In Missouri, a small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) may let heirs or will beneficiaries take estate property, including real estate, without full probate. It applies when the whole estate, minus liens and debts, is $40,000 or less (as of Nov. 9, 2026) and 30 days have passed since the death. A bond and court fee are usually required. If the property is worth more than $15,000, a notice to creditors must also be published. The affidavit and clerk's certificate are then recorded with the recorder of deeds where the home is.

Missouri Courts posts statewide probate forms, including small estate affidavits and a petition for determination of heirship. Court clerks may be able to help with some forms. Local rules vary by county, so check with the probate division where the home is located.

• Small estate limit: $40,000 net, per RSMo 473.097
• Wait at least 30 days after the death
• Larger estates generally go through regular probate administration

Sources: RSMo 473.097 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) · Missouri Courts: Probate Court Forms

Related city guides: Kansas City, MO · Independence · Lee's Summit · Liberty · Harrisonville · Platte City

Kansas has a small estates affidavit (K.S.A. 59-1507b) for estates with $75,000 or less in probate assets (as of Nov. 9, 2026). It covers personal property like bank accounts and vehicles, not real estate. So a house usually needs another route, such as a TOD deed or a court case.

The Kansas Simplified Estates Act (K.S.A. 59-3201 to 59-3206) lets a court allow less court supervision. The court looks at the size of the estate, how the heirs are related, whether it can pay its debts, and what the heirs want. Even in a simplified estate, any required notice of a petition to sell real estate still applies.

Sources: K.S.A. 59-1507b (Kansas Legislature) · Kansas Judicial Council: Small Estates Affidavit form · K.S.A. 59-3202 · K.S.A. 59-3203

Related city guides: Kansas City, KS · Overland Park · Olathe · Paola

The IRS says the basis of inherited property is generally its fair market value on the date of death. In some cases, it's the value on an alternate valuation date chosen by the executor. Many heirs call this a "stepped-up basis." If you sell for more than your basis, the gain is taxable. The sale is generally reported on Schedule D and/or Form 8949.

If the estate filed a federal estate tax return, you may get a Schedule A (Form 8971) and may need to use that value as your basis. A date-of-death appraisal can help document value, so ask your CPA what you need.

Sources: IRS Publication 551, Basis of Assets · IRS FAQ: Gifts & Inheritances

The Missouri Department of Insurance warns that a standard homeowners policy generally excludes losses for homes vacant more than 60 days in a row. Call the insurance company right away to ask about vacancy coverage. In Kansas City, Missouri, vacant homes not occupied by the owner must be registered with the city within 90 days of becoming vacant (Ordinance 56-582).

• Call the insurer about vacancy coverage
• Keep the heat on and the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees F in cold weather (Red Cross)
• Shut off and drain outdoor hose lines before winter
• Keep up the lawn, collect mail, and check on the home often
• Register the home if it's in Kansas City, MO

Sources: Missouri Department of Insurance: Consumer Resources · KCMO Vacant Property Registration · American Red Cross: Frozen Pipes

Related city guides: Kansas City, MO

Every estate is different, but most inherited-home sales follow a similar path. Get a free home value estimate to see where the house stands today.

• Talk with a probate or estate attorney to confirm who has authority to sell
• Find the deed and check whether a beneficiary or TOD deed was recorded
• Secure, insure and maintain the home
• Document date-of-death value for your CPA
• Clear out the home. Decide what to keep, donate or sell.
• Get a market value estimate: https://www.mothersonrealtygroup.com/pages/home-value.htm
• Decide whether to sell as-is or make repairs, then list the home

Sources: Mother & Son Realty Group: Home Value · IRS FAQ: Gifts & Inheritances