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Probate Guides & Estate Settlement Articles

Search state guides, practical articles, probate explainers, and estate planning resources by topic or state.

763 In-Depth Guides
86 Blog Posts
Showing 1-10 of 849 articles
Federal Estate Tax and Missouri
GuideMissouriSupport Guide13 min read

Federal Estate Tax and Missouri

Missouri has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, so only the federal estate tax can reach a Missouri estate, and only above the 2026 exclusion.

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How Pet Trusts Work in Missouri
GuideMissouriSupport Guide12 min read

How Pet Trusts Work in Missouri

How a Missouri pet trust works under RSMo 456.4-408: set aside money for an animal's care, name a caregiver and trustee, and fund it for real costs.

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How to Avoid Probate in Missouri
GuideMissouriPillar Guide10 min read

How to Avoid Probate in Missouri

How to avoid probate in Missouri: POD and TOD accounts, beneficiary designations, a beneficiary deed, the small estate affidavit, and a living trust.

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Missouri Beneficiary Deed (Transfer on Death)
GuideMissouriSupport Guide10 min read

Missouri Beneficiary Deed (Transfer on Death)

A Missouri beneficiary deed passes real estate to a named beneficiary outside probate under RSMo 461.025. It is revocable and must be recorded before death.

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Missouri Creditor Claims
GuideMissouriSupport Guide10 min read

Missouri Creditor Claims

How Missouri creditor claims work: the notice of letters, the six-month bar under RSMo 473.360, and the one-year absolute claim bar under RSMo 473.444.

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Missouri Debt Payment Priority
GuideMissouriSupport Guide11 min read

Missouri Debt Payment Priority

Missouri debt payment priority follows RSMo 473.397, which ranks estate claims in ten classes. See the order, insolvent-estate rules, and executor liability.

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Missouri Estate Planning Basics
GuideMissouriSupport Guide13 min read

Missouri Estate Planning Basics

Missouri estate planning basics: the will, durable power of attorney, health care directive, and living trust every adult needs, plus probate and taxes.

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Missouri Executor Bond Requirements
GuideMissouriSupport Guide10 min read

Missouri Executor Bond Requirements

Missouri executor bond requirements: every personal representative files a bond, procured at the estate's expense, unless the will or the court waives it.

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