Legal Insights for Real Estate & Estate Planning

Taking the time to review, renew and refresh your estate plan yearly – or after major life events – with a St. Louis estate planning attorney is the only reliable way to ensure that your needs and wishes will be met in the event of your death or incapacitation. Use this checklist to make sure your...

Key Takeaways A will becomes public once filed with a Missouri probate court. A will stays private during life and until filed with the probate court. After filing, anyone can view the will or request a court copy. Missouri law requires the will holder to file it with the circuit court. Trusts bypass probate...

Key Takeaways Probate is a Missouri court-supervised process to settle an estate, pay debts, and distribute assets. The court confirms executor authority to manage assets. Probate validates a will, pays debts and taxes, and distributes remaining assets to beneficiaries. Without a will, the court appoints an administrator and distributes assets under the Missouri state...