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Warren County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Warren County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Warren County, 12th Judicial Circuit |
| Courthouse address | Warren County Courthouse, 104 W. Main St., Warrenton, MO 63383 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse address unless the Circuit Clerk gives a different mailing instruction for your filing. |
| Phone | (636) 456-3363 |
| Fax | (636) 456-2422 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, is the best current public counter-hours listing. Call ahead before traveling. |
| Initial court cost | Warren County publishes its own current schedule through the Circuit Clerk. The state component for original letters is $115, plus $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023. Ask the Circuit Clerk for the Warren County total before you submit payment. |
| Local forms | No Warren County-specific probate forms were identified on the Missouri Judiciary Warren County page. Use the statewide Missouri Judiciary probate forms and follow the 12th Circuit local probate rules. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file under Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4) and, under 12th Circuit Rule 72.1.D, file original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the court. |
| Case search | Case.net: https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Remote appearance | No Warren County probate-specific remote appearance rule is published in the 12th Circuit local rules. Ask the clerk how the assigned judge wants an appearance handled. |
| Website | Missouri Judiciary Warren County local rules and filing information page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Warren County, list the decedent's probate assets, nonprobate transfers, debts, real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, and whether an original will or codicil exists. That first inventory of what exists usually determines whether a family is looking at full administration, a small estate affidavit, refusal of letters, or another Missouri path.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help families find accounts and assets before they choose a Warren County estate settlement route, so the filing matches the property that actually needs court authority.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Warren County probate matters are filed at the Warren County Courthouse in Warrenton, not at the Audrain County or Montgomery County courthouses, even though all three counties are in the 12th Judicial Circuit. The 12th Circuit local rules say probate matters are filed with the Circuit Clerk, and the rules assign Warren County probate work to an associate circuit judge exercising probate jurisdiction.
Missouri venue starts in the county where the decedent was domiciled when they died. If the decedent had no Missouri domicile, venue may be in a county where Missouri property is located, with special treatment when the major part of the Missouri estate is real estate (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, will status, and whether Warren County is the correct venue under Missouri's domicile and property rules (RSMo 473.010).
- Choose the correct Missouri path. A full estate seeks letters testamentary or letters of administration. A smaller or family-support situation may use a small estate affidavit or refusal of letters if Missouri law fits the facts.
- Prepare the statewide Missouri probate forms and any documents required by the 12th Circuit local rules. In a decedent's estate, the local rules require a copy of the death certificate for an application for letters, small estate affidavit, refusal of letters, or petition to determine heirship.
- File with the Warren County Circuit Clerk at the Warren County Courthouse in Warrenton. Attorneys file probate matters through the Missouri eFiling System, while self-represented filers file original pleadings and documents with the clerk under 12th Circuit Rule 72.1.D.
- If a will or codicil is filed electronically, deliver the original physically to the probate division within five business days. The 12th Circuit local rule says no further process occurs on the estate until the original has been filed with the court.
- Pay the Warren County court costs and any required deposit. The state component for original letters is structured under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, and Warren County's current total is obtained from the Circuit Clerk under the local fee-deposit rule.
- Complete any required notice. 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 Missouri's six-month and mailed-notice rules plus the separate one-year bar (RSMo 473.033, RSMo 473.360, RSMo 473.444).
- Attend any hearing the associate circuit judge sets. The 12th Circuit rules do not publish a fixed Warren County probate docket day, so ask the clerk how the assigned judge schedules the matter and whether any remote appearance option is available.
- After the court grants authority, use the letters testamentary or letters of administration to collect assets, pay valid claims, prepare the inventory and settlements, and administer the estate. A nonlawyer 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).
- Close the estate through the Missouri closing procedure that matches the administration type, including required settlements or statements of account and any Warren County local filing requirements for vouchers and verifications.
Executor duties
Warren County follows the 12th Circuit's local probate rules for settlement filings. Interim, annual, and final settlements and statements of account are filed electronically, vouchers are filed as numbered attachments that match the disbursements listed, and verifications of account are filed as a separate document rather than as an attachment. The court may ask for the original voucher or supporting document.
For a personal representative working with counsel, this affects estate settlement administration after letters are issued. For a self-represented filer on a no-letters path, ask the Circuit Clerk how the local rule applies to your paper submission.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Warren County
No Warren County-specific probate forms were identified on the Missouri Judiciary Warren County local rules and filing information page. Warren County filers use the statewide Missouri Judiciary probate forms and follow the 12th Circuit local probate rules.
Local rule details matter even when the form is statewide. In any decedent's estate, including an application for letters, a small estate affidavit, a refusal of letters, or a petition to determine heirship, the 12th Circuit requires a copy of the death certificate. If a will or codicil is filed electronically, the original must be delivered physically within five business days before the estate moves forward.
Fees
Warren County's 12th Circuit local rules say some costs are set by statute, cost deposits are set by court order, and the current schedule can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk's office or the 12th Circuit's Missouri Courts page. Ask the Warren County Circuit Clerk at (636) 456-3363 for the current Warren County total before you submit payment.
| Cost item | What to know in Warren County |
|---|---|
| Original letters | The state component is $115 when original letters are applied for, 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. These figures are under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023. Warren County's total can include local surcharges and deposits. |
| Refusal of letters, small estate, heirship, and admitting a will | Warren County directs filers to the Circuit Clerk or the Missouri Courts filing information page for the current schedule. Do not use another Missouri county's published total for a Warren County case. |
| Publication | Publication cost is paid according to the notice process for the case type. Ask the clerk which publication arrangement applies to your Warren County filing. |
Local nuance
Warren County-specific considerations
| Local rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Probate matters filed with the Circuit Clerk | The 12th Circuit local rules state that probate matters are filed with the Circuit Clerk. In Warren County, that means the Warrenton courthouse filing counter, not another county in the 12th Judicial Circuit. |
| Associate circuit judge handles probate | The local rules assign Warren County probate work to an associate circuit judge exercising probate jurisdiction. Do not assume a shared circuit means a shared probate counter or a different courthouse. |
| Original will or codicil due within five business days after electronic filing | If a will or codicil is filed electronically, the original must be physically filed with the probate division within five business days, and no further estate process occurs until the original arrives. |
| Death certificate copy required | The local rules require a copy of the death certificate in a decedent's estate filing, including an application for letters, small estate affidavit, refusal of letters, or petition to determine heirship. |
| No fixed probate hearing day published | The local rules leave Associate Division scheduling to the judge's discretion, so call the Circuit Clerk before planning travel. |
Small-estate Alternatives
For a Warren County small estate affidavit, build the packet around the statewide Missouri requirements and the 12th Circuit's local rule requiring a copy of the death certificate in any decedent's estate filing. If the filing affects Warren County real estate, the probate filing and the later Recorder of Deeds step are separate offices.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Warren County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | First identify how the home was titled and whether it passes outside probate. If a Warren County real estate interest still needs court authority, file in Warrenton and plan for any later Recorder of Deeds recording step after the probate division issues the needed certificate or order. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title clues, debts, and whether a court filing is needed before the spouse starts an estate settlement filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the statewide small estate affidavit requirements fit, the adult child can prepare the statewide packet for Warren County and include the death certificate copy required by the 12th Circuit. If self-represented, the local rule sends original pleadings and documents to the clerk rather than requiring e-filing. | Sunset helps gather asset information, generate a probate packet, and coordinate attorney help if the facts move beyond the no-letters path. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the child was domiciled in Warren County or left Warren County real estate that puts venue there, file in Warrenton. A sale of probate real estate usually makes attorney guidance important, especially if letters, creditor notice, or court approval is needed. | Sunset helps organize the asset search, identify real estate and debts, and connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Warren County Circuit Clerk | Takes Warren County probate filings under the 12th Circuit local rules, provides the current Warren County cost schedule, and can tell you how the assigned judge schedules hearings. | (636) 456-3363, Warren County Courthouse, 104 W. Main St., Warrenton, MO 63383 |
| Missouri Judiciary Warren County local rules and filing information | Links the 12th Circuit local rules and Warren County filing information. | Missouri Courts website, Warren County local rules and filing information page |
| Case.net | Statewide public case lookup for Missouri circuit court cases, including probate division dockets. Use it in a browser. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide court-approved probate forms for Missouri probate matters. | Missouri Courts website, probate forms page |
| Legal Services of Eastern Missouri | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Missourians in Warren County. Intake decides whether the issue is within the program's services. | https://lsem.org/ |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | Consumer guide from The Missouri Bar for general Missouri probate education. | https://missourilawyershelp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Probate-Guide-Updated-2024.pdf |
| Warren County Recorder of Deeds | Records a small estate certificate or refusal-of-letters order affecting Warren County real estate after the probate division issues the document. | Contact Warren County offices for recorder instructions before recording. |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel makes sense for full supervised or independent administration, disputes among heirs, real estate sales, insolvent estates, or any hearing where a nonlawyer personal representative would otherwise be appearing in court, because Missouri limits court appearances by nonlawyer personal representatives (RSMo 473.153.7). A small estate affidavit or refusal of letters does not appoint a personal representative, but legal advice can still help if title, creditors, or family conflict is involved. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, real estate clues, vehicles, and debts so the Warren County filing is based on a complete estate picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet for the Missouri path that fits the facts, including the local Warren County details that affect where and how the filing is submitted.
Find a local probate attorney. For full administration, court hearings, real estate sales, or contested issues, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools and attorney connection at no cost, with no requirement from the Warren County court to use Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Warren County, Missouri?
File Warren County probate matters with the Warren County Circuit Clerk at the Warren County Courthouse, 104 W. Main St., Warrenton, MO 63383. The 12th Circuit local rules state that probate matters are filed with the Circuit Clerk.
Is Warren County probate filed in Audrain or Montgomery County because they share the 12th Circuit?
No. Warren County shares the 12th Judicial Circuit with Audrain and Montgomery counties, but a Warren County estate is filed at the Warren County courthouse in Warrenton.
Can I e-file a Warren County probate case if I am self-represented?
Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file under Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4), and the 12th Circuit local rule says self-represented parties, other than Missouri-licensed attorneys, file original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the court.
What happens to the original will in Warren County?
If a will or codicil is filed electronically, the 12th Circuit local rule requires the original to be physically filed with the probate division within five business days. The estate does not move forward until the original has been filed with the court.
Does Warren County publish its own probate forms?
No Warren County-specific probate forms were identified on the Missouri Judiciary Warren County local rules and filing information page. Use the statewide Missouri Judiciary probate forms and follow the 12th Circuit local probate rules, including the death certificate requirement for decedent estate filings.
How much does a Warren County probate case cost to start?
Ask the Warren County Circuit Clerk at (636) 456-3363 for the current Warren County total. The state component for original letters is $115, plus $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565 under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, and Warren County's local schedule supplies the county total.
Can I look up a Warren County probate case online?
Yes. Use Case.net, Missouri's statewide public case lookup, in a browser at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/. Public lookup generally helps you find docket information, not every filed document.
Does Warren County have a fixed probate hearing day?
The 12th Circuit local rules do not publish a fixed Warren County probate hearing day. Associate Division scheduling is left to the judge's discretion, so call the Circuit Clerk before making travel plans.
Can I appear remotely for a Warren County probate hearing?
No Warren County probate-specific remote appearance rule is published in the 12th Circuit local rules. Ask the Circuit Clerk how the assigned judge handles appearance requests for your hearing.
Do I have to travel to Warrenton to handle a Warren County estate?
Not always. Some work can be prepared before filing, attorneys file electronically, and self-represented filers can ask the Circuit Clerk about paper filing logistics. If a hearing is set, ask the clerk whether the assigned judge requires an in-person appearance.
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.