About Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee to Property in Estate Having Less Than $40,000 - Testate (The Small Estate Affidavit)
Allows a distributee to establish title to property in a testate estate valued under $40,000 without requiring full probate administration.
When you'd use it: File this affidavit when the deceased left a will, the estate is under $40,000, and 30 days have elapsed since death with no other probate proceedings pending.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee to Property in Estate Having Less Than $40,000 - Testate (The Small Estate Affidavit) is published as a PDF by the Missouri courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Source: courts.mo.gov
Link last checked: June 27, 2026
How to file Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee to Property in Estate Having Less Than $40,000 - Testate (The Small Estate Affidavit) in Missouri
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee to Property in Estate Having Less Than $40,000 - Testate (The Small Estate Affidavit) when file this affidavit when the deceased left a will, the estate is under $40,000, and 30 days have elapsed since death with no other probate proceedings pending. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Missouri probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee to Property in Estate Having Less Than $40,000 - Testate (The Small Estate Affidavit) carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee to Property in Estate Having Less Than $40,000 - Testate (The Small Estate Affidavit) to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Missouri county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).