Back to Missouri
Taney County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Taney County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Taney County, 46th Judicial Circuit |
| Courthouse address | Taney County Courthouse, 266 Main Street, Forsyth, MO 65653 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 129, Forsyth, MO 65653 |
| Phone | (417) 546-7230 |
| Fax | (417) 546-6133, as listed on the 46th Circuit local rules letterhead. Ask the clerk before sending a fax filing. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on state holidays |
| Main decedent estate court cost | $138.50, effective 08-28-2018, plus a $30.00 annual fee, effective 08-28-2018 |
| Local forms | No Taney County probate packet or county cover sheet is published in the Taney County materials identified here. Use Missouri probate forms and any required lawyer-prepared pleadings. |
| Electronic filing | Attorney filings use the Missouri eFiling System under Supreme Court Rule 103 and Court Operating Rule 27. Self-represented parties may be permitted to file hard copies or fax filings under 46th Circuit Rule 14. Email filings are prohibited unless the presiding judge expressly permits them. |
| Case search | Case.net covers Taney County probate matters. Courthouse public access terminals may show electronic documents for eligible case types. |
| Remote appearance | The 46th Circuit local rules do not set a probate video or telephone appearance practice. Ask the clerk before assuming you can appear remotely. |
| Website | Taney County Circuit Clerk page and Missouri Judiciary Taney County local rules and filing information page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Forsyth, list the assets, debts, account ownership, beneficiary designations, real estate, vehicles, and any will. Missouri probate route selection depends on what is actually in the probate estate, not just on the size of the family or whether someone is ready to serve.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 institutions, then helps organize what should be handled by beneficiary transfer, small estate paperwork, refusal of letters, or a full Taney County administration.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Taney County serves all communities in Taney County from the courthouse in Forsyth. Taney County is the only county in Missouri's 46th Judicial Circuit, so probate filings for a Taney County resident are not sent to another county courthouse.
Missouri venue for a will and for letters is generally the county where the deceased person was domiciled. If the person had no Missouri domicile, venue can be in a county where Missouri property was left, with additional rules when the main Missouri asset is real estate (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
- Decide which Missouri path fits the estate. A full administration asks the court for letters testamentary or letters of administration. A small estate affidavit, refusal of letters, or determination of heirship may fit only if the statewide requirements for that path are met.
- Gather the original will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, names and addresses of heirs or devisees, and any information needed for Taney County real estate or vehicles.
- Prepare the probate paperwork. Taney County does not publish a county probate packet in the materials identified here, so use Missouri probate forms where available and lawyer-prepared pleadings where a full administration is needed.
- File with the clerk serving the probate division at the Taney County Courthouse, 266 Main Street, Forsyth, or by mail to P.O. Box 129, Forsyth, MO 65653. The original will is delivered to the probate division on paper even when other filings are handled electronically.
- Pay the Taney County court cost for the chosen filing. The county's schedule lists a decedent estate at $138.50, effective 08-28-2018, with a $30.00 annual fee, effective 08-28-2018. It lists small estates, refusals of letters, determinations of heirship, and admitting a will at $58.50 each, effective 08-28-2018.
- Use the correct filing method. Attorneys file electronically under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 103 and Court Operating Rule 27. A self-represented filer may be permitted to file hard copies or by fax under 46th Circuit Rule 14, and the filing fee must be received before a fax filing is processed.
- Complete notice and publication required for the selected Missouri procedure. In a full administration, the clerk causes notice of letters to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks, and creditor deadlines run under the Missouri claims statutes (RSMo 473.033, RSMo 473.360, RSMo 473.444).
- Attend any hearing the court sets. 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).
- After letters issue, administer the estate, collect assets, handle creditor claims, file the inventory on time, and close the estate settlement through the appropriate Missouri closing procedure. If a small estate certificate or refusal order affects Taney County real estate, record the required certified copy with the recorder of deeds after the probate division acts.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Taney County
Taney County's own probate materials identified for this page are the circuit clerk contact page, the 46th Circuit local rules, and the county's probate cost schedule. Taney County does not publish a separate county probate packet, local probate cover sheet, or county checklist in those materials.
Use the Missouri Judiciary probate forms page for statewide probate forms, and check with the Taney County clerk before filing if you are unsure whether a local cover sheet, original will, or additional copy is needed for your filing. For a full administration, remember that a non-attorney personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7).
Fees
| Filing or service | Taney County amount |
|---|---|
| Decedent estate | $138.50, effective 08-28-2018, plus a $30.00 annual fee, effective 08-28-2018 |
| Small estate | $58.50, effective 08-28-2018 |
| Refusal of letters | $58.50, effective 08-28-2018 |
| Determine heirship | $58.50, effective 08-28-2018 |
| Admit a will to probate | $58.50, effective 08-28-2018 |
| Copies | $1.00 per page, effective 08-28-2018 |
| Certification | $1.50 per certification, effective 08-28-2018 |
Taney County's schedule says payment may be made by cash, credit card, money order, cashier's check, or personal check, payable to the Taney County Circuit Clerk. Missouri's statewide court cost structure is set by Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, but Taney County's schedule is the local total to use for the amounts above.
Local nuance
Taney County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Taney County |
|---|---|
| Single-county circuit | Taney County is the entire 46th Judicial Circuit. Probate filings stay with the Taney County courthouse in Forsyth. |
| Probate assignment | The 46th Circuit local rules assign all probate proceedings to Associate Division II, an associate division exercising probate jurisdiction. |
| General law days | The local rules set general Law Days on Thursdays of non-jury weeks, with civil matters at 9:00 a.m. This is not a separate probate hearing calendar. |
| Self-represented fax filing | 46th Circuit Rule 14 allows unrepresented or pro se parties to be permitted to file by facsimile. The court cost must be received before the fax filing is processed. |
| Email filing | 46th Circuit Rule 14 prohibits email filing unless the presiding judge expressly permits it. |
| Remote appearance | The 46th Circuit local rules do not set a probate video or telephone appearance practice. Call the clerk before planning to attend remotely. |
| Case access | Case.net covers Taney County probate matters, and local judiciary information groups probate with associate civil for courthouse electronic document access. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| 12/23/2025 | The 46th Judicial Circuit local rules were revised. The rules assign all probate proceedings to Associate Division II and include local filing rules for attorney e-filing, hard-copy filings by unrepresented parties, fax filings, and email filing limits. |
| 08/28/2018 | Taney County's probate cost schedule became effective. The schedule lists the county's decedent estate, small estate, refusal of letters, determination of heirship, will admission, copy, and certification costs. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Taney County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First identify whether the home passes outside probate by deed or survivorship. If little or nothing remains in the probate estate, a full administration in Forsyth may not be the right first step. | Sunset helps find accounts, review title clues, and organize the estate settlement plan before anyone pays a court cost. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Ask the Taney County clerk about filing by mail or permitted fax filing if the Missouri small estate affidavit path applies. A small estate affidavit does not appoint a personal representative. | Sunset helps assemble asset information, identify debts, and prepare a packet for local review so travel is limited when possible. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If Taney County real estate is in the child's name alone, a court order, letters, small estate certificate, refusal order, or later heirship decree may be needed before title can be handled. A full administration often needs counsel because a non-attorney personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). | Sunset helps map the assets and connect the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney for the court-facing parts of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Taney County Circuit Clerk | Use the clerk's office for local courthouse address, mailing address, hours, phone, and probate cost schedule questions. |
| 46th Judicial Circuit local rules | Use the local rules for Taney County division assignments, Law Days, attorney electronic filing, fax filing by unrepresented parties, and email filing limits. |
| Case.net | Use Missouri's public case search to look up Taney County probate docket information in a browser. |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Use the statewide probate forms page when a Missouri form is available for the procedure you are filing. |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | Use this 2024 Missouri Bar consumer guide for general probate education, not as a Taney County court checklist. |
| Legal Services of Southern Missouri | LSSM serves Taney County as a civil legal aid program for eligible low-income Missourians. Apply online or call 1-800-444-4863. |
When to hire an attorney
Missouri draws an important line between paperwork and court appearances. 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). Counsel is especially useful when the estate needs letters, a home sale, creditor disputes, heir disputes, or court hearings in Taney County. 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 accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and other items that shape the Taney County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information families need for Missouri probate forms, lawyer review, small estate paperwork, refusal of letters, or a full administration filing in Forsyth.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Taney County estate needs letters or a court appearance, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney at no cost.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families understand the next step, prepare for the court process, and move the estate settlement forward without charging families for its core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Taney County?
File with the clerk serving the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Taney County at the Taney County Courthouse, 266 Main Street, Forsyth, MO 65653. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 129, Forsyth, MO 65653.
Is Taney County probate handled in another county because it is in a circuit?
No. Taney County is the only county in the 46th Judicial Circuit. Probate matters for the county are handled at the Taney County courthouse in Forsyth.
Can I e-file a probate case in Taney County?
Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System under Supreme Court Rule 103 and Court Operating Rule 27. Self-represented parties are not required to electronically file, and 46th Circuit Rule 14 says they may be permitted to file hard copies or by fax.
Can I fax probate paperwork to Taney County?
46th Circuit Rule 14 allows unrepresented or pro se parties to be permitted to file documents and pleadings by facsimile. The court cost must be received before the fax filing is processed, and the fax transmission time controls only when the required cost has been received. Ask the clerk which fax number to use before transmitting.
Does Taney County accept probate filings by email?
The 46th Circuit local rules prohibit email filings unless the presiding judge expressly permits them. Do not email probate paperwork unless the court has given that permission.
How much does a Taney County decedent estate cost to open?
Taney County's probate cost schedule lists a decedent estate at $138.50, effective 08-28-2018, plus a $30.00 annual fee, effective 08-28-2018. The schedule lists small estates, refusals of letters, determinations of heirship, and admitting a will at $58.50 each, effective 08-28-2018.
Does Taney County publish local probate forms?
Taney County publishes a probate cost schedule and local court rules, but not a separate county probate packet or county probate cover sheet in the materials identified here. Use statewide Missouri probate forms where available and ask the clerk what must accompany your filing.
Can I appear remotely for a Taney County probate hearing?
The 46th Circuit local rules do not set a probate video or telephone appearance practice. Call the clerk before assuming a remote appearance is available for a hearing.
Can I look up a Taney County probate case online?
Yes. Case.net covers Taney County probate matters. Public Case.net generally provides docket information, and courthouse public access terminals may provide electronic document access for eligible case types.
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.