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Helping St. Louis Families Navigate the Probate Process
Losing a loved one is difficult enough without having to navigate complex legal procedures. Attorney Baro provides compassionate, practical help to families in the St. Louis area who need to administer an estate through the Missouri probate process.
Probate is the court-supervised legal process through which a deceased person's estate is administered. When someone dies owning property in their name alone (without a joint tenant or beneficiary designation), that property typically must pass through probate before it can be transferred to heirs or beneficiaries.
Missouri probate is handled through the Probate Division of the Circuit Court in the county where the deceased person lived. The primary goals of probate are to:
Not every asset goes through probate. Missouri probate is typically required for assets that were owned solely in the deceased person's name and that do not have a beneficiary designation or right of survivorship. Common examples include:
If the total probate estate is $40,000 or less, Missouri allows heirs to collect assets using a simple "small estate affidavit" without opening a full probate case. This significantly simplifies and speeds up the process for smaller estates. Attorney Baro can determine whether your family qualifies for this simplified procedure.
Probate doesn't have to be overwhelming. Attorney Baro will guide you through every step and handle the legal requirements so you can focus on your family.