Find Florissant Probate Court Records

Florissant probate court records are filed with the St. Louis County Circuit Court in Clayton, which serves as the 21st Judicial Circuit probate division for all of St. Louis County. This page covers how to search for estate filings, guardianship cases, and conservatorship proceedings for Florissant residents through Missouri's court system.

Which County Handles Florissant Probate Cases

Florissant is a city in St. Louis County. All probate matters for its residents are handled by the St. Louis County Circuit Court, which is the 21st Judicial Circuit. The courthouse is located in Clayton at 7900 Carondelet Ave., about 15 miles from Florissant. Note that St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis are separate jurisdictions. Florissant residents file with St. Louis County, not the City of St. Louis probate court.

Florissant has its own municipal court at 1200 rue Saint Francois, Florissant, MO 63031, phone (314) 831-7010, with information at florissantmo.com. That court handles city ordinance violations only. Estate administrations, will filings, guardianship petitions, and conservatorship cases all go to the St. Louis County Circuit Court in Clayton.

St. Louis County was established when the City of St. Louis separated from the county in 1876. County probate records date back to that year. For pre-1876 probate records affecting Florissant area families, the Missouri State Archives holds St. Louis County Probate Court records from 1804 to 1876 in a digitized collection, along with over 2 million images from the St. Louis Probate Court Digitization Project.

St. Louis County Probate Division Contact Information

All probate filings and records requests for Florissant residents go to the St. Louis County Circuit Court in Clayton. The probate division is reached at the main courthouse address.

The 21st Circuit's page on the Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov/circuit21 has contact information and general court details. For specific probate filing questions, call the probate division at (314) 615-8029.

How to Search Florissant Probate Court Records

St. Louis County probate records are available through Case.net online and in person at the Clayton courthouse. Case.net is best for checking whether a case exists or reviewing recent docket activity. The courthouse is needed for older documents or certified copies.

Case.net at courts.mo.gov/casenet holds over 45 million Missouri court records. Search by entering the name in the format "LAST, FIRST MIDDLE" with exact spelling. Filter by St. Louis County to narrow results for common names. The portal shows docket entries, case parties, filing dates, and upcoming hearings but not the full text of filed documents.

Since July 1, 2023, public records filed on or after that date can be viewed and downloaded from personal devices through Case.net. Documents filed before that date remain at public access terminals in the Clayton courthouse. Florissant residents must visit Clayton in person for pre-2023 documents or for certified copies of any records.

For historical research, the Missouri State Archives holds an extensive St. Louis collection. The St. Louis Probate Court Digitization Project covers St. Louis County Probate Court records from 1804 to 1876, with over 2 million images available online. Contact the Archives at (573) 751-3280 or visit sos.mo.gov/archives. OSCA technical support is available at (888) 541-4894, weekdays 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

Types of Probate Cases for Florissant Residents

The St. Louis County probate division in Clayton handles all probate case types for Florissant residents. Each type creates a public file available through Case.net or at the courthouse.

Estate administration is the most common type. When a Florissant resident dies with assets in their name, the estate may need the court's involvement to transfer property to heirs. If a will exists, it must be filed. The court appoints a personal representative to manage and close the estate. Chapter 473 RSMo governs the process, including the six-month creditor claim period after the first notice publication.

Smaller estates can avoid full probate. Under Section 473.097 RSMo, estates valued at $40,000 or less (after subtracting liens) qualify for a small estate affidavit. This can be filed 30 days after the person's death. If the estate is between $15,000 and $40,000, publication is required even for the simplified process.

Guardianship and conservatorship cases protect Florissant residents who cannot manage their own affairs. These cases cover both minors and incapacitated adults. Chapter 475 RSMo requires the court to appoint an attorney for adult respondents, and active cases require annual reports. Will contests and trust disputes also come before the St. Louis County probate division.

Missouri Courts Online Portal for Florissant Probate Records

The Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov provides access to St. Louis County probate records for Florissant residents through Case.net and court contact resources.

Through the Missouri Courts portal you can reach Case.net directly and find contact details for the 21st Judicial Circuit in Clayton. The site also provides general guidance on court procedures and self-help resources for probate matters statewide.

Missouri's probate statutes are fully searchable at revisor.mo.gov. Chapters 472 through 475 of the Revised Statutes govern all probate cases in St. Louis County, including cases filed on behalf of Florissant residents.

Both the courts portal and the statutes site are free and do not require any account or registration.

Fees for Florissant Probate Court Records

St. Louis County follows Missouri's standard probate fee schedule. The same rates apply to all county residents, including those in Florissant.

Filing a full estate administration petition costs approximately $155.50. The small estate affidavit under Section 473.097 RSMo costs roughly $65.50 to $75.00. Call the probate division at (314) 615-8029 to confirm the current fee schedule before filing, as rates can be updated.

Document copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more. Ask the clerk for the current certified copy rate when you call or visit. For mail-in records requests, ask about any additional handling fees before sending payment.

Under Section 473.153 RSMo, personal representative compensation starts at 5% of the first $5,000 of estate value and declines in steps based on total estate size, dropping to 2% for amounts over $1 million. These rates are the statutory maximum allowed in all Missouri probate courts.

Missouri Probate Laws Affecting Florissant Cases

Missouri's probate code in Chapters 472 through 475 of the Revised Statutes governs every probate case filed in St. Louis County for Florissant residents. The 21st Judicial Circuit applies these rules to all cases.

Chapter 472 RSMo establishes general probate definitions and jurisdiction. Section 472.280 allows probate records to be kept in electronic formats. Section 472.013 provides remedies for fraud in probate proceedings, requiring action within two years of discovering the fraud.

Chapter 473 RSMo covers estate administration in detail. It sets out notice publication requirements, annual account filing deadlines for personal representatives, and the six-month creditor claim period. Final settlement must occur within six months and ten days of the first creditor notice publication.

Chapter 474 RSMo handles intestate succession for Florissant residents who die without a valid will. Spouses and children have priority; more distant relatives follow. Chapter 475 RSMo governs guardianship and conservatorship with attorney appointment requirements and annual reporting for all active cases.

Public Access to Florissant Probate Records

Missouri Court Operating Rule 2.02 establishes a presumption that all court records are open to the public. St. Louis County probate records for Florissant cases are public records. You can view them without being a party to the case and without giving a reason.

Exceptions apply to sealed cases, juvenile records, and mental health matters. For open records, filers must redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth, and names of minors before filing. The court does not review each document for redaction compliance. That responsibility falls on the person who files.

Since July 1, 2023, public court records filed on or after that date can be viewed and downloaded from personal devices through Case.net. Older documents remain at courthouse terminals in Clayton. For historical St. Louis County probate records, the Missouri State Archives holds an extensive digitized collection covering 1804 through 1876, with over 2 million images available through their website at sos.mo.gov/archives.

Legal Help for Probate in Florissant

Florissant residents dealing with an estate administration, guardianship case, or will dispute have several options for finding legal assistance in the St. Louis area.

The Missouri Bar at mobar.org provides a free attorney directory. Search by practice area and St. Louis County to find probate attorneys who regularly appear before the 21st Judicial Circuit. Because St. Louis County is one of Missouri's largest probate courts, there are many attorneys with local experience and knowledge of the court's procedures.

The Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov offers self-help guides on general probate procedures. The Missouri Association of Counties at mocounties.com provides context on county court operations. For Case.net technical help, OSCA is available at (888) 541-4894 on weekdays from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

Nearby Missouri Cities

These nearby qualifying cities also have probate court information pages.