Cooper County Probate Court Records
Cooper County probate court records are filed with the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Boonville, Missouri. The Circuit Court handles all estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and will matters for Cooper County residents. Records go back to 1828 for most categories, with marriage and court records from 1819 and land records from 1812, making this one of Missouri's older county court archives. Cooper County adopted electronic filing on October 28, 2013, covering civil, criminal, probate, and juvenile cases.
Cooper County Quick Facts
Cooper County Circuit Court - Probate Division
Circuit Clerk Nancy Fisher manages all court records at the Cooper County Circuit Court. She can be reached by email at nancy.fisher@courts.mo.gov or by phone at 660-882-2232. The courthouse is at 200 Main Street, Room 31, in Boonville, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 123, Boonville, MO 65233-0123. Fax is 660-882-2043. Hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, a slightly later start than many Missouri county courthouses.
Two judges serve the 18th Judicial Circuit in Cooper County. Robert L. Koffman is the Circuit Judge for Division I, and Keith M. Bail serves as Associate Circuit Judge. Law Days, when routine matters are heard, are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. If you plan to appear in court on a probate matter, these are the typical scheduled days. Call ahead to confirm specific hearing dates for the case you are involved in.
The Recorder of Deeds for Cooper County is Georgia Esser, located at 200 Main Street Room 26 in Boonville. The recorder's number is 660-882-2161, fax is 660-882-2155, and email is recorder@coopercountymo.gov. Property deed transfers that arise during estate administration are handled through the Recorder's office, which is in the same building as the Circuit Clerk.
Cooper County was created on December 17, 1818, from Howard County and named for Sarshell Cooper, an early settler. No courthouse fires or major record losses are documented in the county's history, so the depth of records going back to the early 1800s is genuinely intact.
| Office | Cooper County Circuit Court - 18th Judicial Circuit |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 Main Street, Room 31 Boonville, MO 65233 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 123, Boonville, MO 65233-0123 |
| Phone | 660-882-2232 |
| Fax | 660-882-2043 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Circuit Clerk | Nancy Fisher - nancy.fisher@courts.mo.gov |
| Recorder of Deeds | Georgia Esser - 660-882-2161 - recorder@coopercountymo.gov |
| E-Filing Since | October 28, 2013 |
Source: Cooper County Missouri Official Website
The Cooper County government site provides contact information, court schedules, and links to resources for probate court records in Boonville.
How to Search Cooper County Probate Court Records
Case.net is the primary online tool for searching Cooper County probate court records. Missouri's statewide system covers the 18th Judicial Circuit and holds more than 45 million records. Search by name using the "LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL" format or by case number. Access is free at courts.mo.gov. For cases filed after July 1, 2023, documents are viewable remotely through Case.net, not just case summaries.
In-person access to Cooper County probate court records requires a visit to the courthouse at 200 Main Street in Boonville. Hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays. Call 660-882-2232 before visiting if you are looking for very old records, particularly those from the 1800s. Cooper County has land records from 1812 and court records from 1819. These materials are among the older intact county records in Missouri and may require specific handling procedures to access. Bring a valid photo ID. Plain copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more.
Note: Cooper County adopted electronic filing in October 2013 for civil, criminal, probate, and juvenile cases. This means records from late 2013 onward have more complete digital availability than filings from earlier years.
Cooper County Probate Court Case Types
Cooper County probate court records include the full range of Missouri probate proceedings. Decedent estate cases are opened when a person dies with assets that require court supervision. The executor or administrator files a petition with the 18th Judicial Circuit. The court opens the case, assigns a case number, and the administration process begins. Under Chapter 473 RSMo, creditors have six months from first publication to file claims. Annual accountings are due each year on the anniversary of the estate opening. Final settlement requires six months and ten days from first publication at minimum. The full estate filing fee is approximately $155.50.
Small estates valued at $40,000 or less can use the simplified affidavit process under Section 473.097 RSMo. This can be filed 30 days after death for $65.50 to $75.00. If the total estate value exceeds $15,000, a publication notice is required. Small estate files are part of Cooper County's public probate court records and searchable online and in person.
Guardianship and conservatorship cases are governed by Chapter 475 RSMo. The court appoints a guardian for personal care and a conservator for financial management when someone is unable to handle these matters. An attorney is appointed for respondents in guardianship proceedings. Annual conservatorship reports are required. Personal representative fees follow 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 $1,000,000. Attorney fees follow the same schedule under Missouri law.
Public Access to Cooper County Probate Records
Cooper County probate court records are presumed open under Missouri Court Operating Rule 2.02. You can request to view any probate case file at the Boonville courthouse without explaining your purpose or being connected to the estate. Case.net provides free access to case-level data online. For complete documents on more recent filings, remote access is available through Case.net as well.
Standard redactions apply to sensitive data in all Missouri probate records. Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth, and minor children's names are removed from public copies. The main content of estate files, including party names, property inventories, account values, court orders, and case outcomes, remains fully accessible. If you need a certified copy, request it from the clerk's office and pay the applicable fee.
The Missouri State Archives at (573) 751-3280 holds older Cooper County court materials. Visit sos.mo.gov/archives for information on what is available. Given Cooper County's records going back to 1812 in some categories, the Archives may have materials covering the earliest decades. Missouri Digital Heritage at sos.mo.gov/mdh has digitized portions of some county records that may include early Cooper County filings.
Legal Resources for Cooper County Probate
The Missouri Bar Association at mobar.org is the best place to find a probate attorney for Cooper County matters. The directory is searchable by location and practice area. Attorneys handling estates in the 18th Judicial Circuit are familiar with the Boonville courthouse and its filing procedures. Law Days on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month are when routine matters are heard, so attorneys will typically schedule appearances around those dates.
Missouri statutes relevant to probate are free at revisor.mo.gov. Chapters 472, 473, and 475 cover estates, small estates, and guardianships. Chapter 472.013 RSMo covers fraud in probate proceedings, providing a two-year discovery window and a ten-year maximum for such claims. Chapter 472.280 covers record format requirements. Court forms are at courts.mo.gov. The OSCA Help Desk at (888) 541-4894 handles Case.net questions. For county government contacts, the Missouri Association of Counties at mocounties.com has a full directory.
Cities in Cooper County
Cooper County's principal city is Boonville, the county seat and home of the 18th Judicial Circuit courthouse. Other communities in Cooper County include Bunceton, Otterville, Pilot Grove, and Prairie Home. All probate court records for residents of any city or unincorporated area in Cooper County are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Court in Boonville. No city in Cooper County meets the population threshold for a dedicated city records page on this site. Regardless of where in Cooper County a person resided at the time of death, the Boonville courthouse is the correct location for all probate filings and record access.
Nearby Counties
These Missouri counties border Cooper County. Each has its own probate court. Jurisdiction follows the county where the deceased person or ward resided. Cole County is directly to the east and shares certain circuit court jurisdictional considerations.