Updated September 7, 2026. Quick answer: Jackson County (Kansas City), Missouri’s 2nd-most-populous county, charges $190.50 to open probate with a will and $155.50 without one.
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What Missouri charges to open probate
Missouri sets no single statewide figure for this fee; each county’s probate court sets its own schedule, so the exact amount depends on where the estate is opened.
| Testate, with a will (Jackson County) | $190.50 |
| Intestate, letters of administration (Jackson County) | $155.50 |
| Difference between the two tracks | $35.00 |
Missouri statute delegates the actual dollar amount to each circuit; Jackson County (Kansas City) is shown as the largest-circuit example.
Where this money goes and who sets it
The authority for this figure is RSMo § 483.580 (frames the delegation); §§ 488.010-488.020 (local cost mechanism); 16th Circuit Court (Jackson County) fee page. In the source’s own words: “letters testamentary or administration are applied for… $190.50 (testate); $155.50 (intestate)”
What this fee doesn’t cover
Because Missouri leaves this to each county, the same estate could cost more or less to open depending on which county courthouse handles it. Either way, this is the court’s own charge just to open the file and issue letters, separate from what an attorney charges to actually handle the estate and separate from any state estate or inheritance tax the estate itself might owe.
Sources
Source: RSMo § 483.580 (frames the delegation); §§ 488.010-488.020 (local cost mechanism); 16th Circuit Court (Jackson County) fee page.