,000. Court Operating Rule 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2023, supplies the statewide structure for original letters, the inventory-value add-on and annual charges.
Does Jasper County have its own probate forms?
Jasper County does not publish a local probate filing packet or local estate-opening forms. Use the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page for statewide forms, including the FI-50 filing information sheet and PR forms for refusal of letters, small estates and heirship. Jasper County does publish a Probate Records Request Form for copies from an existing probate file.
Can I file probate papers electronically in Jasper County?
Attorneys in Jasper County cases must file electronically under the 29th Circuit's local rule. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file, and the Missouri Judiciary's guidance says most pleadings filed by self-represented litigants are filed in paper format. Ask the probate office whether the system opens any probate filing type to a self-represented filer. The original will is delivered to the probate division after death (RSMo 473.043).
Do I need a lawyer to handle probate in Jasper County?
Jasper County's probate page states that most probate estates require representation by an attorney licensed in Missouri. Missouri law bars a personal representative who is not a lawyer from appearing in court except through an attorney, while allowing a personal representative to prepare and file inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). A small estate affidavit or refusal of letters appoints no personal representative, so those routes are different.
Can the Jasper County probate clerk help me fill out forms?
The court says clerks cannot give legal advice (RSMo 484.020). It also says clerks may provide limited assistance with forms needed to obtain an order of refusal of letters, which Missouri law allows under judicial supervision (RSMo 473.091). That help is limited to refusal-of-letters forms.
How do I look up a Jasper County probate case?
Use Case.net, the Missouri Judiciary's statewide public case search, and search by the decedent's name or case number. The Missouri Judiciary's court-specific guidance for the 29th Judicial Circuit states that probate case information is available for public cases pending as of June 26, 2000 and thereafter, and that an older judgment is found in the judgment index at the circuit clerk's office. Case.net shows docket information, but it may not show a complete court file.
How do I get copies from a Jasper County probate file?
Jasper County says probate records are available from 1844 to the present, with older files searched through the probate office's index. Once you have the case number, you can request copies in person or in writing from the Probate Division at 302 S. Main, Courthouse Room 206, Carthage, MO 64836. Copies are $1.00 per page, with $1.50 extra to certify a document.
What are the Jasper County probate office hours?
The probate office is open for phone inquiries and service windows Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch and on state holidays.
Do I have to travel to Carthage for Jasper County probate?
The probate office is in Carthage, but the office publishes a phone number, e-mail address and mailing address for questions and written requests. Payments by personal check, money order or cashier's check can be made payable to Jasper County Probate Division. Do not mail cash. If a hearing is set, follow the hearing notice and ask the probate office or the attorney handling the estate about appearance details.
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.