Find St. Louis Probate Court Records

St. Louis probate court records are maintained by the City of St. Louis's own 22nd Judicial Circuit Probate Court, which operates independently from St. Louis County because St. Louis is a self-governing independent city with no county affiliation. This page explains how to access estate filings, guardianship cases, and other probate records for the City of St. Louis.

The City of St. Louis Has Its Own Probate Court

St. Louis is a unique jurisdiction in Missouri. It is an independent city, meaning it is not part of any county. When Missouri voters approved the city-county separation in 1876, St. Louis became its own governmental unit. That status means the city has its own judicial circuit: the 22nd Judicial Circuit, which covers only the City of St. Louis.

The 22nd Circuit Probate Court is a separate division of the circuit court, located at 10 N. Tucker Blvd. in downtown St. Louis. This court handles all estate administrations, guardianship and conservatorship cases, will filings, and related probate matters for people who lived within city limits at the time of their death or incapacity. It is not the same court as the St. Louis County Probate Division, which operates independently at a different location in Clayton. If you are unsure whether a person's address was in the city or the county, that distinction determines where probate is filed.

The Missouri State Archives has digitized St. Louis City Probate Court records from 1806 through 1950, making this one of the most thoroughly preserved probate collections in the state. More than two million images of case documents from the city are available through the Archives' online portal.

St. Louis City Probate Court - Contact and Location

The St. Louis City Probate Court is located in the Civil Courts Building on Tucker Blvd. in downtown St. Louis. The office handles filings, copy requests, and case lookups. Staff can search by name or case number and assist with general procedural questions.

Note: The St. Louis City Municipal Court at 1520 Market St. handles traffic and ordinance violations only. It does not handle probate matters. For estate and guardianship filings, use the Probate Division at 10 N. Tucker Blvd.

How to Search St. Louis City Probate Court Records

Missouri's Case.net system covers St. Louis City probate cases alongside all other Missouri circuit courts. The portal is free and available at courts.mo.gov/casenet. No account is required to search.

Enter the name in the format "LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL" exactly. The search is literal, so name order matters. If you are looking for a common name like "Smith, John," filter by St. Louis City to narrow down results from other circuits. Case.net shows case parties, docket entries, upcoming hearing dates, and judgment records. It does not display the actual text of documents filed with the court.

Since July 1, 2023, public court documents filed on or after that date can be viewed, downloaded, and printed from a personal device through Case.net. Documents filed before that date are available only at courthouse terminals. For St. Louis City probate records, you would visit the 10 N. Tucker Blvd. location during business hours. Bring a photo ID and any case identifying information you have.

For historical records going back to 1806, the Missouri State Archives at sos.mo.gov/archives has an extensive digitized collection. Search their portal by name and year to find older St. Louis City estate records. The Archives research room in Jefferson City at 600 W. Main St. is also open to in-person researchers. Call (573) 751-3280 for hours and access information.

For Case.net technical help, reach the OSCA Help Desk at (888) 541-4894, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

Types of Probate Cases in the City of St. Louis

The 22nd Circuit Probate Court handles the same core probate case types as other Missouri circuits. What makes St. Louis City distinctive is the volume: as one of Missouri's oldest and most populous urban centers, the court has an extensive and deep historical record.

Estate administration cases make up the bulk of the court's docket. When a St. Louis City resident dies with assets held solely in their name, those assets typically require probate before they can pass to heirs. A will, if one exists, must be filed with the court. The court appoints a personal representative to manage and close the estate. Chapter 473 RSMo governs this process. Creditors get six months from the date of the first published notice to file claims.

Guardianship and conservatorship cases are also handled here. These cases arise when someone cannot manage their own personal decisions or financial matters, whether due to age, disability, or incapacity. Under Chapter 475 RSMo, any adult named as a respondent in a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding must have an attorney appointed by the court. Annual reports keep active cases on the court's radar.

Will contests and fraud-related proceedings can also come before the St. Louis City Probate Court. A person injured by fraud in a probate case has two years from discovery to act under Section 472.013 RSMo. Small estate affidavits under Section 473.097 RSMo are available for estates of $40,000 or less.

St. Louis City Government and Court Resources

The official St. Louis city government website at stlouis-mo.gov provides a central starting point for city services, including links to all city courts and government offices.

The city site links to municipal court services, city agency contacts, and government department directories. For probate matters, the key link from the city site leads to the 22nd Circuit court pages.

The City of St. Louis Municipal Courts page at stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/municipal-courts covers the municipal court, which handles city ordinance matters. Probate is separate and handled by the 22nd Circuit.

It helps to know the difference between the two courts before you search. Municipal Court handles traffic and city violations. Probate Court handles estate and guardianship cases.

The Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov has the 22nd Circuit's official contact page, which includes current address, phone, and hours for the St. Louis City Probate Division.

This is the most direct online source for current 22nd Circuit Probate Court information, including case filing procedures and general court guidance.

Fees for St. Louis City Probate Filings

The St. Louis City Probate Court follows Missouri's standard probate fee schedule. Filing a full estate administration petition runs approximately $155.50. The simplified small estate affidavit process, available for estates valued at $40,000 or less, costs about $65.50 to $75.00 to file.

The small estate process under Section 473.097 RSMo can be initiated 30 days after death. Estates between $15,000 and $40,000 still require publication notice even under the simplified procedure. For estates under $15,000, no publication is needed.

Document copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more. Call (314) 641-8276 to confirm the certified copy rate before visiting. Fees may change, so it is worth checking in advance rather than finding out at the counter.

Personal representative fees follow the statutory schedule at Section 473.153 RSMo: 5% on the first $5,000, 4% on the next $20,000, 3% on the next $75,000, 2.75% on the next $300,000, 2.5% on the next $600,000, and 2% on amounts above $1 million.

Missouri Probate Laws Governing St. Louis City Cases

Missouri's probate code covers all cases filed in the City of St. Louis just as it does for every other circuit in the state. The four main chapters are at revisor.mo.gov.

Chapter 472 RSMo covers general probate provisions. It defines jurisdiction, establishes court authority, and addresses how records must be kept. Section 472.280 allows records to be stored electronically. Section 472.013 covers the two-year window for fraud remedies.

Chapter 473 RSMo sets out estate administration in step-by-step form. Personal representatives must file annual accounts on the anniversary of their appointment. Final settlement must occur within six months and ten days of the first published creditor notice.

Chapter 474 RSMo covers what happens when someone dies without a will. Property passes to the closest relatives in a defined order: spouse and children first, then parents and siblings, and so on down the line.

Chapter 475 RSMo governs guardianship and conservatorship cases. It requires court-appointed attorneys for adult respondents and mandates annual reporting. These rules apply in full to all cases filed with the 22nd Circuit Probate Court in St. Louis.

Missouri Court Operating Rule 2.02 establishes the baseline: all court records are presumed public unless a specific exception applies.

Public Access to St. Louis City Probate Records

Missouri Court Operating Rule 2.02 says court records are presumed open to any member of the public. St. Louis City probate records are public records. You do not need to be a party to the case, and no explanation of your purpose is required.

Some records are off-limits. Sealed cases, juvenile matters, expunged records, and mental health records are not available through Case.net or at the public counter. For open records, the person who files a document is responsible for removing confidential details before submission. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, dates of birth, and names of minors must all be redacted. The court does not review documents for redaction compliance before accepting them.

The July 1, 2023 remote access expansion applies to St. Louis City cases. Documents filed on or after that date can be viewed and downloaded from a phone, tablet, or computer through Case.net. Earlier records are available only at the courthouse terminals at 10 N. Tucker Blvd. For the historically rich collection of St. Louis City records from 1806 to 1950, the Missouri State Archives is the best source, with over two million digitized images available online.

Legal Help for St. Louis City Probate Cases

If you need an attorney for a probate matter in the City of St. Louis, the Missouri Bar's lawyer search at mobar.org can help. Search by practice area and the St. Louis City circuit to find attorneys who regularly appear in the 22nd Circuit Probate Court. The directory is free to use.

The Missouri Association of Counties at mocounties.com provides background on county and city court operations across Missouri. While St. Louis City is not a county, the site offers useful context for understanding how Missouri's probate courts are structured.

For self-help, the Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov provides general guidance on probate procedures. The OSCA Help Desk at (888) 541-4894 can assist with technical issues related to Case.net access, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

For historical research, the Missouri State Archives at 600 W. Main St., Jefferson City, MO 65101 holds extensive St. Louis City probate records. Call (573) 751-3280 or visit sos.mo.gov/archives to plan your research visit or request records by mail.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

These cities are near St. Louis and each has its own probate court records page.