Franklin County, Missouri Probate
Cost Calculator

The Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Union serves as the primary venue for probate matters in Franklin County, Missouri. As in the top quarter of Missouri jurisdictions by population with 104,200 residents, the court's caseload and procedures reflect the jurisdiction's specific character, and understanding the local court's requirements is essential for anyone handling an estate in Franklin County.

As in the upper quarter of jurisdictions by population with approximately 104,200 residents, Franklin County strikes a balance between the structured procedures of the state's metropolitan courts and the accessibility of its smaller jurisdictions. The Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Union processes a steady volume of probate matters, offering relatively predictable scheduling and established local norms.

Estate compositions in Franklin County typically include residential real property, retirement accounts, bank deposits, and personal property, with occasional business interests or investment portfolios adding complexity.

Missouri's probate system in Franklin County — ranked 12th of the state's 115 jurisdictions by population — operates through the Circuit Court's Probate Division in Union. The state distinguishes between supervised and independent administration: supervised requires court approval for significant transactions, while independent administration (when authorized by the will) allows the personal representative to act with minimal oversight.

Franklin County's mid-range caseload means the Probate Division handles matters with reasonable efficiency while maintaining accessible scheduling.

Franklin County stretches along the Missouri River southwest of St. Louis, where the German-settled town of Washington is famed for its annual Oktoberfest.

Route 66 State Park marks the historic highway's path through the Meramec River Valley. These local economic and cultural factors directly influence probate in Franklin County — from the types and values of assets in local estates to the complexity of property division and the availability of specialized probate attorneys in the Union area.

Franklin County is home to notable landmarks and institutions including Washington State Park (nearby), Meramec State Park, Route 66 State Park, Missouri River. For estates that include interests in local businesses, commercial real estate near these anchors, or specialized assets tied to the area's economy, probate costs can increase due to the need for professional appraisals and valuations.

The Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Union handles these complex matters alongside routine estate administration.

As a significant urban center, Franklin County's real estate values and cost of living tend to push estate values — and therefore probate fees — higher than in the state's rural jurisdictions. The trade-off is a deeper pool of experienced probate attorneys and more established court procedures.

• Missouri's six-tier statutory fee schedule (RSMo § 473.153) applies to both personal representative and attorney compensation in Franklin County.
• The tiers range from 5% on the first $5,000 down to 2% on amounts exceeding $1 million, with fees calculated cumulatively across brackets.
• This schedule applies uniformly across the state, but local court filing fees charged by the Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Union vary by jurisdiction.

• Court costs in Franklin County include the initial petition filing fee, bond premiums (where required), publication costs for creditor notices, and fees for certified copies.
• Missouri courts may also authorize additional compensation for extraordinary services beyond the statutory schedule, such as managing business operations, handling contested claims, or conducting complex tax planning.
• Contact the Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division for the current filing fee schedule.

• Estate administration in Franklin County proceeds through the Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Union.
• Missouri's Probate Division handles the appointment of personal representatives, approval of inventories, and oversight of the administration process.
• The process begins with filing a petition for probate (testate) or letters of administration (intestate), followed by a hearing and the appointment of the personal representative.

• Missouri distinguishes between supervised and independent administration.
• Under supervised administration — the default unless the will provides otherwise — the personal representative must seek court approval for most significant transactions, including real property sales and distributions.
• Independent administration, when authorized, reduces court involvement and accelerates the timeline.
• In Franklin County, the typical probate process runs 6-12 months, with the court's structured docket keeping cases on track.

Missouri allows estates valued below $40,000 to use a small estate affidavit to transfer assets without formal probate. In Franklin County — the 12th most populated of Missouri's 115 jurisdictions — the affidavit is presented directly to the institutions holding the decedent's assets rather than filed with the Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division.

The affidavit can be executed no earlier than 30 days after the decedent's death and is available for both testate and intestate estates.

In a jurisdiction like Franklin County, ranked in the middle tier of Missouri's counties by population, the small estate affidavit handles a meaningful share of estate transfers. It's also worth considering Missouri's refusal-to-probate procedure, which provides an additional simplified option for estates where no interested party wishes to open a formal case.

• If you're beginning the probate process in Franklin County — Missouri's 12th most populated jurisdiction out of 115 — the Franklin County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Union is where you'll file.
• The court processes a moderate volume of probate matters, and understanding local filing norms and scheduling preferences helps cases move more predictably.
• The clerk's office in Union can often answer basic procedural questions about required forms and filing deadlines.

• This free probate calculator covers Missouri's statutory percentage schedule and generates instant estimates based on estate value — no account required.
• Whether you're an executor, a beneficiary, or a family member trying to understand what comes next, you can get a clear picture of expected costs for Franklin County in just a few minutes.

Beyond probate costs, Franklin County residents may need other legal tools. Our Divorce Cost Estimator for Missouri covers filing fees, attorney costs, and mediation options across the state.

For statewide legal deadlines, see the Missouri Statute of Limitations lookup.

Additional free tools: Missouri Estate Tax Calculator for federal and state estate tax exposure, Missouri Small Estate Checker to see if the estate qualifies for simplified procedures, and Missouri Homestead Exemption Calculator to understand property protections that may affect the probate estate.

• Probate rules and costs vary across Missouri's 115 counties.
• Compare Franklin County with other jurisdictions: [St.
• Louis County](/probate-calculator/missouri/st-louis-county), Jackson County, [St.
• Charles County](/probate-calculator/missouri/st-charles-county), [City of St.
• Louis](/probate-calculator/missouri/city-of-st-louis).

Each county page covers local court procedures, filing fees, small estate thresholds, and an interactive probate cost calculator pre-set for that county's specific rules.

• Probate rules and costs vary across Missouri's 115 counties.
• Compare Franklin County with other jurisdictions: [St.
• Louis County](/probate-calculator/missouri/st-louis-county), Jackson County, [St.
• Charles County](/probate-calculator/missouri/st-charles-county), [City of St.
• Louis](/probate-calculator/missouri/city-of-st-louis).

Each county page covers local court procedures, filing fees, small estate thresholds, and an interactive probate cost calculator pre-set for that county's specific rules.