Missouri Probate and Estate Tax Laws

Code Sections

Missouri Revised Statutes Chapters 472, 473, and 474

Types of Estate Administration

• Small Estates – doesn’t require probate
  • Small Estates Affidavit - For estates of $40,000 or less and 30 days or more since the death, an attorney’s assistance isn’t required.
  • Spouse's Refusal – Surviving spouses and the decedent’s unmarried minor children can get a support allowance based on their standard of living for one year after the decedent’s death. The spouse’s refusal is when the surviving spouse or the decedent's children ask that their allowances be paid from the estate, when the estate is worth less than the allowance(s).
  • Creditors' Refusal - When the estate value is less than $15,000, creditors can also file a "refusal of letters" and can try to reach these assets to pay their bills, when there's no surviving spouse or unmarried minor children.
• Independent Administration – requires probate
  • A more informal estate administration, possible if designated by will or the beneficiaries agree to it
• Supervised Administration – requires probate
  • A more formal estate administration where the court must approve many actions by the personal representative. This does increase the amount of time to settle an estate, but can be necessary if disagreements exist among the heirs.

What Assets Go Through Probate?

Probate is necessary when a person dies with property in his or her name or with rights to receive property. Examples of having property at death include:

• Bank accounts in the decedent’s name with no co-owner and no beneficiary designation
• A home or land that is owned by the decedent individually
• A home or land that is co-owned as tenants in common (not with right of survivorship)
• Stocks and bonds in the decedents name
• Tangible possessions such as clothing, jewelry, household furniture, and cars registered in the decedent's name only

What Assets Skip Probate Entirely?

Some assets skip probate and go directly to the beneficiary or co-owner. For example:

• Property in a revocable trust
• A home or land owned as joint tenants with a right of survivorship or tenancy by the entirety, here the joint tenants own the real estate on the death of the decedent
• Life insurance policies and retirement accounts with a designated beneficiary
• Bank accounts with a Payable on Death (POD) or Transfer on Death (TOD) clause
• Cars, RVs, boats, and motor homes with multiple names on the title in Missouri are presumed to be jointly owned with rights of survivorship and pass to the other(s) upon the death of one of the owners. You can also create a TOD clause (for someone who doesn't currently co-own the vehicle) with the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Estate Taxes

Since 2005, Missouri doesn't have a separate state death tax or estate tax.

 

 

 

What Other Taxes Must be Paid?

The estate must file and pay all necessary state and federal taxes including:

• The final income tax return of the deceased
• Any real estate or personal property taxes owed by the deceased
• Possibly an income tax return for the estate for income coming to the estate after death, if there's sufficient income
• Possible death transfer taxes for probate assets transferred at death, such as life insurance, over a minimum amount that Congress sets