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Laclede County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Laclede County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Laclede County |
| Courthouse address | Laclede County Government Center, 200 N. Adams Ave., Lebanon, MO 65536 |
| Mailing | No separate probate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address or ask the clerk before mailing time-sensitive papers. |
| Phone | (417) 532-2471, Circuit Clerk line |
| Fax | (417) 532-3683 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No probate-specific lunch closure is published. |
| Court cost to open letters | No Laclede County total is published online. The state component under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, is $115 when original letters are applied for, with additional inventory-value charges when the final inventory value exceeds $50,000 and a cap of $565 under that rule. Ask the Laclede County clerk for the current total before you submit payment. |
| Local forms | No Laclede County-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist is published. The 26th Circuit filing-information page lists family-law and adoption materials, not probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are never required to e-file, and should ask the clerk which probate filing types, if any, the 26th Circuit accepts electronically from a self-represented party. |
| Case search | Case.net, https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Remote appearance | No standing Laclede County probate remote-appearance instruction is published. Ask the clerk when a hearing is set. |
| Website | Missouri Courts Laclede County local rules and filing information page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Missouri probate path in Laclede County, list what the person owned, how each asset was titled, known debts, beneficiary designations, and whether any Laclede County real estate passed outside probate by joint ownership or a beneficiary deed. That asset picture determines whether estate settlement needs letters testamentary or letters of administration, a small estate affidavit, a refusal of letters, or a later determination of heirship.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, policies, and other property before papers are filed in Lebanon. Starting with a complete inventory helps avoid opening the wrong kind of estate settlement or missing an account after authority has already been issued.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Lebanon courthouse serves probate filings for Laclede County communities including Lebanon, Conway, Phillipsburg, Richland, Falcon, and Evergreen. Laclede County is in the 26th Judicial Circuit with Camden, Miller, Moniteau, and Morgan counties, but a shared circuit does not mean a shared probate counter.
Missouri venue generally follows the decedent's domicile: a will is probated and letters are granted in the county where the deceased person was domiciled (RSMo 473.010). If the person was domiciled in Laclede County, start with the clerk of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Laclede County in Lebanon.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the probate path. If the estate needs a personal representative, Missouri uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is no will. Smaller or family-protection paths may use a small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) or a refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090).
- Prepare the filing packet. Use Missouri statewide probate forms where applicable, plus any documents the Laclede County clerk requests. No Laclede County-specific probate packet or cover sheet is published online.
- Deliver the original will on paper if there is one. Even when an attorney files other papers electronically, the original will is delivered to the probate division.
- File with the clerk of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Laclede County at the Laclede County Government Center, 200 N. Adams Ave., Lebanon. The same local office also serves as the circuit clerk's counter for published county contact information.
- Pay the court costs. Because no Laclede County probate total is published online, ask the clerk for the current total before filing. The state cost structure is set under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, and includes inventory-value charges in estates where letters are issued.
- Handle notice. In a full administration, the clerk causes notice of the appointment of the personal representative to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033). Creditors then have the Missouri claim periods stated in RSMo 473.360, subject to the one-year bar in RSMo 473.444.
- Attend any hearing the court sets. No standing Laclede County probate hearing day or remote-appearance rule is published, so ask the clerk how the court will set and conduct any required appearance.
- Receive authority. When the court grants authority, the personal representative uses letters testamentary or letters of administration to work with banks, title companies, and other institutions.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, files the inventory on the Missouri timeline, pays allowed claims and expenses, distributes property, and completes the required settlement or closing process. A non-attorney personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Laclede County
Laclede County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist. The 26th Circuit's county filing-information page lists family-law forms, adoption forms, and related materials, but not local probate forms.
Use Missouri statewide probate forms where they fit the chosen path, and ask the Laclede County clerk what must accompany the filing. If there is an original will, plan to deliver the original paper will to the probate division rather than relying on an electronic copy.
Local nuance
Laclede County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| One published local counter | The county publishes the Circuit Clerk line and fax for court filings, and no separate probate division office, address, or probate-only phone line is published. |
| 26th Judicial Circuit | Laclede County shares a circuit with Camden, Miller, Moniteau, and Morgan counties, but Laclede County estate filings for a Laclede County decedent are handled in Lebanon under the Missouri venue rule. |
| No published local probate packet | The county page does not provide a Laclede-specific probate packet, so families should use statewide forms and ask the clerk what local handling is required. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Check title first. If the home passed outside probate by joint ownership or another nonprobate transfer, the Laclede County filing may focus on remaining probate assets or a refusal of letters if the Missouri spouse path fits (RSMo 473.090). | Sunset helps identify accounts, deeds, and beneficiary designations before the spouse files papers at the Lebanon courthouse. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the estate fits Missouri's small estate affidavit route, the filing is made with the Laclede County probate division after the statutory waiting period (RSMo 473.097, effective August 28, 2002). Ask the clerk whether the 26th Circuit accepts any part of the filing electronically from a self-represented filer. | Sunset helps organize asset information, generate the packet, and connect the child with a Missouri probate attorney if a full administration becomes necessary. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home is in the child's name alone, letters may be needed before a sale can close. File in Laclede County if the child was domiciled there, and expect attorney involvement if a non-attorney personal representative must appear in court (RSMo 473.153). | Sunset helps locate accounts and property, prepare for the court filing, and find local counsel for the sale and estate administration. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Laclede County filing-information page | Local court page for Laclede County and 26th Circuit filing links. It does not list a county-specific probate packet. | Missouri Courts Laclede County local rules and filing information page |
| Laclede County Circuit Clerk | Local filing counter for probate division filings in Lebanon. | (417) 532-2471 |
| Case.net | Missouri public case search for circuit court matters, including probate division cases. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide probate forms page. Use it together with any instructions from the Laclede County clerk. | Missouri Judiciary probate forms page |
| Legal Services of Southern Missouri | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Missourians. The Springfield main office serves Laclede County. | 3130 S. Delaware, Springfield, MO 65804, (417) 881-0533 |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | Official source for Missouri probate statutes and constitutional provisions. | https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
Missouri draws an important line between filings that do not appoint a personal representative and a full estate administration. A small estate affidavit or refusal of letters may be available without appointing a personal representative, but a non-attorney personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153). Counsel is especially important when Laclede County real estate must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor claim is disputed, or the estate needs supervised administration. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions for accounts, insurance, and other assets so the family can understand what belongs in the Laclede County estate before choosing a probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized estate settlement packet for the Missouri path that appears to fit, including documents to review with the Laclede County clerk or a local attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. When Missouri law or the facts make counsel the practical next step, Sunset connects the family with a vetted probate attorney who can appear in court and guide the administration.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset search, and attorney connection at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Laclede County?
File with the clerk of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Laclede County at the Laclede County Government Center, 200 N. Adams Ave., Lebanon, MO 65536, if Missouri venue belongs in Laclede County under RSMo 473.010.
Is there a separate Laclede County probate office?
No separate probate division office, address, or probate-only phone line is published by the county. The county publishes the Circuit Clerk line, (417) 532-2471, for court filings.
Can I e-file a Laclede County probate case?
Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are never required to e-file, and should ask the Laclede County clerk which probate filing types, if any, the 26th Circuit accepts electronically from a self-represented party.
What are the Laclede County probate office hours?
The government center hours published for the building are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No probate-specific lunch closure is published.
How much does it cost to open letters in Laclede County?
No Laclede County probate total is published online. The state component under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, starts with $115 when original letters are applied for and can include inventory-value charges capped at $565 under that rule, before local surcharges or other charges. Ask the clerk for the current Laclede County total before submitting payment.
Does Laclede County have local probate forms?
No Laclede County-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist is published. Use Missouri statewide probate forms where applicable and ask the clerk what local documents or copies are required.
Can I look up a Laclede County probate case online?
Yes. Use Missouri Case.net at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ to look up public docket information for Laclede County circuit court cases, including probate division matters.
Do I have to travel to Lebanon for a probate hearing?
No standing Laclede County probate remote-appearance instruction is published. If the court sets a hearing, ask the clerk how the hearing will be conducted and whether any remote option is available for that specific setting.
Can I handle Laclede County probate without a lawyer?
Missouri allows some no-letters paths, such as a small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) or refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090), when the facts fit. If a personal representative is appointed, a non-attorney personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153).
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.