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Worth County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Worth County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Worth County |
| Courthouse address | Worth County Courthouse, 11 West 4th Street, Grant City, MO 64456 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 350, Grant City, MO 64456 |
| Phone | (660) 564-2210 |
| Fax | (660) 564-3394 |
| Hours | The county publishes courthouse hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The court does not publish separate probate counter hours, so call before traveling to Grant City. |
| Court costs | Worth County does not publish a local probate cost schedule. 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, with the total under that rule capped at $565.00 (Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023). Counties add statutory local surcharges, and Local Rule 5.1 says the probate clerk provides fee information for the amount collected at the Grant City counter. |
| Local forms | No Worth County probate packet, cover sheet or checklist is published. Use the Missouri Judiciary's statewide probate forms and the filing information sheet. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System. In this circuit, a self-represented filer files original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division in Grant City or by mail to P.O. Box 350 (Local Rule 72.1(e)). |
| Case search | Case.net covers Worth County probate cases. Public Worth County probate case information is available for cases pending as of, or filed after, March 20, 2006. |
| Remote appearance | The court decides whether a hearing is in person or in the Missouri Judiciary's Virtual Hearing Room. Not all cases are eligible, and the notice of hearing controls. |
| Website | Worth County local rules and filing information on the Missouri Courts website |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Worth County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, titled property and any nonprobate transfers. That asset picture decides whether the estate settlement can use a no-letters route or whether a full administration is needed in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Worth County.
Sunset's asset discovery checks more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps families find accounts before they choose a Missouri probate path. For a Worth County filing, that list also helps you know whether to call the Grant City clerk about original documents, the current court cost collected at the counter and whether real estate paperwork will also need to go to the recorder of deeds in the same courthouse.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Worth County Courthouse in Grant City serves Worth County probate matters. Worth County's own community list includes Allendale, Denver, Grant City, Sheridan and Worth, and an estate for a decedent domiciled anywhere in Worth County is filed in Grant City.
Worth County is part of Missouri's 4th Judicial Circuit with Atchison, Gentry, Holt and Nodaway counties. Missouri has forty-six judicial circuits (RSMo 478.011), but a shared circuit is not a shared courthouse. Venue for probating a will and granting letters is the county where the decedent was domiciled, and later estate orders and settlements are handled in the county where letters were granted (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
Build the asset and debt list first. Identify probate assets, jointly owned property, beneficiary designations, debts, funeral expenses and any Worth County real estate before selecting a filing path.
Choose the Missouri path. Worth County adds no special county shortcut, so choose the path using the Missouri statewide rules, including full administration, a small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) or a refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090).
Get the right forms. Worth County does not publish a local probate packet, so start with the Missouri Judiciary probate forms, the filing information sheet and any property listing exhibit the application requires. Call (660) 564-2210 if you need to ask what the Grant City counter wants with the first filing.
Handle the original will on paper. If there is a will or codicil, the original must be delivered physically to the probate division. Under Local Rule 72.1(b), an electronically submitted will is only conditionally accepted until the original reaches the probate division, and Local Rule 72.1(c) says the court will not take the filing up or enter an order until the required original is filed.
File in Grant City or by mail. File with the clerk of the probate division at the Worth County Courthouse, 11 West 4th Street, Grant City, or mail papers to P.O. Box 350, Grant City, MO 64456. Attorneys use the Missouri eFiling System. A self-represented filer in this circuit files original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division (Local Rule 72.1(e)).
Pay the court cost the probate clerk quotes. Worth County does not publish a local probate cost schedule, and Local Rule 5.1 says the probate clerk provides fee information. The state component is set by Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023, and counties add statutory local surcharges on top.
Complete notice and publication when letters issue. In a full administration, once letters testamentary or letters of administration are issued, the clerk causes notice of the appointment and notice to creditors to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033). Missouri creditor deadlines then run under RSMo 473.360 and RSMo 473.444.
Watch the hearing setting and the notice. The 4th Judicial Circuit's rules place Worth County civil, small claims and probate matters on the associate division's Monday 11:00 a.m. setting, unless the court sets the matter otherwise (Local Rule 2.4). If the court uses the Missouri Judiciary's Virtual Hearing Room, the notice of hearing and the scheduled hearings tab will show that setting.
Get authority, administer the estate and close. If the court grants authority, the personal representative receives letters testamentary or letters of administration, with one certified copy included in the state component under Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023. Keep vouchers and account records, watch Case.net for any deficiency itemization or due date from the division, file the inventory within thirty days after letters unless the court extends the time (RSMo 473.233), and complete the estate settlement through the required settlement or statement of account process.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Worth County
Worth County does not publish its own probate forms, estate packet, cover sheet or local checklist. Use the Missouri Judiciary's statewide probate forms, and call the clerk in Grant City if you need to ask which forms the counter expects for the filing you plan to make.
| Form or document | How it is used in Worth County |
|---|---|
| FI-50 Confidential case filing information sheet | The Missouri Judiciary forms page says a filing information sheet is required on each case filed. |
| PR 16 Affidavit to establish title of distributee, small estate, intestate | Used for an intestate small estate route under Missouri law. |
| PR 22 Exhibit A | The property listing exhibit used with refusal of letters, small estate and heirship applications. |
| PR 23 Application of creditor for refusal of letters | Used when the creditor refusal route fits the facts under RSMo 473.090. |
| PR 25 Application of unmarried minor children for refusal of letters | Used for the unmarried minor children refusal route. |
| PR 28 Petition for determination of heirship | Used for a determination of heirship under RSMo 473.663 when that statewide route is available. |
| PR 33 Application of surviving spouse for refusal of letters | Used for a surviving spouse refusal of letters request. |
| PR 10 Statement of reimbursable attorney fees | Used when reimbursable attorney fees need to be stated in a probate matter. |
The court-approved forms help with the no-letters paths, but they do not replace the local filing rules. In this circuit, self-represented parties file original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division, and original wills, surety bonds and certain other originals must physically reach the probate division before the court acts on the filing (Local Rule 72.1).
Local nuance
Worth County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Worth County filing |
|---|---|
| One Grant City counter | Worth County probate filings go to the clerk of the probate division at the Worth County Courthouse in Grant City. Do not send a Worth County estate to another 4th Judicial Circuit county. |
| Monday probate setting | Local Rule 2.4 places Worth County civil, small claims and probate matters on the associate division's Monday 11:00 a.m. setting, unless the court sets the matter otherwise. |
| Original wills | Local Rule 72.1(b) says an original will or codicil must be filed physically with the probate division within three business days after electronic submission, and final acceptance does not occur until the original arrives. |
| Self-represented originals | Local Rule 72.1(e) directs self-represented parties, other than attorneys subject to Missouri electronic filing rules, to file all original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division. |
| Probate clerk gives cost information | Local Rule 5.1 says the probate clerk provides fee information for probate matters. Local Rule 4.7(3) says a filing tendered without the proper fee is held until the proper fee is received and then processed. |
| MOHealthNet disclosure | Local Rule 72.1(l) requires a separate MOHealthNet disclosure when a new full estate is opened, stating whether the decedent was enrolled in MOHealthNet at death. If the decedent was enrolled, closing papers must show compliance with Missouri Medicaid estate recovery requirements. |
| Deficiency review on Case.net | Local Rule 72.1(k) says the division reviews new estate filings and, if needed, itemizes deficiencies with a due date. The response is available on Case.net, and missing the due date can lead to dismissal for failure to prosecute. |
| Settlement backup | Local Rule 72.2 requires vouchers to be attached to the settlement in the same order as disbursements, with account verification filed separately. Keep receipts, bank statements and brokerage statements from the start of the estate settlement. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Persona | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start at the Grant City clerk's office or mail to P.O. Box 350. A surviving spouse often asks whether refusal of letters fits, because that path appoints no personal representative and is keyed to exempt property and the one-year support allowance rather than a fixed dollar limit (RSMo 473.090). The statewide form is PR 33, with PR 22 as the property listing exhibit. If the order moves Worth County real estate, a certified copy is filed with the recorder of deeds in the same courthouse. | Sunset finds accounts and assets before filing, helps the spouse see whether a no-letters route fits, and assembles the packet for the Grant City counter. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call (660) 564-2210 before mailing papers to ask what the counter wants and what court cost to send. A self-represented filer in this circuit files original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division (Local Rule 72.1(e)), and any original will must reach the probate division on paper. The small estate route is filed with the clerk and produces the clerk's certificate a bank or title company needs (RSMo 473.097). Follow Case.net because deficiency responses and due dates appear there. | Sunset helps from outside Missouri by locating accounts, organizing the statewide small estate packet and connecting the family with Missouri counsel if a hearing or dispute becomes likely. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually points toward full administration. In Missouri, 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). Locally, plan for the Grant City counter, the Monday morning associate division setting unless the court sets otherwise, the separate MOHealthNet disclosure for a full estate and the paper original will rule. Keep every voucher because the circuit's settlement rule requires support for disbursements. | Sunset builds the asset picture, prepares the probate packet and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the appearance, sale and estate settlement steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it gives |
|---|---|
| Worth County local rules and filing information | The Missouri Judiciary page for Worth County, including the 4th Judicial Circuit local rules that govern local probate filing practices. |
| Case.net | Missouri's public case search. Use it in a browser to follow a Worth County estate docket, watch for deficiency responses and open available public documents filed on or after July 1, 2023. |
| Missouri Judiciary probate forms | Statewide court-approved probate forms, including the filing information sheet, refusal of letters applications, small estate forms, determination of heirship forms and property listing exhibits. |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | The official Revised Statutes of Missouri, including the small estate, refusal of letters, claims, notice and inventory statutes. |
| The Missouri Bar Probate Law Resource Guide | A plain-language consumer guide to Missouri probate published by The Missouri Bar. |
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Missourians. Worth County applications are taken through the Kansas City central office at (816) 474-6750 and online. |
When to hire an attorney
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). Counsel usually makes sense for a Worth County full administration, especially when real estate must be sold, an heir objects, a creditor claim is disputed or the personal representative lives outside Missouri. A small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) and a refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090) appoint no personal representative, and the 4th Judicial Circuit's local rules tell self-represented filers where to take their originals. Sunset connects you to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, real estate clues and other assets before the Worth County filing is chosen. That asset picture is the foundation for a clean estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information and Missouri route into an organized packet, using the statewide forms and the local Grant City filing details where they apply.
Find a local probate attorney. If a full administration, hearing, sale of real estate or contested issue requires counsel, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney familiar with local practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next step and move from asset discovery to filing without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Worth County?
File with the clerk of the probate division at the Worth County Courthouse, 11 West 4th Street, Grant City, MO 64456, or mail papers to P.O. Box 350, Grant City, MO 64456. The original will must be delivered physically to the probate division.
Worth County shares a circuit with four other counties. Do I have to go to another county's courthouse?
No. Worth County is in the 4th Judicial Circuit with Atchison, Gentry, Holt and Nodaway counties, but a Worth County estate is filed in Grant City. Missouri venue for letters is the county of the decedent's domicile (RSMo 473.010).
When is the courthouse in Grant City open?
Worth County publishes courthouse hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The court does not publish separate probate counter hours, lunch information or a daily cutoff, so call (660) 564-2210 before traveling.
Can I file a Worth County probate case myself, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys file through the Missouri eFiling System. In the 4th Judicial Circuit, a self-represented filer files original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division (Local Rule 72.1(e)). In Missouri, a self-represented filer is not required to e-file.
What does it cost to open an estate in Worth County?
Worth County does not publish a local probate cost schedule, and Local Rule 5.1 says the probate clerk provides fee information. 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, with the total under that rule capped at $565.00 (Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective September 1, 2023). Counties add statutory local surcharges, so ask the Grant City probate clerk what total the counter will collect before sending payment.
Does Worth County have its own probate forms?
No Worth County probate packet, cover sheet or local checklist is published. Use the Missouri Judiciary's statewide probate forms, including the filing information sheet and the form for the route you are using.
Can I look up a Worth County estate case online?
Yes. Case.net covers Worth County probate cases. Public probate case information is available for cases pending as of, or filed after, March 20, 2006, and public documents filed on or after July 1, 2023 can often be opened from the docket entries. Older documents may need to be requested from the Grant City court or viewed at the courthouse public access terminal.
Will I have to appear in person in Grant City?
The court decides how a hearing is held. The 4th Judicial Circuit's rules place Worth County probate matters on the Monday 11:00 a.m. associate division setting unless the court sets the matter otherwise, and the Missouri Judiciary's Virtual Hearing Room is used only when the notice of hearing sets the case that way.
Do I need a lawyer for a Worth County estate?
For a full administration, counsel is usually important because a Missouri personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney (RSMo 473.153.7). A small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) or refusal of letters (RSMo 473.090) appoints no personal representative, so that restriction does not reach those no-letters routes.
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.