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Pettis County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Pettis County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Pettis County, 18th Judicial Circuit |
| Courthouse address | 415 South Ohio Avenue, Suite 324, Sedalia, MO 65301 |
| Mailing | Call the probate extension before mailing if you need a separate mailing instruction; the published probate office address is 415 South Ohio Avenue, Suite 324, Sedalia, MO 65301. |
| Phone | (660) 826-5000, extension 454 |
| Fax | (660) 827-8613 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Court costs | Pettis County local schedule, dated October 12, 2022: opening an estate with a will, $183.50; opening an estate without a will, $148.50; refusal of letters, $68.50; small estate with a will, $103.50; small estate without a will, $68.50; admitting a will without an estate, $68.50; all other probate filings, $68.50. The statewide component behind letters is set by Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023: $115 when original letters are applied for in a decedent's estate, plus $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, with total fees under that provision capped at $565.00. Pettis County's local schedule gives the local total to pay at the start, and the inventory-value charge can arise later. |
| Local forms | No Pettis County local probate forms packet is published. Use the statewide Missouri Judiciary probate forms page and any instructions from the Pettis County probate division. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file (Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4)); ask the Pettis County probate division whether the filing type you need is open to self-represented electronic filing. Original wills are delivered on paper to the probate division. |
| Case search | Case.net, https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Remote appearance | Pettis County publishes WebEx video conference access for the Division Five probate docket, held Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m., at https://pettiscomo.com/division5court. The court does not provide technical assistance, and a filer who cannot connect by video must appear in person. Confirm with the probate division how your own hearing will be handled. |
| Website | https://pettiscomo.com/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Pettis County probate path, list the assets, debts, beneficiaries and any real estate. Missouri venue, notice, creditor deadlines and the need for letters depend on what the decedent owned and whether any assets pass outside probate.
Sunset can help with estate settlement by searching more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what you find into the probate packet or attorney handoff for Pettis County.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Pettis County serves estates that belong in Pettis County. Missouri venue generally starts in the county where the decedent was domiciled; if the decedent had no Missouri domicile, venue may be in a county where Missouri property is located, with special treatment for Missouri real estate (RSMo 473.010).
Pettis County is part of the 18th Judicial Circuit with Cooper County, but the shared circuit does not create a shared probate counter. Pettis County probate cases are filed in Sedalia with the Circuit Clerk serving the probate division, and Cooper County matters stay in Cooper County.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct Missouri path before you prepare papers. A full administration asks for letters testamentary or letters of administration; a small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) or refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090) may fit some estates without appointing a personal representative.
- Use the statewide Missouri probate forms page and any Pettis County instructions. Pettis County does not publish a local probate packet, and the 18th Judicial Circuit local rules state that probate cases are filed with the Circuit Clerk.
- File at the Pettis County courthouse in Sedalia, 415 South Ohio Avenue, Suite 324. If there is an original will, deliver the original paper will to the probate division even if an attorney files other documents electronically.
- Pay the Pettis County court cost that matches the filing. Pettis County's schedule dated October 12, 2022 lists $183.50 to open an estate with a will, $148.50 to open an estate without a will, $103.50 for a small estate with a will, $68.50 for a small estate without a will, $68.50 for refusal of letters and $68.50 for all other probate filings. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, also sets a statewide letters component of $115 and an inventory-value charge that can arise later, capped at $565.00 under that provision.
- Arrange notice after the court issues letters. In a full administration, the clerk causes notice of letters to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks, and Missouri creditor deadlines run from the first published notice or from mailed or served notice, whichever gives the creditor the later date (RSMo 473.033, RSMo 473.360).
- Track the hearing setting. The 18th Judicial Circuit local rules publish no probate law day in Rule 72, but Pettis County's Division 5 Court page publishes a weekly Probate Docket on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. with WebEx access. The court assigns the hearing date for the particular estate.
- If a remote appearance is offered for your hearing, use the Division Five WebEx information exactly as the court provides it. Pettis County states that the court does not provide technical assistance with video conferencing and that a participant who cannot connect must appear in person.
- After the court approves the application, the authority document is letters testamentary if there is a will or letters of administration if there is no will. In Missouri, 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).
- Administer the estate, file the required inventory, handle creditor claims, distribute property and close the estate. The inventory is due within thirty days after letters are granted unless the court grants more time (RSMo 473.233). Estate settlement in an independent administration can close by statement of account after the Missouri statutory waiting periods are met (RSMo 473.840).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pettis County
Pettis County does not publish a local probate forms packet, local probate checklist or local probate form appendix. The 18th Judicial Circuit local rules state that Rule 72, Probate, has no local rule.
Start with the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page for statewide PR-series forms, then call the Pettis County probate division if you are unsure whether your filing needs a local cover sheet, a bond, a proposed order or a separate sheriff service payment. Do not rely on a neighboring county's forms for a Pettis County filing.
Fees
Pettis County publishes its own probate court-cost schedule, and the same figures appear in the 18th Judicial Circuit local rules dated October 12, 2022. Use these Pettis County amounts for the local total due at the start of the listed filing.
| Filing type | Pettis County court cost |
|---|---|
| Admit a will without an estate | $68.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Refusal of letters | $68.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Open an estate with a will | $183.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Open an estate without a will | $148.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Small estate with a will | $103.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Small estate without a will | $68.50, October 12, 2022 |
| All other probate filings | $68.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Adult guardianship or conservatorship only | $108.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Minor guardianship in Pettis County | $300.50, October 12, 2022 |
| Copies | $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, October 12, 2022 |
| Faxes | $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, October 12, 2022 |
| Emailing copies of electronically filed documents | $1.00 per document, October 12, 2022 |
The statewide component behind letters is set by Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023: $115 when original letters are applied for in a decedent's estate, plus $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, with total fees under that provision capped at $565.00. Pettis County's local schedule gives the local total to pay at the start, and the inventory-value charge can arise later.
Timeline
- Initial filing happens at the Pettis County courthouse in Sedalia with the Circuit Clerk serving the probate division.
- The 18th Judicial Circuit local rules do not set a probate law day in Rule 72. Pettis County's Division 5 Court page publishes a weekly Probate Docket on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.
- The Division Five page also publishes WebEx access information for that docket. Pettis County states that the court does not provide technical assistance, and a participant who cannot connect by video must appear in person.
- The specific hearing date for an estate comes from the court's setting in that case, so check the notice, order or docket entry before planning travel.
Local nuance
Pettis County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Pettis County estate |
|---|---|
| Shared circuit, separate courthouse | Pettis County shares the 18th Judicial Circuit with Cooper County, but Pettis County estates are filed in Sedalia. Do not file a Pettis County estate in Boonville. |
| Probate cases file with the Circuit Clerk | The 18th Judicial Circuit local rules state that probate cases are filed with the Circuit Clerk. Use the Pettis County courthouse address and probate extension in Sedalia. |
| Division Five probate docket | Rule 72 of the local rules says probate has no local rule, while Pettis County's Division 5 Court page publishes the weekly Probate Docket, Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m., with WebEx access. |
| No local probate forms packet | Pettis County's site and the 18th Judicial Circuit local rules do not publish a local probate packet. Start with the statewide Missouri probate forms page. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Pettis County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First identify whether the home passed outside probate. If Pettis County real estate still needs court authority, the filing belongs in Sedalia, and any small-estate certificate or refusal-of-letters order affecting local real estate is recorded with the Pettis County Recorder of Deeds after the probate step. | Sunset helps find accounts, deeds and beneficiary information so the spouse can see what actually needs Pettis County court involvement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A small estate affidavit under RSMo 473.097 or a refusal of letters under RSMo 473.090 may avoid appointing a personal representative. File in Sedalia, check the Pettis County court cost from the local schedule and ask whether your specific hearing can use the Division Five WebEx docket. | Sunset organizes assets and debts into a probate packet and helps the family decide whether a no-letters path is realistic before making a trip to Sedalia. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home is in Pettis County and no nonprobate transfer controls it, full administration or another Missouri court order may be needed before sale. A non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). | Sunset helps assemble the asset list, locate accounts, prepare information for the estate settlement and connect the parent with a vetted Missouri probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Pettis County Circuit Clerk | Local probate office address, phone extensions, hours, fee schedule and links to the 18th Judicial Circuit local rules. | https://pettiscomo.com/circuit-clerk/ |
| Division 5 Court WebEx page | WebEx video conference access information and the weekly Division Five docket schedule, including the Probate Docket. | https://pettiscomo.com/division5court |
| Case.net | Missouri statewide public case lookup for circuit court cases, including probate division dockets. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide PR-series probate forms. Pettis County does not publish a local probate packet. | Missouri Judiciary website, Probate Court Forms page |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | Official text of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and the Missouri Constitution. | https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | Consumer probate guide published by The Missouri Bar. | https://missourilawyershelp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Probate-Guide-Updated-2024.pdf |
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Warrensburg office | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Missourians in Pettis County. Call (660) 747-7101. | https://lawmo.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel is especially important for a full Pettis County estate, a real-estate sale, a dispute among heirs, a creditor issue or any hearing where a personal representative must appear. Missouri law says 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). Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property that may affect the Pettis County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the family intake, asset list and debt information into an organized probate packet for the Pettis County probate division or for the attorney who will handle the court filing.
Find a local probate attorney
Missouri limits what a non-lawyer personal representative can do in court. Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney for a full administration, real-estate sale or contested estate settlement.
Sunset is free for families
Families can use Sunset at no cost to organize the estate, understand the next step and get matched with professional help when the Pettis County probate process calls for it.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Pettis County?
File Pettis County probate matters at the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Pettis County in Sedalia, 415 South Ohio Avenue, Suite 324. The 18th Judicial Circuit local rules state that probate cases are filed with the Circuit Clerk.
Do I file a Pettis County estate in Boonville because Pettis shares the 18th Judicial Circuit?
No. Pettis County shares the 18th Judicial Circuit with Cooper County, but each county keeps its own courthouse. A Pettis County estate is filed in Sedalia, not Boonville.
Does Pettis County publish probate hearing days?
Yes. The Division Five Probate Docket is held Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. according to the county's Division 5 Court page. The 18th Judicial Circuit local rules themselves publish no probate law day in Rule 72, and the court assigns the hearing date for a particular estate.
Can I appear remotely for a Pettis County probate hearing?
Pettis County publishes WebEx access information for the Division Five Probate Docket, Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m., at https://pettiscomo.com/division5court, including a meeting number and password. The court does not provide technical assistance with video conferencing, and a participant who cannot connect must appear in person. Ask the probate division whether your specific hearing is on that docket.
Can I e-file a Pettis County probate case if I am not represented by a lawyer?
Self-represented filers are not required to e-file in Missouri (Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4)). The 18th Circuit local rules do not publish a Pettis County probate rule opening every self-represented probate filing type to electronic filing, so ask the probate division before relying on electronic filing. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System.
What does it cost to open an estate in Pettis County?
Pettis County's local schedule dated October 12, 2022 lists $183.50 to open an estate with a will and $148.50 to open an estate without a will. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, sets the statewide letters component at $115 and can add $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, with total fees under that provision capped at $565.00.
Does Pettis County have local probate forms?
No Pettis County local probate forms packet is published. Use the Missouri Judiciary statewide probate forms page and follow any instruction from the Pettis County probate division about copies, proposed orders, bond or service payments.
Can I look up a Pettis County probate case online?
Use Case.net, Missouri's statewide public case lookup, at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/. Case.net is a docket lookup, so do not assume every will, inventory or settlement document can be viewed online.
Do I have to travel to Sedalia for Pettis County probate?
You may need to travel for an original paper will, a filing at the counter or a hearing that is not handled remotely. Pettis County publishes WebEx access for the Division Five Probate Docket, but the court says it does not provide technical assistance and that a participant who cannot connect by video must appear in person.
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.