Mercer County, Missouri Probate
Cost Calculator

Estate administration in Mercer County, Missouri proceeds through the Mercer County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Princeton. Understanding the local court's requirements — from petition formatting to hearing schedules — helps the process move efficiently.

The Mercer County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Princeton processes a limited probate docket each year — faster turnaround for simple matters, but confirm hearing schedules and filing requirements directly with the clerk. The typical timeline runs 6-12 months.

Missouri's six-tier statutory fee schedule (RSMo § 473.153) ranges from 5% on the first $5,000 to 2% above $1M, applying to both executors and attorneys. Independent vs. supervised administration affects cost and timeline.

Full details: Missouri Probate Calculator.

The Mercer County Circuit Court, Probate Division is located at 802 E Main St, Princeton MO 64673. The court clerk can be reached at (660) 748-3425.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

• Missouri's six-tier statutory schedule (RSMo § 473.153) applies to both executor and attorney fees — 5% on the first $5,000 down to 2% above $1M.
• Local court filing fees at the Mercer County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Princeton are separate from the statutory compensation schedule.
• Contact the court for the current fee schedule.

• Estate administration in Mercer County proceeds through the Mercer County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Princeton.
• 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 Mercer County, the typical probate process runs 6-12 months, though scheduling flexibility in smaller jurisdictions can sometimes expedite straightforward matters.

Missouri allows estates valued below $40,000 to use a small estate affidavit to transfer assets without formal probate. In Mercer County — the 114th 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 Mercer 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.

A substantial portion of estates in Mercer County likely fall below Missouri's $40,000 threshold, making the small estate affidavit one of the most commonly used estate transfer tools in this jurisdiction. Missouri's refusal-to-probate procedure provides an additional simplified option for estates where no interested party wishes to open a formal probate case.

• Getting an accurate cost estimate before you start probate in Mercer County helps you budget for Missouri's statutory percentage schedule plus local filing fees at the Mercer County Circuit Court, Probate Division.
• The clerk's office in Princeton can answer procedural questions about required forms and hearing schedules.

• This free probate calculator applies Missouri's specific rules automatically — enter the estate's approximate value to get an instant breakdown of expected fees.
• No account required.