Search Putnam County Probate Court Records

Putnam County probate court records are held by the Circuit Court's Probate Division in Unionville, Missouri. This page covers how to find estate filings, guardianship cases, conservatorship proceedings, and related probate documents through Missouri's free online court portal or by visiting the Putnam County courthouse in person.

Putnam County Circuit Court Probate Division

The Putnam County Circuit Court serves the 3rd Judicial Circuit and handles all probate filings for the county. The clerk's office in Unionville accepts estate petitions, guardianship filings, and conservatorship cases. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and provide copies of filed documents. The probate division also handles will contests and related matters under Missouri's probate statutes.

Probate records in Putnam County go back to 1845, when the county was formed from Adair and Sullivan Counties. Older records are available through the Missouri State Archives microfilm program. Current filings are accessible through the Unionville clerk's office and through Case.net, Missouri's statewide court records portal. Putnam is one of Missouri's smaller and more rural counties, but the probate court here operates the same as every other circuit court in the state. Staffing may be limited, so calling ahead before a visit is a good idea.

For general statewide court information, visit courts.mo.gov. For questions about Putnam County probate filings specifically, call the clerk's office in Unionville during business hours.

How to Search Putnam County Probate Court Records

Missouri provides two ways to access Putnam County probate records: online through Case.net or in person at the Unionville courthouse. The online route works well for basic case lookups. A courthouse visit is needed when you want copies of actual filed documents.

Case.net at courts.mo.gov/casenet is Missouri's free statewide court records portal. It covers all Missouri circuit courts, including Putnam County. Full document access for probate cases starts from July 12, 2004. Search in "LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL" format. The search is literal and name order matters. Reversing first and last name returns no results. Filter by Putnam County to narrow results. Case.net shows case parties, docket entries, judgments, and hearing dates. Full text of filed documents is not available through the portal, only the filing records themselves.

Since July 1, 2023, members of the public can view and download public court records from personal devices. Documents filed before that date are available only at courthouse terminals in Unionville. For older Putnam County probate records, a courthouse visit is the only option. Note that the Unionville courthouse closes at 4:00 PM, one half hour earlier than many Missouri counties. Plan your visit accordingly.

For general guidance on using Case.net, visit courts.mo.gov. OSCA technical support is at (888) 541-4894, weekdays 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

Types of Probate Cases in Putnam County

The Putnam County Circuit Court's probate division handles several types of cases, each with its own set of documents and filings maintained by the clerk's office.

Estate administration is the most common probate matter. When a person dies with assets in their name, those assets may need to go through probate to legally transfer to heirs. Any will must be filed with the Putnam County court. The court appoints a personal representative to manage and close the estate. Missouri law under Chapter 473 RSMo governs the full process, including required creditor notices and the timeline for settling the estate.

Guardianship cases give one person legal authority to make decisions for another who cannot do so. Conservatorship does the same for financial matters. Both can apply to minors or to incapacitated adults. Under Chapter 475 RSMo, the court must appoint an attorney for any adult who is the subject of a guardianship proceeding. Ongoing cases require annual reports filed with the court.

Will contests may also be brought in Putnam County. These cases arise when a party disputes a will's validity or how an estate is being administered. Fraud-based probate claims under Section 472.013 RSMo must be started within two years of discovering the fraud.

Missouri Courts Portal for Putnam County Probate Records

The official Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov is the main gateway for accessing Putnam County probate court records online.

Through this site you can reach Case.net and find contact information for the Putnam County Circuit Court in Unionville. The portal also explains how to request records by mail and how the remote access rules changed in July 2023. For Putnam County cases, you can also contact the clerk directly at (660) 947-2071 to ask about a specific case before making the trip to Unionville.

Missouri statutes governing Putnam County probate cases are available at revisor.mo.gov. The probate chapters, including estate administration, guardianship, and public access rules, are searchable there at no cost and without registration.

Both resources are free to access at any time.

Fees for Putnam County Probate Court Records

Putnam County uses Missouri's standard fee schedule for probate filings and document copies. A full estate administration petition costs approximately $155.50 to file. Smaller estates that qualify for the simplified process pay roughly $65.50 to $75.00 depending on the filing type.

Document copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more. Call the Unionville courthouse at (660) 947-2071 before your visit to get the current certified copy rate. It is worth confirming fees in advance since they can change.

Missouri sets personal representative compensation by statute. Under Section 473.153 RSMo, the allowed rate is 5% of the first $5,000, 4% of the next $20,000, 3% of the next $75,000, 2.75% of the next $300,000, 2.5% of the next $600,000, and 2% over $1 million. These rates apply to the total asset value managed by the personal representative.

Small estates at or below $40,000 may qualify for the simplified procedure under Section 473.097 RSMo, which can be filed 30 days after death. Estates between $15,000 and $40,000 still require creditor notice publication; those under $15,000 do not.

Missouri Probate Laws Affecting Putnam County Cases

Four chapters of Missouri's Revised Statutes apply to all probate cases in Putnam County. These laws set the rules for filing, record keeping, and public access.

Chapter 472 RSMo sets general probate provisions, including definitions, court jurisdiction, and record-keeping standards. Section 472.280 allows records to be maintained electronically. Section 472.013 covers fraud remedies.

Chapter 473 RSMo governs estate administration step by step. Personal representatives file annual account statements on the anniversary of their appointment. Final settlement must occur within six months and ten days after first creditor notice publication. The six-month creditor period ensures all claims can be filed before distribution of assets.

Chapter 474 RSMo covers intestate succession, meaning what happens when a Putnam County resident dies without a will. Spouses and children inherit first, before more distant relatives.

Chapter 475 RSMo governs guardianship and conservatorship cases. Missouri Court Operating Rule 2.02 holds that probate records are presumed open to the public unless a specific exception applies.

Public Access to Putnam County Probate Records

Missouri Court Operating Rule 2.02 states that court records are presumed open to any member of the public. Putnam County probate records are public. No case involvement is required to access them, and you do not need to explain why you want the records.

Limits apply. Sealed cases, expunged records, juvenile records, and mental health records are not available to the public. For open records, filers must redact Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth, names of minors, and other protected details before filing. The filer is responsible for redaction, not the court. Courts do not review documents for compliance before placing them in the file.

Since July 1, 2023, public court documents can be viewed and downloaded from personal devices through Case.net. Records filed before that date are accessible only at courthouse terminals in Unionville. For documents that are not yet available remotely, a courthouse visit during business hours is required. Remember that the Putnam County courthouse closes at 4:00 PM.

Historical Putnam County Probate Records and State Archives

Putnam County was formed February 28, 1845, from Adair and Sullivan Counties. Probate records date back to that year. The Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City holds historical Putnam County court records on microfilm. The Archives is at 600 W. Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, phone (573) 751-3280. Their court records collection is at sos.mo.gov/archives.

The Archives holds over 65,000 reels of microfilm covering county records from across Missouri going back nearly two centuries. For genealogical research, Putnam County's estate filings and will records can be traced through the Archives from the 1840s forward. The research room in Jefferson City is open to the public. Some digitized collections are also available through Missouri Digital Heritage online.

Legal Help for Probate in Putnam County

Probate cases can be hard to handle without legal help, especially for larger estates or contested matters. Several resources are available if you need assistance with a Putnam County probate case.

The Missouri Bar has a lawyer search tool at mobar.org. Search by practice area and county to find an attorney with experience in the 3rd Judicial Circuit and Putnam County probate court. The directory is free to use and does not require registration.

The Missouri Association of Counties at mocounties.com provides general information about county court operations across Missouri. Their resources explain the structure of county probate courts and what to expect from the process.

For self-help materials, the Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov has guidance on court procedures and filing requirements. OSCA technical support at (888) 541-4894 can help with Case.net access issues on weekdays from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

Cities in Putnam County

Unionville is the county seat and the location of all Putnam County probate filings. Milan and Powersville are small communities also within the county. No cities in Putnam County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. All probate cases for the county are handled at the Unionville courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Putnam County in north Missouri. Each has its own circuit court and probate division.