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Marion County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Marion County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Marion County, 10th Judicial Circuit |
| District 1 address | 100 South Main Street, Suite 207, Palmyra, MO 63461 |
| District 1 mailing | P.O. Box 431, Palmyra, MO 63461 |
| District 1 phone and fax | Phone: (573) 769-2550. Fax: (573) 769-4558. |
| District 2 address | 906 Broadway, Room 105, Hannibal, MO 63401 |
| District 2 probate phone and fax | Probate phone: (573) 221-0288. Probate fax: (573) 221-0945. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Court cost | Marion County does not publish a local probate cost total. The state component for original letters starts at $115 and is capped at $565 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, with inventory based additions. Ask the assigned Marion County office for the total amount due before filing. |
| Local forms | No Marion County local probate packet, cover sheet or checklist is published. Use statewide Missouri probate forms and any instructions from the assigned district office. |
| 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 assigned Marion County office what filing methods are accepted for the specific probate matter. |
| Case search | Case.net. Marion County probate case information is available for public cases pending as of, or filed after, September 12, 2005. Older probate judgments must be checked with the Marion County Courthouse Probate Division. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the assigned district office when a hearing is set. |
| Website | Marion County department pages for Circuit Clerk District 1 and Circuit Clerk District 2 are on the Marion County government website. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Marion County probate path, list the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations, and jointly owned property. That first inventory tells you whether the estate settlement is likely to need letters testamentary or letters of administration, or whether a smaller Missouri procedure may fit.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property before they spend money opening the wrong case. In Marion County, it also helps you decide whether to call the Palmyra or Hannibal district office first to confirm where the paperwork should be filed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Marion County probate matters are handled in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Marion County's circuit also includes Monroe and Ralls counties, but a shared circuit does not mean a shared courthouse. A Marion County estate uses the Marion County probate division, and the county publishes two Circuit Clerk districts: District 1 in Palmyra and District 2 in Hannibal.
District 1 handles civil, criminal and probate matters for Round Grove, Union, Warren, Fabius, Liberty and South River Townships. District 2 handles Miller and Mason Townships and publishes a separate probate phone and fax. If you are not sure which township controls the filing, call either office before you file.
Missouri venue starts with the county where the decedent was domiciled when they died. If the decedent had no Missouri domicile, venue can be based on where Missouri property is located, with special treatment for Missouri real estate (RSMo 473.010). Missouri probate matters are heard in the probate division of the circuit court (Mo. Const. art. V, § 27; RSMo 472.020).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the probate path. Start by listing probate assets, debts, real estate, nonprobate transfers, and known creditors. Missouri uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is no will, while a small estate affidavit or refusal of letters may fit some estates without appointing a personal representative.
- Confirm the correct Marion County district office. District 1 is in Palmyra and covers Round Grove, Union, Warren, Fabius, Liberty and South River Townships. District 2 is in Hannibal and covers Miller and Mason Townships. Call if the township is unclear.
- Prepare the papers. Use the Missouri probate forms and any instructions given by the Marion County district office. If there is an original will, deliver the original to the probate division on paper.
- File with the clerk of the probate division. For District 1, use 100 South Main Street, Suite 207, Palmyra, or the District 1 mailing address, P.O. Box 431, Palmyra, MO 63461. For District 2, use 906 Broadway, Room 105, Hannibal, and call for mailing instructions before sending papers.
- Pay the required court cost. Marion County does not publish a local total. The state component for original letters starts at $115 and is capped at $565 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, with inventory based additions. Ask the assigned district office for the total amount due.
- Handle notice. After letters 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). Creditors then have the Missouri claims periods set by RSMo 473.360 and RSMo 473.444.
- Attend any required hearing. Marion County did not publish a standing remote probate hearing rule, so ask the assigned office how the hearing will be handled when the case is set.
- Receive authority. If the court grants the application, the personal representative receives letters testamentary or letters of administration. 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).
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, gives required notices, files the inventory within thirty days after letters unless the court allows more time (RSMo 473.233), pays valid claims and expenses, distributes property, and completes the required settlement or closing steps.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Marion County
Marion County does not publish a local probate packet, cover sheet or checklist on its county department pages or on the Marion County local rules page. Use Missouri's statewide probate forms, then follow the instructions from the assigned Marion County district office.
Call before you file if you are unsure whether the estate belongs in District 1 in Palmyra or District 2 in Hannibal. District 2 publishes a dedicated probate phone number, (573) 221-0288, and a dedicated probate fax, (573) 221-0945.
A small estate affidavit is a Missouri court filing, not a private bank form. For a qualifying estate, the statewide limit is $40,000 net, effective August 28, 2002, under RSMo 473.097, and the clerk's certificate is part of the document family institutions rely on.
Local nuance
Marion County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Marion County filing |
|---|---|
| Two district offices | Marion County publishes Circuit Clerk District 1 in Palmyra and Circuit Clerk District 2 in Hannibal. District 1 handles probate for Round Grove, Union, Warren, Fabius, Liberty and South River Townships. District 2 handles Miller and Mason Townships. |
| Dedicated Hannibal probate contact | District 2 publishes a probate phone, (573) 221-0288, and probate fax, (573) 221-0945, separate from its civil, criminal and juvenile line. |
| Lunch closure | Both district offices publish hours of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. |
| Case.net date limits | Marion County probate case information appears on Case.net for public cases pending as of, or filed after, September 12, 2005. Older probate judgments must be checked at the Marion County Courthouse Probate Division. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Marion County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First identify whether the home passed outside probate by title or beneficiary deed. If probate property remains, call the correct Marion County district office based on the township. A spouse may also need advice about Missouri exempt property, support allowance, homestead allowance, or refusal of letters. | Sunset helps find accounts and debts, organize title and beneficiary information, and connect the spouse with a vetted probate attorney if a court appearance or full administration is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Check whether the estate can use a small estate affidavit. The Missouri limit is $40,000 net, effective August 28, 2002, under RSMo 473.097. Marion County's two district offices make it important to call before mailing anything, especially if you do not know the township. | Sunset helps collect account information before filing, generate a probate packet, and reduce back-and-forth with the Palmyra or Hannibal office. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home did not transfer outside probate, the estate may need letters so a personal representative can handle the sale. The correct district office depends on the township, and a non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153). | Sunset supports estate settlement by finding assets and liabilities, organizing the filing materials, and connecting the parent with a vetted local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Marion County Circuit Clerk District 1 | Use District 1 for probate matters tied to Round Grove, Union, Warren, Fabius, Liberty and South River Townships. Address: 100 South Main Street, Suite 207, Palmyra, MO 63461. Phone: (573) 769-2550. |
| Marion County Circuit Clerk District 2 | Use District 2 for Miller and Mason Townships. Address: 906 Broadway, Room 105, Hannibal, MO 63401. Probate phone: (573) 221-0288. |
| Case.net | Use Missouri's public case search for Marion County probate cases that are public and were pending as of, or filed after, September 12, 2005. |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Use the statewide probate forms page for Missouri probate forms. Marion County does not publish its own local probate packet. |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | A 2024 consumer guide from The Missouri Bar. Use it as general background, not as a substitute for court instructions or legal advice. |
| Legal Services of Eastern Missouri | LSEM lists Marion County among the counties served through its main St. Louis office intake. Application phone: (314) 534-4200 or 1-800-444-0514. LSEM also lists a Hannibal office at 801 Broadway, Room 200. |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | The official source for Missouri probate statutes, including RSMo 473.097, RSMo 473.153, RSMo 473.360 and RSMo 473.444. |
When to hire an attorney
Missouri draws an important line for full estate administration. 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). Counsel is especially important when the estate needs letters, includes real estate to sell, has creditor issues, involves family disagreement, or requires a hearing. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, investments, and other property before the family chooses a Marion County probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized estate settlement packet, including asset lists, debt details, family information, and documents your attorney or the Marion County probate division may need.
Find a local probate attorney. If a full administration is needed, Missouri's attorney appearance rule matters. Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who understands Missouri letters, creditor deadlines, and local filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move from uncertainty to an estate settlement plan without charging the family for its core probate support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Marion County?
File with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Marion County. Marion County publishes two district offices. District 1 is in Palmyra and handles Round Grove, Union, Warren, Fabius, Liberty and South River Townships. District 2 is in Hannibal and handles Miller and Mason Townships.
How do I know whether to use Palmyra or Hannibal?
The county's district split is township based. If you do not know the decedent's township, call District 1 at (573) 769-2550 or the District 2 probate line at (573) 221-0288 before filing.
Can I e-file a Marion County probate case myself?
Self-represented filers are not required to e-file under COR 27.03(b)(4), effective October 1, 2019. Whether a particular self-represented probate filing can be submitted electronically is something to ask the assigned Marion County office. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System.
Does Marion County have local probate forms?
Marion County does not publish a local probate packet, cover sheet or checklist. Use Missouri's statewide probate forms and any instructions from the Palmyra or Hannibal district office.
What does it cost to open letters in Marion County?
Marion County does not publish a local total. The state component for original letters starts at $115 and is capped at $565 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, with inventory based additions. Ask the assigned district office for the total amount due.
Can I look up a Marion County probate case online?
Use Case.net. For Marion County, probate case information is available for public cases that were pending as of, or filed after, September 12, 2005. For probate judgments before that date, check with the Marion County Courthouse Probate Division.
Are remote probate hearings available in Marion County?
Marion County did not publish a standing remote probate hearing practice. Ask the assigned district office how the hearing will be handled when the case is scheduled.
Do I have to travel to Marion County if I live out of state?
Not always, but it depends on the filing and whether a hearing is required. District 1 publishes a mailing address in Palmyra. For a District 2 matter in Hannibal, call the probate line before mailing. If you are appointed personal representative and a court appearance is required, Missouri's attorney appearance rule may affect the plan (RSMo 473.153).
Can a small Marion County estate avoid full administration?
Possibly. Missouri's small estate affidavit procedure applies only if the statutory requirements are met, including the $40,000 net limit, effective August 28, 2002, under RSMo 473.097. The correct Marion County district office still matters because the affidavit is filed with the probate division.
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.