Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 472.300 (2026)

True bill

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  540.250.  True bill — concurrence by nine grand jurors. — In judicial proceedings involving trusts or estates of decedents, minors, disabled and incapacitated persons, and in judicially supervised settlements, the following apply:

  (1)  Interests to be affected shall be described in pleadings which give reasonable information to owners by name or class, by reference to the instrument creating the interest, or in other appropriate manner;

  (2)  Persons are bound by orders binding others in the following cases:

  (a)  Orders binding the sole holder or all coholders of a power of revocation or a presently exercisable general power of appointment, including one in the form of a power of amendment, bind other persons to the extent their interests, as objects, takers in default, or otherwise, are subject to the power;

  (b)  To the extent there is no conflict of interest between them or among persons represented, orders binding a guardian bind the ward; orders binding a conservator bind the protectee; orders binding a trustee bind beneficiaries of the trust in proceedings to probate a will establishing or adding to a trust, to review the acts or accounts of a prior fiduciary and in proceedings involving creditors or other third parties; and orders binding a personal representative bind persons interested in the undistributed assets of a decedent's estate in actions or proceedings by or against the estate.  If there is no conflict of interest and no conservator or guardian has been appointed, a parent may represent and bind his minor child;

  (c)  An unborn or unascertained person who is not otherwise represented is bound by an order to the extent his interest is adequately represented by another party having a substantially identical interest in the proceeding;

  (3)  Notice is required as follows:

  (a)  Notice as prescribed by section 472.100 shall be given to every interested person, or to one who can bind an interested person as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision (2) above.  Notice may be given both to a person and to another who may bind him;

  (b)  Notice is given to unborn or unascertained persons, who are not represented under paragraph (a) or (b) of subdivision (2) above, by giving notice to all known persons whose interests in the proceedings are substantially identical to those of the unborn or unascertained persons;

  (4)  At any point in a proceeding, a court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interest of a minor, an incapacitated, disabled, unborn, or unascertained person, or a person whose identity or address is unknown, if the court determines that representation of the interest otherwise would be inadequate.  If not precluded by conflict of interests, the same guardian ad litem may be appointed to represent several different persons or interests.

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(L. 1980 S.B. 637, A.L. 1983 S.B. 44 & 45)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases, 1982–2020 · leading case: Matter of Est. of Savage, 650 S.W.2d 346 (Mo. Ct. App. 1983).
Matter of Est. of Savage, 650 S.W.2d 346 (Mo. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 4× “" This fiduciary capacity of the personal representative is emphasized by § 472.300 dealing with what orders binding a personal representative also bind persons interested in the undistributed assets of a decedent's estate.”
Zimmerman v. Preuss, 725 S.W.2d 876 (Mo. 1987). · cites it 4× “Subject to the provisions of section 472.300, RSMo, persons not joined as parties in a will contest are not bound by the result thereof, (emphasis added) It is established that “all necessary party defendants [must] be named and served within the prescribed period.”
Williams v. Duncan, 55 S.W.3d 896 (Mo. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “190-210 and section 472.300. 3 Additionally, a court of equity has the inherent power to “exercise jurisdiction over trust estates, to supervise their administration, and to make all orders necessary for their preservation and conservation.”
Est. of Johnson v. Powell, 708 S.W.2d 783 (Mo. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 3× “Subject to the provisions of section 472.300, RSMo, persons not joined as parties in a will contest are not bound by the result thereof.”
Cool v. Reed, 710 S.W.2d 243 (Mo. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 3× “Subject to the provisions of section 472.300, RSMo, persons not joined as parties in a will contest are not bound by the result thereof.”
Ludwig v. Anspaugh, 785 S.W.2d 269 (Mo. 1990). · cites it 2× “in the absence of a showing by the petitioner of good cause for failure to secure and complete service, shall be dismissed_” This specific provision is given effect over the general terms of section 472.300(2) concerning the appointment of a guardian ad litem when an interested…”
Columbia Union Nat'l Bank & Trust Co. v. Bundschu, 641 S.W.2d 864 (Mo. Ct. App. 1982). “[§ 472.300] See Mo. Bar CLE, Missouri Probate Code 1980, Practice Note, p.”
Broadhurst v. Broadhurst, 737 S.W.2d 504 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “In view of recent decisions and the enactment of § 472.300, the current viability of such a premise must be re-examined.”
Jones v. Jones, 770 S.W.2d 246 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 3× “Subject to the provisions of section 472.300, RSMo, persons not joined as parties in a will contest are not bound by the result thereof, (emphasis added) It is established that legatees of a contested will are necessary parties to a will contest proceeding.”
Wilson v. Brewster, 809 S.W.2d 183 (Mo. Ct. App. 1991). “” The appellants do not contend they are not bound by the actions of the Personal Representative by virtue of § 472.300(2)(b). There is nothing in the record to establish the Probate Division erred in fixing the elective share “at this time”.”
In re The Matter of: Annaliese Brightwell Trust Raymond L. Brightwell v. Beate Boesl, 605 S.W.3d 143 (Mo. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 6× “Section 472.300 confirms as much, as it provides, in pertinent part, that: In judicial proceedings involving trusts .”
In re the Matter of: Annaliese Brightwell Trust Raymond L. Brightwell Vs. Beate Boesl, 605 S.W.3d 143 (Mo. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 6× “Section 472.300 confirms as much, as it provides, in pertinent part, that: In judicial proceedings involving trusts .”
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 472.300(2): 1 case
Ludwig v. Anspaugh, 785 S.W.2d 269 (Mo. 1990). “in the absence of a showing by the petitioner of good cause for failure to secure and complete service, shall be dismissed_” This specific provision is given effect over the general terms of section 472.300(2) concerning the appointment of a guardian ad litem when an interested…”
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 472.300(2)(b): 2 cases
Wilson v. Brewster, 809 S.W.2d 183 (Mo. Ct. App. 1991). “” The appellants do not contend they are not bound by the actions of the Personal Representative by virtue of § 472.300(2)(b). There is nothing in the record to establish the Probate Division erred in fixing the elective share “at this time”.”
Dietzler v. Lynch, 791 S.W.2d 444 (Mo. Ct. App. 1990).
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 472.300(3)(a): 2 cases
Matter of Est. of Savage, 650 S.W.2d 346 (Mo. Ct. App. 1983). “" This fiduciary capacity of the personal representative is emphasized by § 472.300 dealing with what orders binding a personal representative also bind persons interested in the undistributed assets of a decedent's estate.”
Love v. Pogue, 650 S.W.2d 346 (Mo. Ct. App. 1983).
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