Legal Services Costs in Missouri

Verified cost ranges across cities in Missouri

Verified by 2 sourcesUpdated April 11, 2026

Legal Services Cost Comparison — Missouri

Compare verified cost ranges across cities in Missouri

Cost Comparison — Contested Divorce

Missouri2 sources

Low

$1,173

Typical

$2,854

High

$4,535

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$1,085

Typical

$2,641

High

$4,197

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$1,115

Typical

$2,714

High

$4,312

Springfield2 sources

Low

$1,039

Typical

$2,528

High

$4,017

Columbia2 sources

Low

$1,049

Typical

$2,552

High

$4,056

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$1,013

Typical

$2,465

High

$3,917

Joplin2 sources

Low

$1,005

Typical

$2,446

High

$3,887

Low

$1,031

Typical

$2,510

High

$3,989

Cost Comparison — Child Custody Agreement

Missouri2 sources

Low

$2,173

Typical

$3,854

High

$5,535

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$2,010

Typical

$3,566

High

$5,122

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$2,066

Typical

$3,665

High

$5,263

Springfield2 sources

Low

$1,924

Typical

$3,414

High

$4,903

Columbia2 sources

Low

$1,943

Typical

$3,447

High

$4,951

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$1,877

Typical

$3,329

High

$4,781

Joplin2 sources

Low

$1,862

Typical

$3,303

High

$4,745

Low

$1,911

Typical

$3,390

High

$4,869

Cost Comparison — Child Support Order

Missouri2 sources

Low

$813

Typical

$2,494

High

$4,175

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$752

Typical

$2,308

High

$3,864

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$773

Typical

$2,371

High

$3,970

Springfield2 sources

Low

$720

Typical

$2,209

High

$3,698

Columbia2 sources

Low

$727

Typical

$2,230

High

$3,734

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$702

Typical

$2,154

High

$3,606

Joplin2 sources

Low

$696

Typical

$2,138

High

$3,579

Low

$715

Typical

$2,194

High

$3,673

Cost Comparison — Landlord-Tenant Dispute

Missouri2 sources

Low

$294

Typical

$3,820

High

$7,345

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$272

Typical

$3,535

High

$6,797

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$280

Typical

$3,632

High

$6,984

Springfield2 sources

Low

$260

Typical

$3,383

High

$6,506

Columbia2 sources

Low

$263

Typical

$3,416

High

$6,569

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$254

Typical

$3,299

High

$6,345

Joplin2 sources

Low

$252

Typical

$3,274

High

$6,296

Low

$259

Typical

$3,360

High

$6,461

Cost Comparison — Simple Will Drafting

Missouri2 sources

Low

$294

Typical

$100,685

High

$201,076

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$272

Typical

$93,174

High

$186,076

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$280

Typical

$95,741

High

$191,203

Springfield2 sources

Low

$260

Typical

$89,187

High

$178,113

Columbia2 sources

Low

$263

Typical

$90,053

High

$179,842

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$254

Typical

$86,972

High

$173,689

Joplin2 sources

Low

$252

Typical

$86,307

High

$172,362

Low

$259

Typical

$88,573

High

$176,887

Cost Comparison — Revocable Living Trust

Missouri2 sources

Low

$337

Typical

$28,706

High

$57,076

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$311

Typical

$26,565

High

$52,818

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$320

Typical

$27,297

High

$54,274

Springfield2 sources

Low

$298

Typical

$25,428

High

$50,558

Columbia2 sources

Low

$301

Typical

$25,675

High

$51,049

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$291

Typical

$24,796

High

$49,302

Joplin2 sources

Low

$288

Typical

$24,607

High

$48,926

Low

$296

Typical

$25,253

High

$50,210

Cost Comparison — Probate Filing

Missouri2 sources

Low

$25,269

Typical

$25,673

High

$26,076

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$23,384

Typical

$23,757

High

$24,131

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$24,028

Typical

$24,412

High

$24,796

Springfield2 sources

Low

$22,383

Typical

$22,741

High

$23,098

Columbia2 sources

Low

$22,601

Typical

$22,961

High

$23,322

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$21,827

Typical

$22,176

High

$22,524

Joplin2 sources

Low

$21,661

Typical

$22,006

High

$22,352

Low

$22,229

Typical

$22,584

High

$22,939

Cost Comparison — Green Card Application

Missouri2 sources

Low

$1,538

Typical

$2,614

High

$3,690

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$1,423

Typical

$2,419

High

$3,415

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$1,462

Typical

$2,486

High

$3,509

Springfield2 sources

Low

$1,362

Typical

$2,315

High

$3,269

Columbia2 sources

Low

$1,376

Typical

$2,338

High

$3,300

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$1,329

Typical

$2,258

High

$3,187

Joplin2 sources

Low

$1,318

Typical

$2,241

High

$3,163

Low

$1,353

Typical

$2,300

High

$3,246

Cost Comparison — Citizenship & Naturalization

Missouri2 sources

Low

$1,538

Typical

$2,614

High

$3,690

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$1,423

Typical

$2,419

High

$3,415

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$1,462

Typical

$2,486

High

$3,509

Springfield2 sources

Low

$1,362

Typical

$2,315

High

$3,269

Columbia2 sources

Low

$1,376

Typical

$2,338

High

$3,300

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$1,329

Typical

$2,258

High

$3,187

Joplin2 sources

Low

$1,318

Typical

$2,241

High

$3,163

Low

$1,353

Typical

$2,300

High

$3,246

Cost Comparison — Prenuptial Agreement

Missouri2 sources

Low

$698

Typical

$14,866

High

$29,035

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$645

Typical

$13,757

High

$26,869

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$663

Typical

$14,136

High

$27,609

Springfield2 sources

Low

$618

Typical

$13,169

High

$25,719

Columbia2 sources

Low

$624

Typical

$13,296

High

$25,969

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$603

Typical

$12,841

High

$25,080

Joplin2 sources

Low

$598

Typical

$12,743

High

$24,889

Low

$614

Typical

$13,078

High

$25,542

Cost Comparison — DUI/DWI Defense

Missouri2 sources

Low

$654

Typical

$1,797

High

$2,940

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$605

Typical

$1,663

High

$2,721

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$621

Typical

$1,709

High

$2,796

Springfield2 sources

Low

$579

Typical

$1,592

High

$2,604

Columbia2 sources

Low

$584

Typical

$1,607

High

$2,630

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$564

Typical

$1,552

High

$2,540

Joplin2 sources

Low

$560

Typical

$1,540

High

$2,520

Low

$575

Typical

$1,581

High

$2,586

Cost Comparison — Misdemeanor Defense

Missouri2 sources

Low

$654

Typical

$1,797

High

$2,940

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$605

Typical

$1,663

High

$2,721

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$621

Typical

$1,709

High

$2,796

Springfield2 sources

Low

$579

Typical

$1,592

High

$2,604

Columbia2 sources

Low

$584

Typical

$1,607

High

$2,630

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$564

Typical

$1,552

High

$2,540

Joplin2 sources

Low

$560

Typical

$1,540

High

$2,520

Low

$575

Typical

$1,581

High

$2,586

Cost Comparison — Felony Defense

Missouri2 sources

Low

$654

Typical

$1,797

High

$2,940

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$605

Typical

$1,663

High

$2,721

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$621

Typical

$1,709

High

$2,796

Springfield2 sources

Low

$579

Typical

$1,592

High

$2,604

Columbia2 sources

Low

$584

Typical

$1,607

High

$2,630

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$564

Typical

$1,552

High

$2,540

Joplin2 sources

Low

$560

Typical

$1,540

High

$2,520

Low

$575

Typical

$1,581

High

$2,586

Cost Comparison — Criminal Record Expungement

Missouri2 sources

Low

$604

Typical

$1,747

High

$2,890

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$558

Typical

$1,616

High

$2,674

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$574

Typical

$1,661

High

$2,748

Springfield2 sources

Low

$535

Typical

$1,547

High

$2,560

Columbia2 sources

Low

$540

Typical

$1,562

High

$2,585

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$521

Typical

$1,509

High

$2,496

Joplin2 sources

Low

$517

Typical

$1,497

High

$2,477

Low

$531

Typical

$1,537

High

$2,542

Cost Comparison — Deportation Defense

Missouri2 sources

Low

$1,538

Typical

$2,614

High

$3,690

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$1,423

Typical

$2,419

High

$3,415

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$1,462

Typical

$2,486

High

$3,509

Springfield2 sources

Low

$1,362

Typical

$2,315

High

$3,269

Columbia2 sources

Low

$1,376

Typical

$2,338

High

$3,300

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$1,329

Typical

$2,258

High

$3,187

Joplin2 sources

Low

$1,318

Typical

$2,241

High

$3,163

Low

$1,353

Typical

$2,300

High

$3,246

Cost Comparison — Asylum Application

Missouri2 sources

Low

$1,538

Typical

$2,614

High

$3,690

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$1,423

Typical

$2,419

High

$3,415

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$1,462

Typical

$2,486

High

$3,509

Springfield2 sources

Low

$1,362

Typical

$2,315

High

$3,269

Columbia2 sources

Low

$1,376

Typical

$2,338

High

$3,300

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$1,329

Typical

$2,258

High

$3,187

Joplin2 sources

Low

$1,318

Typical

$2,241

High

$3,163

Low

$1,353

Typical

$2,300

High

$3,246

Cost Comparison — Estate Administration

Missouri2 sources

Low

$669

Typical

$1,073

High

$1,476

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$619

Typical

$992

High

$1,366

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$636

Typical

$1,020

High

$1,404

Springfield2 sources

Low

$593

Typical

$950

High

$1,307

Columbia2 sources

Low

$598

Typical

$959

High

$1,320

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$578

Typical

$926

High

$1,275

Joplin2 sources

Low

$573

Typical

$919

High

$1,265

Low

$589

Typical

$943

High

$1,298

Cost Comparison — Work Visa Application

Missouri2 sources

Low

$1,538

Typical

$2,614

High

$3,690

Kansas City2 sources

Low

$1,423

Typical

$2,419

High

$3,415

St. Louis2 sources

Low

$1,462

Typical

$2,486

High

$3,509

Springfield2 sources

Low

$1,362

Typical

$2,315

High

$3,269

Columbia2 sources

Low

$1,376

Typical

$2,338

High

$3,300

St. Joseph2 sources

Low

$1,329

Typical

$2,258

High

$3,187

Joplin2 sources

Low

$1,318

Typical

$2,241

High

$3,163

Low

$1,353

Typical

$2,300

High

$3,246

Browse Legal Services Costs by City in Missouri

Select a city to see local pricing adjusted for cost of living.

All Legal Services Services

legal-services

Contested Divorce

Legal representation in a divorce where spouses disagree on one or more issues requiring court intervention or negotiation. Billed hourly with costs escalating based on number of disputed issues, discovery, depositions, and trial time required.

Cost data available

legal-services

Child Custody Agreement

Drafting and filing of a formal parenting plan establishing legal and physical custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and decision-making authority. Can be completed as a standalone agreement or as part of divorce proceedings.

Cost data available

legal-services

Child Support Order

Legal process to establish, modify, or enforce a court order for child financial support. Calculation is based on state-specific guidelines factoring in parental income, custody time, and child expenses. Attorney fees vary by whether the matter is contested.

Cost data available

legal-services

Prenuptial Agreement

Drafting of a legally binding prenuptial agreement defining each spouse's property rights and financial obligations in the event of divorce or death. Each party should have independent legal counsel for enforceability. Complexity and assets involved drive cost.

Cost data available

legal-services

DUI/DWI Defense

Legal defense for driving under the influence charges including DMV hearing representation, motion to suppress evidence, negotiation for reduced charges, and trial defense if necessary. First offense vs. repeat offense and BAC level significantly affect strategy and cost.

Cost data available

legal-services

Misdemeanor Defense

Legal representation for misdemeanor criminal charges including disorderly conduct, petty theft, simple assault, or minor drug possession. Many cases are resolved through plea negotiations or diversion programs. Flat fees are common for straightforward misdemeanors.

Cost data available

legal-services

Felony Defense

Legal representation for serious felony charges including drug offenses, assault, theft, fraud, or violent crimes. Requires extensive investigation, discovery review, expert witnesses, and potentially jury trial. Hourly billing with substantial retainers is standard.

Cost data available

legal-services

Criminal Record Expungement

Legal process to have an eligible criminal conviction or arrest record sealed or expunged from public view. Eligibility requirements vary by state based on offense type, sentence completed, and time elapsed. Improves employment, housing, and licensing opportunities.

Cost data available

legal-services

Landlord-Tenant Dispute

Legal assistance for landlords or tenants in disputes over lease violations, security deposit disputes, habitability issues, illegal lockouts, or eviction proceedings. Local housing laws vary significantly, making local counsel important.

Cost data available

legal-services

Simple Will Drafting

Preparation of a basic last will and testament naming beneficiaries, executor, and guardian for minor children. A simple will is appropriate for straightforward estates. Must be properly executed with witnesses and notarization per state law to be valid.

Cost data available

legal-services

Revocable Living Trust

Drafting of a revocable living trust to hold assets during the grantor's lifetime and transfer them to beneficiaries outside of probate. Includes pour-over will and asset retitling guidance. Significantly reduces estate settlement time and costs for heirs.

Cost data available

legal-services

Probate Filing

Legal assistance initiating probate proceedings to validate a deceased person's will and authorize the executor to administer the estate. Includes court filings, creditor notification, and asset inventory. Probate timelines and costs vary by state.

Cost data available

legal-services

Estate Administration

Full legal representation of an executor or administrator through the entire estate settlement process including probate, asset marshaling, debt payment, tax filings, and distribution to beneficiaries. Typically billed as a percentage of estate value or hourly.

Cost data available

legal-services

Green Card Application

Legal assistance with permanent residency application through family sponsorship, employment, asylum, or diversity lottery. Includes I-485 adjustment of status or consular processing, supporting documents, and USCIS interview preparation. Multi-year timeline is common.

Cost data available

legal-services

Citizenship & Naturalization

Legal assistance with the N-400 naturalization application for eligible permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship. Includes eligibility assessment, form preparation, biometrics, civics test preparation, and USCIS interview coaching.

Cost data available

legal-services

Work Visa Application

Legal assistance obtaining temporary work authorization including H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, or E-3 visas. Requires employer sponsorship for most categories. Annual H-1B cap and lottery add complexity and cost. Attorney fees cover petition drafting and USCIS filing.

Cost data available

legal-services

Deportation Defense

Legal representation in immigration court removal proceedings including bond hearings, cancellation of removal applications, asylum claims, and appeals. One of the most complex immigration matters due to high stakes and procedural complexity.

Cost data available

legal-services

Asylum Application

Legal assistance with affirmative or defensive asylum applications for individuals fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group membership. Strong personal statement and corroborating evidence are critical to approval.

Cost data available