Platte County Public Administrator's Office

What is a Public Administrator?

The Platte County Public Administrator is a county elected official, such election to be held every four years. Once elected, the Public Administrator is appointed by the probate court to manage the affairs of an individual in one of the following roles:

• A Guardian is charged with the duty of managing all affairs of a disabled individual, called wards

• A Conservator is charged with the duty of managing the financial matters of an incapacitated individual or a minor child, called protectees

• A Personal Representative is charged with the duty of administrating the estate of a deceased person

The Public Administrator does what is in the best interest of its wards or estates. The office carries out the duties and responsibilities set for it in the Missouri Revised Statutes by closely following the statutes in the Probate Code, Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapters 473 and 475.

Elected Officeholder: Shanna Burns

Platte County Courthouse

415 3rd St. Suite 90 

Platte City, MO 64079

Phone: (816) 858-2130

Fax: (816) 858-3447

When does the Public Administrator usually get involved?

Only the probate court can decide if an individual needs a guardian and/or conservator because it removes the right of a person to make his or her own decisions. The court must also rule to open a personal representative estate or if a minor child needs a conservator to manage their financial affairs. 

Although the Public Administrator is widely considered a last resort, any family member, hospital, government agency, or creditor, with the assistance of a probate attorney, can file an application with the court requesting that the Public Administrator be appointed as guardian and/or conservator or personal representative:

• Although some wards and deceased individuals do not have living family, many times their family is unwilling or unable to serve as guardian, conservator, or personal representative.

• If there are competing applications for one of these court-appointed positions, many times the court will appoint the Public Administrator instead of a family member.

• Additionally, the Public Administrator can be appointed when the previous guardian, conservator, or personal representative is removed. This most often occurs when the previous court-appointed representative did not complete the required paperwork.

Who does the Public Administrator work with?

The Public Administrator serves some of the most vulnerable populations of Platte County citizens:

• Elderly
• Mentally ill
• Developmentally disabled