Missouri: Can I recover funeral expenses and other costs paid before the estate is settled?
Recovering Funeral Expenses and Pre-Administration Costs in Missouri Short answer: In Missouri you can often be reimbursed for reasonable funeral expenses and other costs you paid before an estate is settled. You normally present a written claim to the personal representative (executor or administrator). If the representative refuses or ignores the claim, you can ask […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take to re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners died? — MO
Detailed Answer — Re-recording or Updating a Joint Survivorship Deed in Missouri Short answer: In Missouri a joint survivorship deed (usually titled as joint tenants with right of survivorship) generally passes ownership automatically to the surviving joint tenant(s) when a co-owner dies. To clear public records and show current ownership you typically record the deceased […]
Read article →What can I do if the personal representative sends me a payment without explaining how he calculated my share of the estate? – MO
What to do if a personal representative sends a payment but doesn’t explain how your share was calculated Short answer: In Missouri you can ask the personal representative (PR) for a written, itemized accounting; demand supporting documents (receipts, valuations, debts paid); and, if the PR refuses or the explanation looks wrong, you can ask the […]
Read article →What documentation is required to prove I'm the next of kin and qualify as administrator in a reopened estate? – MO
Detailed Answer Short answer: To prove you are the decedent’s next of kin and to be appointed administrator of a reopened estate in Missouri you will typically need a certified death certificate plus primary documents that prove your relationship to the decedent (birth certificates, marriage certificate, adoption decree, divorce decree, court orders establishing paternity, etc.), […]
Read article →How can I reopen my father's closed estate in Missouri so I can be appointed as administrator?
Detailed Answer — How reopening a closed estate works in Missouri Disclaimer: This is general information and not legal advice. Consult a licensed Missouri probate attorney or the local probate court to apply these ideas to your specific situation. If a probate case for your father was closed in Missouri but you now need the […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take when the original estate administrator has died before completing the probate? (MO)
Detailed Answer: How to proceed when the original estate administrator dies before completing probate in Missouri Short answer: If an estate administrator (personal representative) appointed by a Missouri court dies before finishing the administration, you must notify the probate court, stop any further distributions, and ask the court to appoint a successor administrator (personal representative). […]
Read article →What happens if the survey shows the property was conveyed out of my mother’s estate decades ago and I have no interest? (MO)
FAQ: If a survey shows the property was conveyed out of my mother’s estate decades ago, do I still have any interest under Missouri law? Short answer: If a properly recorded deed shows the property was lawfully conveyed out of your mother’s estate years ago, you most likely do not own that property now. However, […]
Read article →How do I get the probate court’s permission to sell the property when the clerk won’t explain the filing requirements? (Missouri, MO)
Detailed Answer — How to get the probate court’s permission to sell estate property in Missouri When a decedent owned real estate, the personal representative (executor or administrator) normally must get the probate court’s order before selling it. Missouri law controls estate administration and gives probate courts the power to approve sale of estate property. […]
Read article →What steps do I need to follow as executor to sell real property to pay estate debts? (MO)
How an executor (personal representative) sells estate real property in Missouri to pay debts Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This article provides general information about Missouri probate practice and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed Missouri attorney or the probate court for guidance specific to your situation. Detailed answer — step-by-step process under […]
Read article →Can I recover personal items removed by heirs before I took possession and enforce the court’s order? (MO)
Can I recover personal items that heirs removed from the house before I took possession and enforce the court’s order? (Missouri) Detailed answer — what Missouri law lets you do and how to enforce a court order Short answer: Often yes — you can try to recover personal property removed by heirs before you took […]
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