Missouri Guardianship Filing by County

Every Missouri County Runs Its Probate Division Differently

Missouri's guardianship process is governed by the same state statutes everywhere — RSMo Chapter 475 applies whether you're filing in downtown St. Louis or rural Barry County. But the probate division of each circuit court operates with significant administrative autonomy, creating real variations in cost deposits, accepted forms, filing procedures, and local practice expectations.

This means the first concrete step in any guardianship petition is calling the probate clerk in your county to confirm current fees and obtain the correct local forms. The numbers below are drawn from published fee schedules and current practice, but courts adjust administrative schedules annually — always verify before writing checks.

St. Louis County (21st Judicial Circuit)

St. Louis County handles the highest volume of probate cases in the state and enforces correspondingly formalized procedures.

• Advance cost deposit: Approximately $700, covering filing fees, anticipated court costs, and a portion of the court-appointed attorney (GAL) deposit
• Base filing fee: $115.50 (statutory)
• Sheriff service of process: $36.00 per person served; a special process server costs $10.00
• Annual administrative fee: $30.00 for supervised conservatorships, due with the annual settlement filing
• Pro se filing: Strongly discouraged. Forms are available online through the 21st Circuit Probate Division, but the division closely monitors procedural compliance

St. Louis County requires strict certified-mail notice to all close relatives listed in the petition. Sheriff service is mandatory for the respondent. The advance deposit is significantly higher than most other counties because it bundles estimated costs upfront rather than billing incrementally.

St. Louis City (22nd Judicial Circuit)

Despite sharing a metro area, St. Louis City operates as a completely separate circuit with different cost structures.

• Initial cost deposit: Approximately $200, including the court-appointed attorney's initial deposit
• Sheriff service: Paid directly to the St. Louis City Sheriff's office under their local rate scale
• Standardized forms: The 22nd Circuit manages specialized forms through its online portal, including the mandatory Physician's Affidavit (Form 35) and Guardian's Annual Status Report (Form 15)

The lower initial deposit makes City filing more accessible for families with limited upfront funds, though total costs by case completion may be comparable once GAL fees and service costs are added.

Jackson County (16th Judicial Circuit)

Jackson County covers the Kansas City metropolitan area and processes a high volume of guardianship petitions.

• Base filing fee: $115.50 for adult petitions
• Certified copies: $4.00 each, plus $0.30 per page for standard printing
• eFiling: Attorneys must use the standardized electronic filing system; self-represented litigants may have different procedures
• Local forms: The 16th Circuit requires specific local forms for the "Statement of Affairs" and other filings — generic statewide forms may be rejected

Jackson County adjusts its administrative schedules every January. Verify the current advance cost deposit directly with the probate clerk before filing to prevent processing delays. The court maintains a dedicated filing fee page on the 16th Circuit website.

Greene County (31st Judicial Circuit)

Greene County, centered in Springfield, serves Missouri's third-largest metro area.

• Total advance filing deposit: $610 for an adult guardianship or conservatorship petition, including the initial court-appointed counsel deposit
• Annual settlement fee: $30.00 recurring charge to keep the case open
• Adult probate forms: Available through the Greene County Circuit Clerk's probate forms page

The $610 deposit is higher than many urban circuits, partly because Greene County bundles the GAL deposit more generously into the upfront payment.

Jefferson County (23rd Judicial Circuit)

Jefferson County, south of St. Louis, takes a notably accessible approach to self-represented filings.

• Initial filing deposit: Under $150
• Pro se filing: Explicitly permitted. The court provides printed physical packets at the Clerk's Office
• Paper filing: Self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory eFiling requirements
• GAL deposit: Assessed at filing, with final costs determined by the probate judge

Jefferson County's physical-packet approach and explicit accommodation of self-represented filers makes it one of the more navigable circuits for families filing without an attorney.

Clay County (7th Judicial Circuit)

• Base filing fee: $130.50 for adult petitions
• Sheriff service: Paid directly to the Sheriff of Clay County, $50.00
• Successor guardian petition: $85.50 separate filing fee if a replacement guardian is needed later

Barry County (24th Judicial Circuit)

Barry County represents the rural circuit model that many smaller Missouri counties follow.

• Total initial cost: $358.50 flat fee for an adult guardianship or conservatorship petition, which includes the court-appointed GAL deposit
• Excluded from flat fee: Sheriff service and publication fees are paid separately
• Annual filing fee: $30.00 with yearly filings
• Publication of notice: Frequently required in rural circuits unless the court specifically waives it

The integrated flat-fee model simplifies budgeting — you know your upfront court costs before filing, with only service and publication as variables.

What's Consistent Across All Counties

Regardless of where you file, these elements are statewide under RSMo Chapter 475:

• The court must appoint an attorney to represent the respondent
• The petition must demonstrate that no less restrictive alternative can meet the respondent's needs
• Close relatives (spouse, parents, adult siblings) must receive written notice within three days of filing
• Background screenings are required for fiduciaries who aren't the respondent's spouse, parent, adult child, or sibling
• Conservators must execute and file a court-approved surety bond before entering the duties of office; the court fixes the amount

The Missouri Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a complete county-by-county reference with current cost deposits, local form sources, and step-by-step filing instructions for both attorney-represented and pro se petitions.

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