State ex rel. Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services v. Roper

The Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services, filed its petition for this court’s writ of mandamus directing the Honorable Ellen Roper, Circuit Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit, Boone County, to cause to be opened an estate for Wallace G. Jones, decedent. The Division asserts that it is a creditor of the estate as a result of aid provided to the decedent prior to his death. The court’s preliminary rule in mandamus was issued *565on February 7, 2005. Following briefing and argument by the parties,1 the preliminary rule in mandamus is made absolute.

Facts

Wallace G. Jones died…