Losing someone you love is one of the heaviest experiences life can bring, and carrying the weight of grief while trying to manage their final affairs can feel completely overwhelming. It’s incredibly exhausting to face a mountain of legal paperwork and court requirements when all you actually want is the quiet space to process your grief and remember the person you lost.

When someone dies without a will in Missouri, the probate court appoints a personal representative, valid debts and estate expenses are paid, and the remaining probate property passes to relatives under Missouri intestacy law.

A Missouri estate executor must protect estate property, identify and value assets, address debts and taxes, maintain accurate records, report to the probate court, and distribute the remaining property in accordance with the will.