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Perry County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Perry County, 32nd Judicial Circuit |
| Filing counter | Circuit Court Clerk, 400 W St Joseph St, Suite 4, Perryville, MO 63775 |
| Mailing | Call 573-547-6581 before mailing probate papers, because the Circuit Court Clerk address is different from the historic courthouse address. |
| Phone | 573-547-6581 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a call recommended before traveling because the 32nd Circuit local rules list a 5:00 p.m. closing time. |
| Published costs | The 32nd Judicial Circuit probate schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists letters of administration at $148.00, letters testamentary at $183.00, small estate affidavit without a will at $68.00, and refusal of letters at $68.00. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, also controls statewide probate cost components. |
| Local forms | No Perry County probate packet is posted. Use the Missouri Judiciary statewide probate forms and any instruction from the Circuit Court Clerk. |
| E-filing | Attorneys e-file with the Circuit Clerk. Non-lawyer, self-represented filers are not required to e-file under 32nd Circuit Rules 4 and 4.5. |
| Case search | Case.net, https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Circuit Court Clerk when a hearing is set. A standing remote probate instruction was not posted for Perry County. |
| Websites | Perry County Circuit Court Clerk: https://perrycountymo.us/515/Perry-County-Circuit-Court-Clerk Missouri Courts Perry County page: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?%69%64=101257 |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Perry County filing path, identify the decedent's accounts, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations, co-owners, and any will. That information determines whether the family needs full administration, a small estate affidavit, a refusal of letters, or another statewide Missouri procedure.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps build that starting inventory for estate settlement, then turns the asset picture into a practical filing plan for the Perryville probate counter.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Perry County serves Perry County from Perryville. Perry County is part of the 32nd Judicial Circuit with Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties, but a shared circuit is not a shared courthouse. Perry County probate filings stay with the Perry County Circuit Court Clerk unless the court directs otherwise.
Missouri is divided into forty-six judicial circuits (RSMo 478.011). Venue for probating a will and granting letters is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (RSMo 473.010), so a Perry County resident's estate is filed in Perry County even though the circuit also includes other counties.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Missouri path. Full administration asks the court for letters testamentary or letters of administration. A small estate affidavit uses the statewide net entire-estate limit of $40,000, effective August 28, 2002 (RSMo 473.097). A refusal of letters may fit a surviving spouse, unmarried minor children, or a qualifying creditor (RSMo 473.090).
- Gather the forms and originals. If there is a will, deliver the original will to the probate division on paper. Perry County does not post a local probate packet, so use the statewide Missouri probate forms and any direction from the Circuit Court Clerk.
- File at the Perry County counter. Bring probate papers to the Circuit Court Clerk at 400 W St Joseph St, Suite 4, Perryville, MO 63775. If you plan to mail papers, call 573-547-6581 first.
- Pay the court costs and deposits. The 32nd Judicial Circuit schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists Perry County probate deposits and fees, and Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, controls statewide probate cost components tied to letters and inventory value.
- Handle notice. In a full administration, the clerk causes notice of letters to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033). Missouri creditor deadlines include the six-month published-notice clock, the two-month mailed-or-served notice branch, and the one-year-from-death bar (RSMo 473.360, RSMo 473.444).
- Watch e-filing rules. Attorneys file electronically in the 32nd Circuit. Non-lawyer, self-represented filers are not required to e-file, and Rule 4.3 states that probate pleadings, motions, claims, and papers are filed with the Circuit Clerk.
- Attend any hearing the court sets. An associate circuit judge sitting as Division VI of the 32nd Judicial Circuit hears all probate proceedings filed in Perry County. Ask the Circuit Court Clerk how the court wants you to appear if a hearing is scheduled.
- Receive authority if letters are granted. With a will, the authority document is letters testamentary. Without a will, it is letters of administration.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative collects assets, files the inventory within thirty days after letters are granted unless the court gives more time (RSMo 473.233), pays valid claims and expenses, distributes property, and completes the required estate settlement steps. A personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Perry County
Perry County does not post a separate local probate packet on the Missouri Courts Perry County page. That page links the 32nd Judicial Circuit local rules and domestic-relations pro se forms, but it does not list a Perry County probate-specific packet.
Use the Missouri Judiciary statewide probate forms for the filing path you are using, and check with the Circuit Court Clerk before filing if you are unsure which papers fit the estate. Attorneys file electronically; non-lawyer, self-represented filers are not required to e-file under the 32nd Circuit local rules.
Fees
The 32nd Judicial Circuit publishes Appendix C, Schedule of Deposits and Fees, Probate Divisions, effective December 23, 2013. It applies to Perry County along with Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, controls statewide probate cost components, so call the Circuit Court Clerk before payment if the amount matters to your filing plan.
| Proceeding or item | Amount in 32nd Circuit schedule, effective December 23, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Refusal of letters, spouse, creditor, unmarried minor, or amended | $68.00, including one certified copy |
| Application for probate of will | $68.00 |
| Application for rejection of will | $68.00 |
| Will deposited for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime | $3.00 |
| Will filed only after death | No charge |
| Small estate affidavit without a will | $68.00, plus publication where required |
| Small estate affidavit with a will | $103.00, requiring an application for probate of will |
| Amended small estate affidavit | $68.00 |
| Petition to require administration | $148.00, plus publication |
| Petition to determine heirship | $68.00, plus publication |
| Petition to dispense with administration | $35.00 |
| Petition for presumption of death | $68.00, plus two publications |
| Authenticated copies of will or letters by a nonresident personal representative | $68.00 |
| Application for probate of will and letters testamentary | $183.00 |
| Application for letters testamentary when the will was previously admitted | $115.00 |
| Application for letters of administration | $148.00 |
| Inventory-value additional amount | $50.00 for $50,001 to $100,000, increasing by bands up to $450.00 over $450,000 |
| Annual charge | $30.00 |
| Court reporter fee | $15.00 |
| Copies | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copies | $1.50 plus $1.00 per page |
| Certified copies of letters for a decedent's estate | $2.50 |
| Authenticated copies | $3.00 plus $1.00 per page |
Local nuance
Perry County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Use the Circuit Court Clerk address | The probate filing counter is at 400 W St Joseph St, Suite 4, Perryville. The historic courthouse at 15 W Ste Marie is important for orientation and for the Recorder of Deeds, but it is not the filing address for the Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Division VI hears Perry County probate | The 32nd Circuit local rules assign all probate proceedings filed in Perry County to Division VI, an associate circuit judge office elected in Perry County. |
| Self-represented e-filing rule is explicit | Attorneys e-file, but the 32nd Circuit local rules state that non-lawyer pro se litigants are not required to e-file. |
| Real estate recording is a separate step | If a small estate certificate or refusal order must be recorded for Perry County real estate, the Perry County Recorder of Deeds is at 15 W Ste Marie, Suite 1, Perryville, MO 63775, phone 573-547-1611. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Perry County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating probate and nonprobate ownership. If a refusal of letters fits, file with the Circuit Court Clerk at 400 W St Joseph St, Suite 4. The 32nd Circuit schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists refusal of letters at $68.00 for a spouse. If real estate must be reflected in land records, a certified copy is recorded with the Perry County Recorder of Deeds at 15 W Ste Marie. | Sunset identifies accounts, ownership details, and beneficiary designations before filing, then helps assemble the packet for the Perryville counter. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call 573-547-6581 before mailing anything. The 32nd Circuit schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists a small estate affidavit without a will at $68.00. Non-lawyer, self-represented filers are not required to e-file in this circuit. The small estate affidavit route produces a clerk's certificate under the statewide procedure (RSMo 473.097). | Sunset finds accounts from wherever you live, checks whether the estate fits the statewide small-estate path, and prepares the packet for estate settlement. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often points toward full administration. A personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). The 32nd Circuit schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists letters of administration at $148.00 and letters testamentary at $183.00, plus inventory-value additions once the final inventory is known under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023. | Sunset assembles the asset picture and packet, then connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the appearance, the sale, and the estate settlement steps that follow. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it gives | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Perry County Local Rules and Filing Information, Missouri Courts | The Missouri Courts page for Perry County, including the 32nd Judicial Circuit local court rules. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?%69%64=101257 |
| Perry County Circuit Court Clerk | The county department page with the Circuit Court Clerk's address, phone, and hours. | https://perrycountymo.us/515/Perry-County-Circuit-Court-Clerk |
| Case.net | Missouri's statewide public case search for circuit court cases, including probate division cases. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | The statewide Missouri probate forms page. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?%69%64=662 |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | The official Revised Statutes of Missouri and Missouri Constitution. | https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
| The Missouri Bar, Probate Law Resource Guide | A 2024 consumer guide published by The Missouri Bar. | https://missourilawyershelp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Probate-Guide-Updated-2024.pdf |
| Legal Services of Southern Missouri | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Missourians. Perry County applications go through the Sikeston office, 2201 E. Malone Avenue, Sikeston, MO 63801, 573-683-3783. | https://www.lsmo.org/page/951/offices |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel makes sense in Perry County when the estate needs letters, a house must be sold, heirs disagree, creditor claims are expected, or a hearing is likely. Missouri draws a specific line: a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). Small estate affidavits and refusals of letters do not appoint a personal representative, so the attorney-appearance rule does not apply the same way. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps identify bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other assets that shape the Perry County probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture into a practical estate settlement packet, including the information needed for Perry County filing and the statewide Missouri forms that fit the chosen path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs letters, a court appearance, a home sale, or advice about claims, Sunset connects families with a vetted Missouri probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, prepare for the Perryville filing counter, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Perry County?
File with the Circuit Court Clerk for the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Perry County at 400 W St Joseph St, Suite 4, Perryville, MO 63775. The historic courthouse address is not the current Circuit Court Clerk filing address.
Perry County shares a judicial circuit with two other counties. Do I have to go to another county's courthouse?
No. Perry County is in the 32nd Judicial Circuit with Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties, but Perry County probate filings are handled in Perryville. Venue for letters is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled (RSMo 473.010).
When is the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Perryville open?
The Perry County Circuit Court Clerk page lists 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 573-547-6581 before traveling, because the 32nd Circuit local rules list a 5:00 p.m. closing time.
Can I file a Perry County probate case myself, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys e-file in the 32nd Circuit. Non-lawyer, self-represented filers are not required to e-file under 32nd Circuit Rules 4 and 4.5. Rule 4.3 says probate pleadings, motions, claims, and papers are filed with the Circuit Clerk.
What does it cost to open an estate in Perry County?
The 32nd Circuit schedule, effective December 23, 2013, lists letters of administration at $148.00 and letters testamentary at $183.00. It also lists inventory-value additions from $50.00 for $50,001 to $100,000 up to $450.00 over $450,000. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, also controls statewide probate cost components, so call the Circuit Court Clerk for the amount to bring.
Does Perry County have its own probate forms?
No Perry County probate packet is posted on the Missouri Courts Perry County page. Use the Missouri Judiciary statewide probate forms and any instruction from the Circuit Court Clerk.
Can I look up a Perry County estate case online?
Yes. Use Case.net at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/. The 32nd Judicial Circuit Court Specific Help page states Perry County Circuit Civil and Associate Civil or Probate case information is available for public cases pending as of July 1, 2001 and later, and electronic case records became viewable at the courthouse public access terminal beginning February 24, 2014.
Will I have to appear in person in Perryville?
Ask the Circuit Court Clerk when your hearing is set. A standing Perry County remote probate instruction is not posted. If you are the personal representative and are not a lawyer, you cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though you may prepare and file your own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7).
Do I need a lawyer for a Perry County estate?
For a full administration, a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). A small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) or refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090) appoints no personal representative and may be the practical self-represented route when the facts fit.
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.