Secure the home
Lock doors and windows. Gather spare keys. Arrange for mail, utilities, lawn care, pets, and basic maintenance.
What to do first after a death in Missouri
The first job is not to divide property or pay every bill. It is to protect the home, vehicles, records, and other property while the family determines who has authority and whether Missouri probate is required.
You do not need every answer before you call. You need the facts that are available and a clear next step.
Before making estate decisions
You do not need to begin probate while making funeral arrangements. Once the family is ready, start by securing the home, vehicles, valuables, and important papers. Keep insurance and utilities active. Arrange for mail, pets, and basic property care. Write down every expense and who paid it.
Do not use the deceased person’s cards or accounts. Do not divide belongings or agree to pay debts. Those decisions should wait until the family knows who owns each asset and who has legal authority to act.
The first few days
Funeral arrangements and family needs come first. Estate decisions can wait long enough to obtain reliable information. These practical steps help preserve options.
Lock doors and windows. Gather spare keys. Arrange for mail, utilities, lawn care, pets, and basic maintenance.
Confirm where vehicles, firearms, jewelry, cash, documents, and other valuable property are located.
Do not cancel homeowners, vehicle, or other coverage. A vacant home may require immediate notice to the insurer.
Mail can reveal accounts, insurance, debts, taxes, subscriptions, and property that the family did not know existed.
Banks, insurers, title companies, government agencies, and the probate court may require certified copies.
Keep receipts and note who paid funeral, property, insurance, travel, and other estate expenses.
Avoid preventable problems
Possession is not legal authority. Being named in a will is not legal authority. The family should preserve the property until the ownership and probate plan are reviewed.
Find the controlling documents
The original will matters. Trust documents and beneficiary records may show that some property passes outside probate.
Who can act for the estate?
A will can nominate someone. The appointment does not become effective until the probate court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The family protects property and gathers information. No one should assume full authority over probate assets.
The Personal Representative can act for the estate within the authority granted by the court and Missouri law.
The Personal Representative follows the required order for notices, property, claims, taxes, distributions, and closing.
Does the property require probate?
The existence of a will does not answer this question. The title and beneficiary arrangement for each asset determine how it passes.
Missouri probate deadlines
A family can lose options by waiting. Earlier action may be needed to protect property, maintain insurance, address a mortgage, manage a business, or stop conflict.
When no notice of letters has been published, Missouri law generally requires a will to be presented within one year after death. Administration also must begin within the applicable period if the estate requires it.
Most creditors must file their claims within six months after the first published notice of letters, subject to Missouri’s notice rules and statutory exceptions. After the filing period, the estate reviews the claims and determines which claims are valid, what priority applies, and what the estate has available to pay them.
The Probate Resolution Program™
Jones Elder Law helps the family determine what the estate owns, obtain court authority, protect property, address valid claims, complete required filings, distribute property, and close the estate.
Identify the family, documents, property, debts, and immediate risks.
Prepare the filing and obtain appointment of the Personal Representative.
Identify, value, insure, and manage probate assets.
Complete notices, review claims, and manage estate obligations.
Resolve remaining requirements, distribute property, and close the estate.
Frequently asked questions
No. The will nominates a Personal Representative. The probate court must appoint that person and issue letters before the person has full authority over probate property. Until then, the person named in the will should protect the property and gather information, but should not sell, transfer, or distribute probate assets.
No. A power of attorney ends at death. It cannot be used to access accounts or sign for the deceased person. Authority over probate property comes from the probate court.
Do not promise personal payment or pay every bill that arrives. Some expenses have priority, and some claims may be invalid or filed too late. Identify the debt and follow Missouri’s claim process before estate money is paid.
No. A will tells the probate court who should receive probate property and who is nominated to serve as Personal Representative. It does not change the title to property or remove that property from probate by itself.
Search the home, safe, safe deposit box, and the drafting attorney’s office. A copy may help identify the plan, but it does not automatically take the place of the original. A missing original creates legal questions that should be addressed promptly.
Jones Elder Law does not accept matters limited to a small estate affidavit. The Probate Resolution Program™ is for families who need full probate administration. If the estate qualifies for a small estate procedure, the family will need to contact another Missouri probate attorney.
Get Help With the First Steps
Tell us who died, when the death occurred, and what needs immediate attention. An attorney will review the facts and identify the next step.
2085 Bluestone Drive, Suite 204
St. Charles, Missouri 63303
Serving St. Charles County, St. Louis County, and families throughout Missouri.