Back to Missouri
Johnson County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Johnson County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Johnson County, 17th Judicial Circuit |
| Courthouse address | Johnson County Justice Center, 101 W. Market Street, Room 201, Warrensburg, MO 64093 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is posted for probate filings. Use the Justice Center address unless the clerk gives a different mailing instruction. |
| Phone | (660) 422-7413 |
| Fax | Johnson County local rule 4.6 allows fax filings in all proceedings. Call Room 201 for the current fax destination before sending a filing by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding observed holidays |
| Court cost to open an estate | Johnson County does not post a decedent estate total. State components are set under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, with local surcharges layered on top. Card payments carry a 4% convenience fee. |
| Local forms | No separate Johnson County probate packet is posted. Johnson County directs users to Missouri court forms and Case.net. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System where the filing type is available. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file. Johnson County accepts fax filings under local rule 4.6, with any required fee due within the following two business days. |
| Case search | Case.net covers Johnson County probate cases. Public probate case information is available for cases pending as of, or filed after, June 6, 2005, and Johnson County electronic case records for those case types began November 16, 2015. |
| Remote appearance | The posted local rules do not create a standing remote probate appearance procedure. Ask the clerk how the judge wants a particular hearing handled. |
| Website | Johnson County Court Services: https://www.jocomo.gov/169/Court-Services. The Missouri Judiciary also maintains a Johnson County local rules and filing information page. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Missouri probate path, list what the person owned, how each asset was titled, what debts may still exist, and whether there is an original will. Joint accounts, beneficiary designations, beneficiary deeds, and property held with a surviving co-owner may change what belongs in the probate estate, which also changes the estate settlement plan.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families look for accounts, insurance, retirement assets, loans, and other financial relationships before they file in Johnson County. That inventory helps you decide whether you are preparing a small estate affidavit, asking for refusal of letters, or opening a full administration through the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Johnson County.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Johnson County probate matters are filed at the Johnson County Justice Center in Warrensburg. Johnson County is in the 17th Judicial Circuit with Cass County, but the shared circuit does not mean a shared courthouse. Johnson County estates use the Warrensburg Justice Center, not the Cass County courthouse in Harrisonville.
Missouri venue generally follows the decedent's domicile: a will is probated and letters testamentary or letters of administration are granted in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (RSMo 473.010). If the decedent was not domiciled in Missouri, the statute looks to where Missouri property is located, with a special rule for the county where the major part of Missouri real estate is located. After letters are granted, estate proceedings stay in the county where the letters were granted (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the original will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, and names and addresses for heirs, devisees, and known creditors. Johnson County's probate FAQ says a deceased estate requires a copy of the death certificate, and local copies can be obtained through Johnson County Community Health, Vital Records Office, 723 PCA Road, Warrensburg, MO 64093, or through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
- Choose the Missouri path before you file. A small estate affidavit may work when the entire estate, less liens, debt, and encumbrances, does not exceed $40,000, effective August 28, 2002, and the other statutory requirements are met (RSMo 473.097). A refusal of letters may fit a surviving spouse, unmarried minor children, or a qualifying creditor under the separate refusal statute (RSMo 473.090). Full administration asks the court to appoint a personal representative, meaning an executor or administrator.
- Use the proper Missouri probate forms. Johnson County does not post a separate local probate packet, so start with the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page and any forms available through Case.net. If an original will exists, deliver the original will to the Probate Division on paper even if other documents are submitted electronically.
- File with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Johnson County at the Johnson County Justice Center, 101 W. Market Street, Room 201, Warrensburg. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System where the filing type is available. A self-represented filer may file in the manner the clerk accepts for that filing type and is not required to e-file under Missouri's e-filing rules.
- If you use Johnson County fax filing, follow local rule 4.6. The rule says fax filings are accepted in Johnson County in all proceedings, that a fax received by 11:59 p.m. is treated as filed that day, and that any required fee must be paid within the following two business days.
- Pay the court costs and any payment surcharge that applies. Johnson County does not post a decedent estate total, so ask Room 201 for the current total for the exact filing you are making. State cost components are set under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, and Johnson County adds local cost components. Card payments carry a 4% convenience fee.
- Follow the notice requirements for the path you filed. In a full administration, the clerk causes notice of letters to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks, and creditor deadlines run under the Missouri claims statutes (RSMo 473.033, RSMo 473.360, RSMo 473.444). In a small estate with property listed above the statutory publication trigger, the clerk causes a different two-week notice to creditors (RSMo 473.097).
- Attend any hearing the Probate Division sets. The posted Johnson County local rules do not create a standing remote probate appearance procedure, so ask the clerk how the judge wants appearances handled if travel is difficult.
- After the court grants authority, use the letters testamentary or letters of administration to collect assets, pay valid expenses and claims, prepare the required inventory and settlements, and close the estate. In Missouri, a non-lawyer personal representative 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).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Johnson County
Johnson County does not post a separate local probate packet. Its Court Services page sends users to Missouri court forms and Case.net for court forms and case information.
Start with the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page, then ask Room 201 whether a particular Johnson County filing needs a cover sheet, proposed order, certified copy request, bond information, or other local handling. Do not rely on a form name alone to decide whether you need full administration, a small estate affidavit, or a refusal of letters.
If the decedent left a will, deliver the original will to the Probate Division on paper. Electronic filing does not replace the need to get the original will into the probate file when Missouri law requires the will itself to be presented.
Local nuance
Johnson County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Johnson County |
|---|---|
| 17th Judicial Circuit | Johnson County shares the 17th Judicial Circuit with Cass County, but Johnson County probate filings go to Warrensburg. |
| Named Probate Division | The 17th Circuit local rules identify a Probate Division as one of the circuit divisions. It remains part of the circuit court, not a separate court. |
| Room 201 | Johnson County's Court Services page places wills and probate matters at the Justice Center, Room 201. |
| Fax filing | Johnson County local rule 4.6 accepts fax filings in all proceedings, with any required fee due within the following two business days. |
| Payment methods | Johnson County lists cash, money order, cashier's check, and card payment options. Card payments carry a 4% convenience fee. |
| Case.net history | Public Johnson County probate case information is available for cases pending as of, or filed after, June 6, 2005. Electronic case records for those case types began November 16, 2015. |
| Death certificate help | Johnson County points families to Johnson County Community Health, Vital Records Office, 723 PCA Road, Warrensburg, MO 64093, or the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Johnson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking the deed, mortgage, bank accounts, vehicles, beneficiary designations, and whether a beneficiary deed exists. If the home passed outside probate, the Johnson County filing may focus on assets still in the decedent's name alone. A refusal of letters may be worth discussing if the spouse's facts fit Missouri's spouse path (RSMo 473.090). | Sunset helps identify accounts and title issues before you file, then helps organize the estate settlement packet for Room 201 or for a local attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Gather the death certificate, asset list, debts, and original will if there is one. A small estate affidavit may be available if the entire estate, less liens, debt, and encumbrances, does not exceed $40,000, effective August 28, 2002, and the other requirements are met (RSMo 473.097). Johnson County accepts fax filings under local rule 4.6, but fees must be handled on time. | Sunset can help search for assets, prepare a filing checklist, and connect you with a Missouri probate attorney if a hearing, real estate, or a dispute makes travel or representation important. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the child owned Johnson County real estate in their name alone and no nonprobate transfer applies, a full administration or another court order may be needed before sale. File in Warrensburg if Johnson County is the proper venue under Missouri law (RSMo 473.010). A non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). | Sunset helps find accounts, loans, insurance, and title clues, then helps the family prepare for attorney review and court filings so the sale can move in the right order. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Court Services | Local courthouse page for Room 201, hours, payment methods, probate FAQ content, and wills and probate services. | https://www.jocomo.gov/169/Court-Services, phone (660) 422-7413 |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide probate forms page for Missouri probate filings. Johnson County points users to Missouri court forms rather than a separate local packet. | Missouri Judiciary probate forms page |
| Case.net | Statewide public case lookup for Missouri circuit court cases, including Johnson County probate cases. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| 17th Judicial Circuit local rules and filing information | Local rules for Cass and Johnson counties, including the Johnson County fax filing rule and electronic filing language. | Missouri Judiciary Johnson County local rules and filing information page |
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri | Free civil legal aid program for eligible low-income Missourians. Johnson County is served through the Warrensburg office. | https://lawmo.org/contact-locate/warrensburg/, phone (660) 747-7101 |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | Official source for Missouri probate statutes, including small estates, refusal of letters, claims, and personal representative rules. | https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
Johnson County tells filers that Missouri law does not require an attorney just to file an estate case, and that court staff cannot give legal advice or complete legal documents. Missouri also has a separate appearance rule: 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). Counsel is especially important when the estate needs full administration, real estate must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor issue appears, or the estate is above the small estate affidavit limit of $40,000, effective August 28, 2002 (RSMo 473.097). Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 financial institutions to help identify bank accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, loans, and other financial relationships that may affect estate settlement in Johnson County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information, and court path into an organized packet so you can work with the Probate Division, a Missouri attorney, or both.
Find a local probate attorney. Missouri's court-appearance rule can make attorney help important in a full administration. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney when the estate needs legal representation.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, find missing assets, and get connected to professional help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Johnson County, Missouri?
File with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Johnson County at the Johnson County Justice Center, 101 W. Market Street, Room 201, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Johnson County is in the 17th Judicial Circuit with Cass County, but Johnson County probate filings use the Warrensburg courthouse.
What are the Johnson County probate office hours?
Johnson County Court Services lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding observed holidays.
Can I e-file a Johnson County probate case?
Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System where the filing type is available. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file under Missouri's e-filing rules. Ask Room 201 how it wants your particular filing submitted if you are not represented by counsel.
Does Johnson County accept fax probate filings?
Yes. Johnson County local rule 4.6 says the court accepts fax filings in all proceedings. A fax received by 11:59 p.m. is treated as filed that day, and any required fee must be paid within the following two business days.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Johnson County?
Johnson County does not post a decedent estate total. State cost components are set under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, and local surcharges may be added. Call Room 201 with the exact filing type before you submit papers. Card payments carry a 4% convenience fee.
Does Johnson County have its own probate forms?
Johnson County does not post a separate local probate packet. Its Court Services page sends users to Missouri court forms and Case.net. If you have an original will, deliver the original will to the Probate Division on paper.
Can I look up a Johnson County probate case online?
Yes. Use Case.net at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/. Public Johnson County probate case information is available for cases pending as of, or filed after, June 6, 2005, and electronic case records for those case types began November 16, 2015.
Do I have to travel to Warrensburg for a Johnson County probate hearing?
The posted Johnson County local rules do not create a standing remote probate appearance procedure. If the court sets a hearing and travel is difficult, call Room 201 to ask how the judge wants that appearance handled.
Do I need an attorney for Johnson County probate?
Johnson County says an attorney is not required just to file an estate case, and court staff cannot give legal advice or complete legal documents. Missouri also says a non-lawyer personal representative 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). Small estate affidavit and refusal of letters paths do not appoint a personal representative in the same way, so the attorney analysis depends on the path and the facts.
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.