PROBATE ATTORNEYS
Efficient, friendly Missouri probate administration lawyers
We help families and assets through probate.
Has someone close to you passed away leaving property in his or her name? During your comprehensive consultation with a lawyer, we can identify your next steps and start collecting information right away.
Probate Case Manager
Schnurbusch Law
The Probate Process Can Be Confusing and Time-Consuming...
Hi, I'm Dan Schnurbusch,
owner of Schnurbusch Law
- Handling court filings, asset inventories, and creditor claims can quickly become overwhelming.
- Many families struggle to understand their responsibilities during probate.
- Without proper guidance, mistakes can delay the process or create unnecessary costs.
How We Help You Navigate Probate
Comprehensive Guidance
We help you understand your responsibilities as executor.
Flat-fee pricing
No surprise bills. No hidden fees.
Experienced Counsel
A team with a track record of success.
Helpful Resources
Connecting you with trusted professionals for things like estate clean-outs, auctions, and real estate sales.
How to get started
Step 1:
Book your Consultation
We will meet over the phone or Zoom for an informative meeting to get to know each other and understand the main problems you need to solve.
Step 2:
Onboarding
After your consultation, you’ll be sent an electronic engagement agreement and electronic deposit invoice so you can e-sign and pay with just a few taps.
Step 3:
Information Gathering
Next we’ll work with you over the phone and through our electronic intake questionnaire to collect all of the information we need to process your case efficiently.
Step 4:
Administration
We’ll prepare all paperwork for your signature and provide you with the information and guidance you need to tie up your loved one’s estate.
What our clients are saying...
Dan was a huge help to me over a probate issue. He has been the most helpful person out of 7 lawyers I talked to. He was so nice and polite, and did not try to push me at all.
I had the pleasure of seeking legal consultation from Schnurbusch Law Firm, and my experience was nothing short of exceptional. Under the leadership of Dan Schnurbusch, this firm embodies professionalism, personal care, and effectiveness in probate legal matters. What truly sets Schnurbusch Law Firm apart is their dedication to their clients' well-being. Dan took the time to understand my situation, listen attentively during our consultation, answered my questions, and addressed my concerns. He crafted a strategy to overcome some challenges I was facing with a probate situation after the recent passing of my father. He provided empathetic support while advising me on the most effective course of action. I finished the call feeling relieved and empowered to effectively proceed through the probate process. If you need representation for probate or probate issues, hire Schnurbusch Law and Estate Planning!
Dan is very consistent and considerate of his clients. He is also very responsive which is a very important thing when having a lawyer. He makes sure you understand what’s going on and is very open to answering any questions. He never rushed us off the phone and was very open and honest through our case. I can’t say enough good things about the way we were represented and the handling of our case. Thank you so much Dan !! We are forever grateful!
Frequently Asked Probate Questions
It depends on your circumstances. For “small estates” (under $40,000), spouses, and minors, the process is often much faster, sometimes a quick as 2-3 months, depending on how quickly the courts are moving.
For a “full administration” involving estates over $40,000 within 1 year of death, the process typically takes between 9 and 15 months due to required filing timelines, creditor claim periods (a minimum of 6 months), and other factors.
We try to handle most probate administration cases on a flat-rate basis.
The amount of this fee varies depending on many factors, including the size and nature of the assets, the likelihood of a challenge, and so on.
In a full administration, we are typically compensated on the greater of (1) the minimum statutory fee allowed for lawyers, or (2) our hourly rate.
You’ll need a copy of the death certificate, as well as a general description of the assets of the deceased person. If you don’t have a death certificate, we can often request a copy for you.
Documents evidencing ownership are also helpful, such as deeds, car titles, bank statements, and so on. However, we can often obtain some of these documents from public records as well. Any other required paperwork will be described to you throughout the process.
Generally speaking, any property that is subject to a transfer on death or beneficiary designation will (unless challenged) pass to the designated beneficiar(ies) automatically, without court involvement.
Any property owned as Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship (less common) or as Tenants by the Entirety (married couples only) will pass to the joint owners automatically, without court involvement.
All other property that is left in the name of the deceased person becomes probate property. Probate property must be put through the probate process in court.
If there is a will, trust, or other transfer document, typically that document will control who receives property at death through the probate proceeding. This will be true unless there is some reason the will, trust, or other document is challenged or invalid.
If there is no will, trust, or other estate planning document, property will pass in probate to the legal heirs under Missouri’s law of intestacy. Generally speaking, this means property will pass to a surviving spouse and descendants (if any), otherwise to siblings, parents, and then more distant kin.
No. We’ll learn more about you and your circumstances during your initial consultation. We’ll also collect some information from you at that time. However, you will be given the chance after your consultation to collect any missing information when we send you our Estate Administration Intake Questionnaire. That questionnaire will also give you the opportunity to upload scans of any documents directly into our system.
