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Ste. Genevieve County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Ste. Genevieve County |
| Courthouse address | Ste. Genevieve County Courthouse, 55 South 3rd Street, Room 23, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670 |
| Mailing address | No separate probate mailing address is listed. Use the courthouse address unless the clerk gives a different instruction. |
| Probate filing office | Circuit clerk's office, Room 23. The 24th Judicial Circuit rules state that probate matters are filed with the circuit clerk of the county where the case is filed (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 72). |
| Phone | (573) 883-2705, ext. 1 |
| Fax | (573) 883-9351 |
| [email protected] for civil, probate, and juvenile questions | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed holidays |
| Published court costs | Letters, no will: $143.50, effective 8/28/2023. Letters with will: $178.50, effective 8/28/2023. Small estate: $63.50, effective 8/28/2023. Refusal of letters: $63.50, effective 8/28/2023. Later inventory charges can apply under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023. |
| Local probate forms | No Ste. Genevieve County probate forms packet is posted on the county circuit clerk page. Use Missouri Judiciary probate forms and any instructions from the clerk. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System. Under the 24th Judicial Circuit rules, non-lawyer pro se parties physically file documents in the circuit clerk's office of the appropriate county (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 4). Self-represented filers are not required to e-file (Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4)). |
| Case search | Case.net, the Missouri Judiciary statewide case search, covers Ste. Genevieve County probate dockets. |
| Remote appearance | The local rules do not list a Ste. Genevieve County probate remote-appearance procedure. Follow the hearing notice and ask the clerk before assuming any appearance can be handled remotely. |
| Website | County circuit clerk page: https://www.stegencounty.gov/circuit-clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Ste. Genevieve County, list the decedent's assets, debts, co-owners, beneficiary designations, and any real estate. Missouri probate depends heavily on what is actually in the probate estate, and a beneficiary deed, joint ownership, or payable-on-death account can change whether a court case is needed.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 institutions, then organizes the documents a family needs for the local probate packet or for a no-letters path. That early inventory work matters in Ste. Genevieve County because the clerk's cost schedule separates full letters, small estates, refusals of letters, heirship matters, and will-only filings.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Ste. Genevieve County courthouse in Ste. Genevieve serves probate matters venued in Ste. Genevieve County. Although Ste. Genevieve County is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit with Madison, St. Francois, and Washington counties, each county keeps its own courthouse and probate filings, and the 24th Judicial Circuit rules assign all probate cases filed in Ste. Genevieve County to Division 7.
Missouri venue for wills and letters is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Missouri, venue can be in a county where Missouri property is left, with additional rules when the main Missouri asset is real estate (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the probate path before you prepare papers. A full estate administration asks for letters testamentary or letters of administration, while a small estate affidavit, refusal of letters, or determination of heirship follows different statewide rules.
- Gather the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, names and addresses of interested parties, and any deed information for Ste. Genevieve County real estate. If there is an original will, plan to deliver the original to the probate division even when an attorney submits other papers electronically.
- Use Missouri Judiciary probate forms and any instruction from the Ste. Genevieve County circuit clerk. The county does not post a separate local probate forms packet on its circuit clerk page.
- File in the Ste. Genevieve County circuit clerk's office at 55 South 3rd Street, Room 23, Ste. Genevieve. Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System, while non-lawyer pro se parties physically file with the circuit clerk under the 24th Judicial Circuit rules (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 4).
- Pay the Ste. Genevieve County court cost for the filing type. The county's schedule lists letters without a will at $143.50, effective 8/28/2023, letters with a will at $178.50, effective 8/28/2023, small estate at $63.50, effective 8/28/2023, and refusal of letters at $63.50, effective 8/28/2023.
- For a full administration, the application for letters must designate the newspaper for publication, and the clerk institutes publication under the 24th Judicial Circuit rules (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 72). Missouri notice of letters is published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033).
- Watch for the hearing notice. The local rules do not create a standing remote probate appearance procedure, so use the hearing notice as the controlling instruction and call the clerk before making travel plans.
- After appointment, the personal representative receives letters testamentary or letters of administration. In Missouri, a non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7).
- Administer and close the estate settlement by collecting assets, addressing creditor claims, filing the required inventory and settlements, and distributing property under court authority. The inventory is due within thirty days after letters are granted unless the court allows more time (RSMo 473.233).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ste. Genevieve County
Ste. Genevieve County does not post a separate county probate forms packet, cover sheet, or checklist on the county circuit clerk page. The circuit clerk page directs the public to Missouri court resources, and statewide Missouri probate forms are hosted through the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page.
For a full administration, many families work with a Missouri probate attorney because a non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). For a small estate affidavit or a refusal of letters, no personal representative is appointed, so the attorney-appearance rule does not apply in the same way, but the Ste. Genevieve County clerk can still require the correct forms and court cost before the filing is processed.
Fees
Ste. Genevieve County posts its own probate and estate court-cost schedule, effective 8/28/2023. These are local totals for Ste. Genevieve County, and later inventory-based charges can apply under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023.
| Filing type | Ste. Genevieve County court cost |
|---|---|
| Decedent estate, letters with no will | $143.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Decedent estate with will | $178.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Small estate | $63.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Small estate with will | $98.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Amended small estate | $35.00, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Refusal of letters for creditor, spouse, or unmarried minor child | $63.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Petition to determine heirship | $63.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Will admission with no other proceeding | $63.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Will deposit for safekeeping during life | $3.00, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Reopen estate | $43.00, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Order dispensing with administration or conservatorship | $40.00, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Petition to compel administration | $63.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
| Miscellaneous probate | $63.50, effective 8/28/2023 |
Publication charges are handled separately. The 24th Judicial Circuit rules state that, unless the court orders otherwise, publication costs are paid directly to the publisher by the party (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 5.1).
Local nuance
Ste. Genevieve County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Ste. Genevieve County |
|---|---|
| Shared circuit, local courthouse | Ste. Genevieve County is in the 24th Judicial Circuit with Madison, St. Francois, and Washington counties, but probate filings for Ste. Genevieve County stay at the Ste. Genevieve courthouse. |
| Division assignment | The 24th Judicial Circuit rules assign all probate cases filed in Ste. Genevieve County to Division 7, an associate circuit judge division (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 1). |
| Filing counter | Probate matters are filed with the circuit clerk of the county where the case is filed (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 72). In Ste. Genevieve County, that is Room 23 at 55 South 3rd Street. |
| Attorney and pro se filing method | Attorneys e-file through the Missouri eFiling System. Non-lawyer pro se parties physically file documents in the circuit clerk's office of the appropriate county (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 4). |
| Publication choice | An application for letters must designate the newspaper for publication. The clerk institutes publication, and the party pays the publisher unless the court orders otherwise (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rules 5.1 and 72). |
| Hours | The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed holidays. The local rules also set circuit clerk office hours at 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 2.1). |
| Remote appearance | The local rules do not list a Ste. Genevieve County probate remote-appearance procedure. Follow the hearing notice and contact the clerk before assuming a remote option will be available. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Ste. Genevieve County court-cost schedule | The county posts a probate and court-cost schedule effective 8/28/2023, including $143.50, effective 8/28/2023, for letters with no will and $178.50, effective 8/28/2023, for letters with a will. |
| 24th Judicial Circuit local rules | The current local rules assign all Ste. Genevieve County probate cases to Division 7 and state that probate matters are filed with the circuit clerk of the county where the case is filed. |
| Clerk hours and phone | The county circuit clerk page lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed holidays, and (573) 883-2705, ext. 1. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First confirm how the home was titled and whether it passes outside probate. If a Ste. Genevieve County probate filing is still needed, the spouse may be looking at a refusal of letters or a full estate administration, depending on the assets and debts. | Sunset helps identify accounts, deeds, co-owners, and beneficiary designations so the spouse can see what belongs in the estate settlement and what may pass outside the court file. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate fits Missouri's small estate affidavit path under RSMo 473.097, the filing is made with the Ste. Genevieve County circuit clerk. A self-represented filer is not required to e-file, and the 24th Judicial Circuit rules direct non-lawyer pro se parties to physically file with the appropriate county clerk. | Sunset organizes the asset list, debts, death information, and family contacts before the child contacts the clerk or a Missouri attorney about the right packet. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of probate real estate usually points toward a full administration in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Ste. Genevieve County. Because a non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney, counsel often becomes important once letters, sale authority, or a hearing is needed (RSMo 473.153.7). | Sunset helps locate accounts, assemble the estate settlement file, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney if a full administration is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Ste. Genevieve County circuit clerk | Local courthouse contact, hours, phone, fax, email, and the county's court-cost schedule. Website: https://www.stegencounty.gov/circuit-clerk |
| 24th Judicial Circuit local rules | Local rules for filing method, publication, division assignment, clerk hours, and probate filing location within the circuit. |
| Case.net | Missouri's statewide public case search for docket information, including Ste. Genevieve County probate cases. Website: https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide probate forms for Missouri probate matters. Use the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page. |
| Missouri Legal Services and Legal Services of Southern Missouri | Free civil legal aid screening for eligible low-income Missourians. The Missouri Legal Services offices page lists Ste. Genevieve County under the LSSM Sikeston office, with phone numbers 573-683-3783 and 1-800-444-4863. Website: https://www.lsmo.org/page/951/offices |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | Official Missouri statutes, including probate statutes cited on this page. Website: https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
Missouri draws an important line between no-letters filings and full administration. A small estate affidavit or refusal of letters does not appoint a personal representative, but once a person is serving as personal representative, a non-lawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney, even though they may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). If the Ste. Genevieve County estate involves letters, a hearing, creditor disputes, real estate sale authority, or disagreement among heirs, counsel can prevent delays and help keep the estate settlement on track. Sunset connects you 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, debts, and other items that shape the Ste. Genevieve County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family information, asset list, and court path into an organized packet for the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Ste. Genevieve County or for review by a Missouri probate attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. When letters, a hearing, or a court appearance requires counsel, Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney who handles Missouri estates.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset discovery, and attorney connection at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Ste. Genevieve County?
File probate matters with the Ste. Genevieve County circuit clerk at the Ste. Genevieve County Courthouse, 55 South 3rd Street, Room 23, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670. The 24th Judicial Circuit rules state that probate matters are filed with the circuit clerk of the county where the case is filed (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 72).
Is Ste. Genevieve County probate filed in Farmington or another 24th Circuit county?
No. Ste. Genevieve County shares the 24th Judicial Circuit with Madison, St. Francois, and Washington counties, but Ste. Genevieve County probate filings stay at the Ste. Genevieve courthouse. The local rules assign all probate cases filed in Ste. Genevieve County to Division 7.
Do I have to e-file a probate case if I am representing myself?
No. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System, but self-represented filers are not required to e-file (Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4)). The 24th Judicial Circuit rules state that non-lawyer pro se parties physically file documents in the circuit clerk's office of the appropriate county (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 4).
Does Ste. Genevieve County have local probate forms?
The county circuit clerk page does not post a separate Ste. Genevieve County probate forms packet. Use Missouri Judiciary probate forms and ask the clerk whether the court wants any additional local formatting or copies.
What does it cost to open a decedent estate in Ste. Genevieve County?
The county schedule lists a decedent estate with no will at $143.50, effective 8/28/2023, and a decedent estate with a will at $178.50, effective 8/28/2023. Later inventory-based charges can apply under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023.
Can I look up a Ste. Genevieve County probate case online?
Yes. Use Case.net, Missouri's statewide public case search, for Ste. Genevieve County probate docket information. Public online access is a docket lookup and should not be treated as a guarantee that every document can be viewed online.
Can I attend a Ste. Genevieve County probate hearing remotely?
The 24th Judicial Circuit local rules do not list a Ste. Genevieve County probate remote-appearance procedure. Follow the hearing notice and call the clerk before assuming that a hearing can be handled by video or telephone.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Ste. Genevieve County?
For a full 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 473.153.7). A small estate affidavit or refusal of letters does not appoint a personal representative, so the analysis is different for those no-letters paths.
Who starts publication for a Ste. Genevieve County estate?
For letters, the application must designate the newspaper for publication, and the clerk institutes publication under the 24th Judicial Circuit rules (24th Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules, Rule 72). Missouri's notice of letters is published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033), and the local rules state that publication costs are paid directly to the publisher unless the court orders otherwise.
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.