One of the first beneficiary deed laws in the country
Missouri enacted its beneficiary deed statute in 1989, years before most other states adopted anything similar. Under RSMo § 461.025, part of the Nonprobate Transfers Law, a deed that expressly states it doesn't take effect until the owner's death transfers real estate to a named beneficiary automatically, outside probate, once it's recorded before death. See our full guide to the Missouri beneficiary deed, including a quirk about what happens if you divorce and then remarry the same person.
Joint tenancy needs the right words — married couples get an automatic form
Under RSMo § 442.450, real estate granted to two or more people — other than executors, trustees, or a husband and wife — is a tenancy in common by default, with no survivorship, unless the deed expressly declares a joint tenancy. Married couples get a separate, automatic form under § 442.025: real estate conveyed to a husband and wife is presumed to be held as tenants by the entirety, with built-in survivorship and protection from either spouse's individual creditors. See our full breakdown of Missouri joint property rules, including a real case where a deed meant for two married couples got more complicated than anyone expected.
Bank accounts follow the same married-couple pattern
Missouri bank accounts largely mirror real estate. Under RSMo § 362.470, a deposit made in the name of two or more people creates a presumption of joint interest with survivorship, and a deposit in the names of a husband and wife is automatically considered a tenancy by the entirety unless the account specifies otherwise. See our guide to Missouri beneficiary and P.O.D. accounts.
Where this feeds into other Missouri calculators
The probate-estate total from this tool is the starting point for Missouri's probate cost and executor fee calculators, and for checking Missouri's small estate affidavit. Missouri has no state estate or inheritance tax, so this total doesn't feed into a separate state tax calculation.