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 Title XXXI TRUSTS AND ESTATES OF DECEDENTS AND PERSONS UNDER DISABILITY

 Chapter 473 Probate Code — Administration of Decedents' Estates 
PROBATE AND GRANT OF LETTERS
473.010   Venue. (8/28/1959)
473.013   Character of proceeding — jurisdiction of court. (1/1/1981)
473.017   Application for letters — content. (8/28/1983)
473.020   If no application filed, others may request administration or probate — petition, form, contents — hearing, notice, orders. (5/23/1996)
473.023   Court or clerk to grant letters. (1/2/1979)
473.030   Request for special notice of hearings. (8/28/1955)
473.033   Notice of letters — duty of clerk — publication — form. (5/23/1996)
473.037   Successor need not publish notice, when. (8/28/1955)
473.040   Notice where there are no known heirs. (8/28/1955)
473.043   Will of decedent, where delivered — wills found in safe deposit boxes, how delivered — refusal to deliver, how handled. (1/2/1979)
473.047   Certificate of probate or rejection. (8/28/1955)
473.050   Wills, presentment for probate, time limited — presented, defined. (8/28/2016)
473.053   Testimony of subscribing witnesses, other evidence. (8/28/1983)
473.057   Commission for testimony of nonattendant witness. (1/2/1979)
473.060   Testimony before officer, effect. (8/28/1961)
473.063   Testimony to be recorded — record as evidence. (8/28/1983)
473.065   Probate of will, when — procedure for contest. (1/1/1981)
473.067   Proof of nuncupative wills. (8/28/1955)
473.070   Heirs, time limits to establish interest in estate — posthumous heirs in gestation, mother has right to file action — time limitations. (5/23/1996)
473.073   Proof required for probate and grant of administration. (8/28/1961)
473.077   Proceedings reopened, when. (8/28/1971)
473.080   Certificate of probate, contents — evidence. (8/28/1955)
473.081   Probate of portion of will. (1/1/1981)
473.083   Will binding, when — contest of will, when, procedure. (7/13/1989)
473.084   Compromise of controversy as to probate, when binding. (1/1/1981)
473.085   Court approval of compromise, procedure for securing. (8/28/1982)
473.087   Will not effective until probated. (8/28/1955)
DISPENSING WITH ADMINISTRATION
473.090   Refusal of letters. (5/23/1996)
473.091   Clerk's duties as to certain forms — not practice of law. (6/10/1981)
473.092   Court may order administration previously commenced pursuant to guardianship law, dispensed with, when. (5/23/1996)
473.095   Apportionment of property between surviving spouse and children. (8/28/1957)
473.097   Small estate — distribution of assets without letters, when — affidavit — procedure — fee. (8/28/2002)
473.100   Effect of acquittances by distributees of small estate. (8/28/1955)
473.107   Small estate appraised, when. (1/2/1979)
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES (EXECUTORS OR ADMINISTRATORS)
473.110   Persons entitled to letters. (8/28/1985)
473.113   Letters granted to others, when. (1/1/1981)
473.117   Persons and corporations disqualified as personal representative — designation required — service of process, how made. (8/28/1987)
473.120   Form of letters testamentary. (1/2/1979)
473.123   Form of letters of administration. (1/2/1979)
473.127   Letters c.t.a. and d.b.n., form. (1/2/1979)
473.130   Letters or copies, evidence. (8/28/1955)
473.133   Administrator during minority or absence. (8/28/1955)
473.137   Administrator pending contest, appointed when — duties. (1/2/1979)
473.139   Resignation by executor or administrator, procedure, effect. (8/28/1957)
473.140   Removal of personal representative. (8/28/1983)
473.143   Revocation of letters on finding will. (8/28/1955)
473.147   Administrator d.b.n., when appointed. (8/28/1955)
473.150   Remaining executor or administrator to continue. (8/28/1955)
473.153   Compensation of personal representatives, accountants and attorneys. (8/28/1989)
473.155   Compensation of accountants and attorneys (first class counties and St. Louis City). (8/28/1989)
BOND OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE (EXECUTOR OR ADMINISTRATOR)
473.157   Bond of personal representative — conditions of bond. (1/1/1981)
473.160   Bond not required, when. (8/28/1985)
473.163   Agreements with surety as to deposit of assets. (8/28/1955)
473.167   Execution of bond. (8/28/1955)
473.170   Obligees of bond — liability of surety. (8/28/1955)
473.173   Bond of joint executors or administrators. (8/28/1955)
473.177   Affidavit of personal sureties. (8/28/1955)
473.180   Persons not acceptable as sureties. (8/28/1955)
473.183   Approval of bond. (8/28/1955)
473.187   Bond valid though rejected. (8/28/1955)
473.190   Sufficiency of bond to be shown on settlements. (8/28/1955)
473.193   Inquiry into condition of sureties — order for new bond. (8/28/1955)
473.197   Court may require, increase or decrease bond, when. (1/1/1981)
473.200   Letters revoked on failure to give bond. (8/28/1955)
473.203   Effect of new bond. (8/28/1955)
473.207   Execution of bond deemed appearance by surety — procedure on breach of obligation of bond. (1/1/1981)
473.210   Successor may sue on bond. (8/28/1955)
473.213   Limitations on suits. (5/23/1996)
473.217   Action on bond generally. (8/28/1955)
PARTNERSHIP ESTATES
473.220   Inventory and appraisement. (1/2/1979)
473.223   Settlement. (1/2/1979)
473.227   Security. (1/2/1979)
473.230   Citation of partner. (1/2/1979)
INVENTORY
473.233   Inventory and appraisement — classification of property. (5/23/1996)
473.237   Affidavit to inventory. (8/28/1959)
473.240   Additional inventory. (8/28/1955)
473.243   Compensation of appraisers. (8/28/1955)
473.247   Debt of executor not discharged. (8/28/1955)
473.250   Debt of administrator, assets. (8/28/1955)
473.253   Inventory as evidence. (8/28/1955)
COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF ASSETS
473.260   Devolution of estate at death. (8/28/1955)
473.263   Possession of assets. (8/28/1955)
473.267   Assets for payment of claims. (8/28/1955)
473.270   Collection of debts, prosecution and defense of suits. (8/28/1955)
473.273   Actions instituted by or against decedent, duties. (8/28/1955)
473.277   Compromise of debts due estate. (8/28/1955)
473.280   Purchase at foreclosure of mortgage held by estate. (8/28/1955)
473.283   Title to real estate, how taken on such purchase — how administered. (8/28/1955)
473.287   Encumbered property to be redeemed, when. (8/28/1957)
473.290   Payment of debt of decedent secured by property of another — procedure. (8/28/1963)
473.293   Disposition of valueless or encumbered property. (1/1/1981)
473.297   Expenditures for preservation of property. (8/28/1955)
473.300   Continuation of business of decedent. (8/28/1955)
473.303   Specific execution of contract of decedent — petition. (1/1/1981)
473.307   Notice — hearing — intervention. (1/2/1979)
473.310   Specific execution of contract of decedent, court order — warranties — conveyance or lease under will. (8/28/1983)
473.313   Action for specific performance — proceedings in probate division of circuit court. (1/2/1979)
473.317   Completion of contracts to purchase property — exercise of options. (8/28/1955)
473.320   Interest may be sold, when. (8/28/1955)
473.323   Interest relinquished to vendor, when. (8/28/1955)
473.327   Procedure in case of sale of school lands. (8/28/1955)
473.330   Conveyances, how made — procedure. (8/28/1955)
473.333   Investment of liquid assets. (8/28/2009)
473.337   Bank deposits. (8/28/1957)
473.340   Discovery of assets, procedure for. (8/28/1993)
CLAIMS
473.360   Limitations on filing of claims — when claims barred. (5/23/1996)
473.363   Suits pending at decedent's death deemed duly filed, when — personal representative to list pending actions — period of nonclaim not affected. (1/1/1981)
473.367   Actions commenced after decedent's death deemed filed, when. (1/1/1981)
473.370   Establishment of claim by judgment — judgment deemed filed, when. (1/1/1981)
473.380   Claims, form and verification — claim to be established by evidence. (8/28/1985)
473.383   Claims not due, proceedings. (8/28/1955)
473.387   Secured claims — surrender of security — payment. (1/1/1981)
473.390   Contingent claims. (8/28/1955)
473.393   Collection of contingent claims from distributees — limitations — contribution. (1/2/1979)
473.397   Classification of claims and statutory allowances. (8/28/2018)
473.398   Recovery of public assistance funds from recipient's estate, when authorized — procedure — exceptions. (8/28/2018)
473.399   Definitions — obligation to repay assistance, claim against estate, when — defenses, setoff — exceptions. (8/28/1990)
473.403   Allowance of claims — court's duties — allowance by personal representative. (1/1/1981)
473.407   Defenses against claims. (8/28/1955)
473.410   Offsets or counterclaims — personal representative to list — how asserted — procedure — judgment. (1/1/1981)
473.413   Hearing and disposition of claims — notice. (1/1/1981)
473.423   Claim of personal representative — how established — procedure — fee. (1/1/1981)
473.427   Compromise of claims against estate. (8/28/1980)
473.430   Payments of claims and statutory allowances in order of classification — proportional payment — priority. (1/1/1981)
473.433   Payment of claims not required prior to six months after first publication — payments after six months — insufficient funds — payment with consent of all parties — no just claim to be barred, when. (5/23/1996)
473.437   Extension or renewal of encumbrances of assets. (1/1/1981)
473.440   Enforcement of judgment, attachment or execution liens which attached prior to decedent's death. (1/1/1981)
473.443   Proceedings where real estate has been sold under junior judgment. (1/1/1981)
473.444   Limitations on filing claims — when claims barred. (7/13/1989)
SALES, MORTGAGES, LEASES, EXCHANGES
473.457   Sale of property under power in will. (8/28/1955)
473.460   Purposes for which property may be sold, mortgaged, leased or exchanged. (1/1/1981)
473.463   No known heirs, property to be sold. (1/1/1981)
473.467   Reservation of property under direction of will — specific devises reserved. (8/28/1955)
473.470   Heirs may give bond and prevent sale. (8/28/1955)
473.473   Terms of sale. (8/28/1957)
473.477   Executor or administrator not to purchase, exception. (8/28/1955)
473.480   Validity of proceedings. (8/28/1955)
473.483   Sales of perishable property. (8/28/1955)
473.487   Sale, mortgage or lease of personal property. (8/28/1957)
473.490   Sale of real estate on court's motion, when. (8/28/1957)
473.493   Petition to sell, mortgage or lease real estate — notice — order. (8/28/1957)
473.497   Creditor or other person may file petition, when. (8/28/1955)
473.500   Order for sale, mortgage or lease of property, content — duration — reappraisal, when. (1/1/1981)
473.507   Notice of public sale of real estate. (8/28/1955)
473.510   Public sale of real estate, where made, adjournment. (8/28/1955)
473.513   Report of sale — objections — approval. (8/28/1955)
473.517   New sale ordered, when. (8/28/1955)
473.520   Conveyance executed, contents — effect. (8/28/1955)
473.523   Execution of conveyance or lease where personal representative resigns, dies or has letter revoked. (1/1/1981)
473.527   Taxes not liens in hands of transferee. (8/28/1955)
473.530   Brokers', abstracting, and auctioneers' fees. (8/28/1987)
473.533   Platting of real estate. (8/28/1955)
473.537   Exchange of property. (8/28/1955)
SETTLEMENTS
473.540   Settlements required, when. (1/1/1981)
473.543   Settlements, contents — vouchers for disbursement — evidence, checks and drafts. (8/28/2009)
473.550   Interest to be accounted for. (8/28/1971)
473.553   Settlement docket, contents. (1/1/1981)
473.557   Notice of time for settlement. (8/28/1955)
473.560   Failure to file settlement, citation. (8/28/1955)
473.563   Settlement after citation, penalty. (8/28/1955)
473.567   Failure to settle after citation, letters revoked. (8/28/1955)
473.570   Settlement, payment of claims — apportionment where assets insufficient. (1/1/1981)
473.573   Creditor may have execution, when. (8/28/1955)
473.577   Scire facias against sureties, when. (8/28/1955)
473.580   Proceedings on scire facias. (8/28/1955)
473.583   Petition for final settlement and distribution. (8/28/1955)
473.587   Notice of final settlement. (6/10/1981)
473.590   Objections to settlement, when filed — form — hearing — approval. (1/1/1981)
473.593   Credit for uncollectible debts shown in inventory. (8/28/1955)
473.597   Conclusiveness of order approving final settlement. (8/28/1955)
473.600   Accounting for assets received and disbursed after final settlement. (8/28/1955)
473.603   Settlement on death, resignation, or removal of personal representative. (8/28/1983)
473.607   Proceedings to compel settlement — judgment, enforcement. (8/28/1983)
DISTRIBUTION AND DISCHARGE
473.610   Distribution, when required. (8/28/1955)
473.613   Partial distribution. (8/28/1985)
473.617   Decree of final distribution. (8/28/1985)
473.618   Notice to judgment creditors of distribution — contents of request. (7/1/1997)
473.620   Order in which assets are appropriated — abatement. (8/28/1955)
473.623   Contribution between devisees. (1/2/1979)
473.627   Advancements to be determined. (8/28/1955)
473.630   Right of retainer. (8/28/1955)
473.633   Interest on general legacies. (8/28/1985)
473.637   Distributees to refund, when — judgment. (8/28/1955)
473.640   Partition of personal property in kind. (8/28/1959)
473.643   Property sold to effect partition, when. (8/28/1983)
473.647   Notice of application for partition. (1/1/1981)
473.650   Distributee may credit share against purchase price, when. (8/28/1955)
473.653   Proceedings to compel distribution. (8/28/1955)
473.657   Distribution. (8/28/2011)
473.660   Discharge of personal representative. (1/1/1981)
473.663   No administration within one year after death and no will probated, interested party may petition — contents of petition — notice. (8/28/2015)
ESTATES OF NONRESIDENTS
473.665   Definitions. (1/1/1981)
473.668   Administration of estate of nonresident decedent as original proceeding. (8/28/1957)
473.671   Jurisdiction of property — situs of intangibles. (8/28/1957)
473.675   Applicability of law to estate of nonresident decedent — exceptions. (1/1/1981)
473.676   Filing of copy of appointment of domiciliary foreign personal representative, when. (1/1/1981)
473.677   Domiciliary foreign personal representative, powers, duties and obligations. (1/1/1981)
473.678   Power of domiciliary foreign personal representative, when executed — termination of powers — substitution of local personal representative, when. (1/1/1981)
473.682   Priority of personal representative appointed by court of decedent's domicile — exceptions. (1/1/1981)
473.685   Foreign personal representative subject to jurisdiction of courts of state, when. (1/1/1981)
473.687   Foreign personal representative also subject to court's jurisdiction to same extent as decedent prior to death. (1/1/1981)
473.689   Service of process on foreign personal representative, how made. (1/1/1981)
473.691   Debtor or custodian may pay or deliver personal property to foreign representative, when. (8/28/1967)
473.692   Adjudication against any personal representative of estate binding on local personal representative. (1/1/1981)
473.694   Effect of law on reciprocal corporate fiduciaries law. (8/28/1971)
ESTATES OF ABSENT PERSONS
473.697   Letters of administration for persons absent for five or more years — application — notice — hearing. (8/28/2002)
473.700   Who may testify. (8/28/1939)
473.703   Publication of finding — time for rebuttal. (8/28/1939)
473.707   Issuance of letters, when. (1/2/1979)
473.710   Revocation of letters, when — effect — procedure. (1/2/1979)
473.713   Distributees to give bond before receiving estate. (1/2/1979)
473.717   Supposed decedent substituted for administrator, when — effect on actions, judgments. (8/28/1939)
473.720   Payment of costs. (8/28/1939)
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS
473.730   Public administrators — qualifications — election — oath — bond — public administrator deemed public office, duties — salaried public administrators deemed county officials — City of St. Louis, appointments of administrators. (8/28/2018)
473.733   Certificate and oath — bond, how sued on. (8/28/2013)
473.737   Administrators to have separate offices — St. Louis administrator in civil courts building — certain public administrators to have secretaries — clerical personnel to be provided, when. (8/28/2013)
473.739   Compensation for attendance at training session, certain public administrators, expenses shall be reimbursed, when (certain counties of the first classification). (8/28/2010)
473.740   Compensation, Boone and Clay counties — removal from office — public administrator's fees paid to county, when — public administrator's salary in lieu of fees, when. (8/28/1996)
473.741   County governing body may authorize additional compensation, when — maximum allowed — additional compensation to terminate, when (certain first class counties). (8/28/1983)
473.742   Salary schedule for public administrators, certain counties — administrator to choose salary or fee collection — certain administrators may join LAGERS. (8/28/2022)
473.742   Salary schedule for public administrators, certain counties — administrator to choose salary or fee collection — certain administrators may join LAGERS. (8/28/2010)
473.743   Duty of public administrator to take charge of estates, when. (8/28/2017)
473.748   Unenforceability of certain contract provisions requiring a public administrator to be personally responsible for debt or account of a ward or protectee. (8/28/2006)
473.750   Powers and duties under administration law. (8/28/1983)
473.753   Notice of administration, when and how given — penalty for failure. (1/2/1979)
473.757   Civil officers to inform public administrator as to property, when. (8/28/1939)
473.760   Shall prosecute necessary suits. (8/28/1983)
473.763   Court may order public administrator to account to successor, when. (1/2/1979)
473.767   Public administrator, duties after expiration of term — duties prior to expiration of term, certain counties. (8/28/2000)
473.770   Deputies, appointment, tenure, compensation, powers (first classification counties) — delegation of duties, certain counties. (8/28/2018)
473.771   Deputies, appointment in all counties but counties of the first classification — tenure — compensation — powers — delegation to deputies. (8/28/2018)
473.773   Public administrator and sureties liable for acts of deputies. (8/28/1957)
473.775   Staff to be deemed county employees — full-time staff may be provided for certain administrators. (8/28/2000)
INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION
473.780   Independent administration, when. (1/1/1981)
473.783   Notice of independent administration, contents. (1/1/1981)
473.787   Duties of personal representative in independent administration — attorney required, when. (8/28/2006)
473.793   Inventory of property by independent personal representative. (1/1/1981)
473.797   Independent personal representative may employ appraisers, attorney, accountant or tax specialist. (1/1/1981)
473.800   Supplementary inventory, when required — copies to interested persons. (8/28/1983)
473.803   Independent personal representative's right to decedent's property — exceptions — duties. (1/1/1981)
473.810   Powers and duties of independent personal representative. (1/1/1981)
473.811   Dealing in good faith for value with independent representative protected — no duty to inquire — liability of independent personal representative. (8/28/1983)
473.820   Liability of personal representative. (1/1/1981)
473.823   Compensation of independent personal representative and attorney. (5/23/1996)
473.827   Review of compensation of independent personal representative and of employment and compensation of others, when — refunds, when. (1/1/1981)
473.830   Court may restrain personal representative, when — petition — hearing — procedure. (1/1/1981)
473.833   Revocation of independent administration, when — petition — hearing — orders of court. (1/1/1981)
473.837   Settlement of estate, when — notice — distribution. (8/28/1982)
473.840   Completion of administration — discharge of independent personal representative, when — procedures — objections, time limitation, procedure. (5/23/1996)
473.843   Time for complete settlement or filing of statement of account — extension. (1/1/1981)
473.844   Distribution in kind — deeds, evidentiary effect — improper distribution, liability of distributee, exceptions. (8/28/1983)
473.845   Interest of purchaser for value from, or lender to, distributee of property protected. (8/28/1983)
 - Cross References
Administrators, profit on publication of notices or advertisements prohibited, 493.130, 493.140
Adversary probate proceeding defined for Chapter 473, 472.140
Attachment proceeding, administrator made party, where, 521.430
Bi-state development agency, bonds of, investment in authorized, 70.377
Declaratory judgment, executor or administrator may obtain as to rights, 527.040
Definition of terms and general provisions, Chap. 472
Disclaimers of property, Chap. 469
Durable power of attorney, 404.700 to 404.737
Foreign administrator, suits by, 507.020
Mortgages, satisfaction by executor or administrator, 443.160 to 443.180
Nonprobate transfers, 461.001 to 461.081
Probate code, definitions, 472.010
Public officer, executor or administrator of to deliver records, 109.020 to 109.040
Records of probate division, 472.280
Savings accounts in insured savings and loan associations, investment in authorized, 369.194
Tax assessment list, executor or administrator to give assessor, 137.350

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