1. No notice to interested persons need be given except as specifically provided for in this code or as ordered by the court. When no notice is required by this code, the court may require such notice as it deems desirable by a general rule or by an order in a particular case.

2. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, all notices required by this code or the court to be served upon any person shall be served as the court directs, by rule or otherwise, in such manner and at such time as to constitute reasonable notice, in any of the following manners:

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Terms Used In Missouri Laws 472.100

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Guardian: if used in a section in a context relating to property rights or obligations, means conservator of the estate as defined in chapter 475. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Guardianship: if used in a section in a context relating to rights and obligations other than property rights or obligations, means guardian of the person as defined in chapter 475. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • United States: includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(1) By delivering to the person, including a minor or a disabled or incapacitated person not known to have a legally appointed guardian or conservator, a copy of the notice personally or by leaving a copy at his dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of his family over the age of fifteen years, or by delivering a copy to an agent authorized by appointment or required by law to receive service of process;

(2) By publishing a copy of the notice in some newspaper qualified to publish legal notices under chapter 493 and having general circulation within the county in which the court is held for the time required by law or court rule or order. If no time is fixed by law or by rule of court, the notice shall be published once each week for four consecutive weeks, the last insertion being at least seven days before the hearing. The personal representative, or other person at whose instance any notice by publication is required, may designate the newspaper in which such notice is to be published; but as to any notice which is necessary to the jurisdiction of the court, the clerk shall designate the newspaper unless the personal representative or other person has made such designation and so informed the clerk in writing before the time for commencement of publication. If there is no qualified newspaper published in the county, the notice shall be published in some qualified newspaper published in an adjoining county which has a general circulation within the county in which the court is held or the notice shall be given by posting copies thereof in ten public places in the county as the court directs. If a notice, which is required to be published once a week for more than one time, is published in a daily newspaper, each publication after the first shall appear on the same day of the week on which the first publication was made;

(3) By registered or certified mail, addressed to the person to be notified at his address within the United States, deposited in the United States mail, with all postage charges prepaid, and, if ordered by the court, with a return receipt requested;

(4) By ordinary mail, deposited in the United States mail with all postage charges prepaid at the first class rate, in a sealed envelope or on a post or postal card, properly addressed, bearing the name and return address of the sender and otherwise inscribed in accordance with the regulations of the United States Postal Service to require a return thereof to the sender upon nondelivery to the addressee;

(5) By any combination of the above or as may be provided by the rules of civil procedure.

3. Service by publication is notice to all heirs and devisees, whether known or unknown or whether residents or nonresidents of this state, spouses and to all creditors and other persons interested in the estate.

4. Provisions in this code for notice to interested persons, other than by publication, do not require such notice to creditors unless otherwise specifically required by the code or by the court.

5. Service of notice upon a minor or a disabled or incapacitated person having a legally appointed guardian or conservator, if the fact of the guardianship or conservatorship is known to the person requiring such service or is disclosed by the court files or records, shall be made by serving such guardian or conservator in the manner provided herein for service upon other persons. Service upon a corporation may be made in the manner provided by law for the service of summons on corporations in civil actions.

6. In all cases where service by publication is required but personal service or service by registered or certified mail is not ordered, all interested persons whose names and addresses appear in the court files or records, including creditors only when ordered by the court, shall be served by ordinary mail. Failure in any such case to mail any notice or failure of any interested person to receive any mailed notice does not invalidate any order of the court or deprive the court of jurisdiction.

7. Personal service and service by registered or certified mail may be made by any competent witness, except that service by mail of any process, order or notice issued by the court shall be made by the clerk, or, if personal service is required, by the sheriff. Service by publication and by ordinary mail, except those required by section 473.587, shall be made by the clerk when requested in writing by the party requiring same, and when furnished with the necessary information therefor.

8. If an attorney has entered his appearance in writing for any party in any probate proceeding or matter pending in the court, all notices required to be served on the party in the proceeding or matter may be served on the attorney and such service shall be in lieu of service upon the party for whom the attorney appears. Service on an attorney may be made by ordinary mail or by leaving a copy of any notice or paper at his office with his clerk or with an attorney employed by or associated with the attorney to be served.