Intestate Succession in Missouri
State-specific overview · Estate & Probate
Missouri gives the surviving spouse the first $20,000 plus one-half of the remaining estate when children survive.
How Missouri treats Intestate Succession
If a spouse and children both survive, the spouse takes $20,000 plus half the remainder, with children splitting the other half. If no children exist, the spouse receives the entire estate. Missouri follows per stirpes distribution, meaning descendants of a deceased child inherit that child's share.
The general definition of Intestate Succession
The legal process of distributing a deceased person's property when they leave no valid will.
If someone dies without a will (or with an invalid will), state law determines who inherits their property. Each state has a set order of priority—usually spouse first, then children, then parents, then siblings. The court appoints an administrator to manage the estate and follow these statutory rules, even if the deceased person's wishes were different.
Read the full Intestate Succession entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Missouri.