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Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 473.270 (2026)

Collection of debts, prosecution and defense of suits

✓ current as of May 2026
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  473.270.  Collection of debts, prosecution and defense of suits. — Executors and administrators shall collect all money and debts of every kind due to the decedent, and give receipts and discharges therefor, and shall commence and prosecute all actions which may be maintained and are necessary in the course of his administration, and defend all actions brought against him.

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(RSMo 1939 § 94, A.L. 1955 p. 385 § 108)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 94; 1919 § 93; 1909 § 101

CROSS REFERENCES:

Administrator of deceased life tenant to collect rents due deceased, remedy, RSMo 441.160, 441.170

Execution ordered by administrator d.b.n., when, RSMo 513.080

(1956) Administrator was entitled to intervene and recover surplus proceeds arising from mortgage foreclosure sale of his decedent's land, as against purchaser from heir who contended administrator had no right to real estate. Trenton Motor Co. v. Watkins (A.), 291 S.W.2d 659.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1960–2025 · leading case: In the Est. of ROSETTA F. KEEN, LOUIE R. KEEN v. AMBER J. WOLFE, individually & as Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Rosetta F. Keen, & CYNTHIA A. KEEN, Respondents-Respondents., 488 S.W.3d 73 (Mo. Ct. App. 2016).
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In the Est. of ROSETTA F. KEEN, LOUIE R. KEEN v. AMBER J. WOLFE, individually & as Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Rosetta F. Keen, & CYNTHIA A. KEEN, Respondents-Respondents., 488 S.W.3d 73 (Mo. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “He does not explain why Amber was not under the general duty imposed by section 473.270 to “defend all actions brought against [her,]” especially since this was not a situation in which she was certain to lose or otherwise harm the Estate in defending against Louie’s claims on…”
Est. of Veselich v. Nw. Nat'l Cas. Co., 760 S.W.2d 564 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 8× “Section 473.270 RSMo 1986, provides in this regard that a personal representative “shall commence and prosecute all actions which may be maintained and are necessary in the course of his administration, and defend all actions brought against him.”
White v. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 519 S.W.3d 917 (Mo. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 4× “Generally, under section 473.270, “[ejxecutors and administrators shall collect all money and debts of every kind due to the decedent, .”
Cordes v. Williams, 201 S.W.3d 122 (Mo. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to section 473.270, Jack, acting in his capacity as personal representative for Carrie’s estate, had a duty to collect all money and debts of every kind due to the decedent.”
Aufenkamp v. Grabill, 112 S.W.3d 455 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “Section 473.270 provides: Executors and administrators shall collect all money and debts of every kind due to the decedent, and give receipts and discharges therefor, and shall commence and prosecute all actions which may be maintained and are necessary in the course of his…”
Heidbreder v. Tambke, 284 S.W.3d 740 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 6× “Tambke cites section 473.270, which states: Executors and administrators shall collect all money and debts of every kind due to the decedent, and give receipts and discharges therefor, and shall commence and prosecute all actions which may be maintained and are necessary in the…”
Ratermann v. Ratermann Realty & Inv. Co., 341 S.W.2d 280 (Mo. Ct. App. 1960). · cites it 3× “The respondents’ responsibility under § 473.270, supra, requires any action that would bind the estate be defended by them.”
State, Dep't of Soc. Servs., Div. of Med. Servs. v. Brundage, 85 S.W.3d 43 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “097, RSMo, should be bound by the same duties and obligations to collect the assets of the decedent and distribute them to the creditors and dis-tributees of the estate as a personal representative does under § 473.270, RSMo, and should, therefore, be treated by the court in the…”
Est. of Harvey v. Luther Coll., 802 S.W.2d 585 (Mo. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to Mo.Rev.Stat. §§ 473.270, 473.340 (1986), Don Harvey, personal representative of the estate of John W.”
Stark v. Moffit, 352 S.W.2d 165 (Mo. Ct. App. 1961). · cites it 2× “Section 473.270; State ex rel. Lefholz McCracken, 231 Mo.”
Kahmann v. Buck, 446 S.W.2d 457 (Mo. Ct. App. 1969). · cites it 2× “' “A companion Section 473.270 is also quoted as follows: ‘Collection of debts, prosecution and defense of suits.”
State ex rel. Dunger v. Mummert, 871 S.W.2d 609 (Mo. Ct. App. 1994). “§§ 473.270, 473.273 RSMo, 1986. At best, the beneficiaries are nominal defendants.”
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