Required for attorneyseFlex e-filing is mandatory for attorneys, including new cases. Self-represented filers may register for eFlex only in a case where the court has mandated electronic filing.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe County Clerk's probate page links the probate cover sheet and its instructions, small estate affidavits for each district, and a small estate notice of publication. The circuit clerk's office does not provide legal forms or legal advice.
Small Estate Notice of PublicationNotice of the filing of a small estate affidavit, for publication when the estate contains real property.
Fax
1-870-933-4514
Departments
Lake City office (Eastern District)1-870-237-4342 · 107 Cobean Boulevard, Lake City, AR 72437 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
County Clerk (probate filings)1-870-933-4520 · 511 South Main Street, Suite 202 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PMAs clerk to the probate court, the County Clerk files the instruments in decedent estate cases and keeps the adoption and guardianship records.
About the court
Dual-district county with courthouses in Jonesboro (Western District) and Lake City (Eastern District); the circuit clerk keeps an office in each. The County Clerk serves as clerk of the probate court and files the instruments in decedent estate cases.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Craighead County, probate runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 511 South Main Street, Suite 200, Jonesboro. The court sits in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The same 2nd Judicial Circuit also serves Clay, Crittenden, Greene, Mississippi and Poinsett.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Arkansas intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Arkansas estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. Creditors have 6 monthsArk. Code §§ 28-50-101, 28-50-103, 28-50-104, 28-50-105, 28-50-106, 28-1-112, 28-40-111Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Craighead County
What probate costs in Craighead County, Arkansas comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 511 South Main Street, Suite 200, Jonesboro. The court is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Arkansas charges $165Ark. Code Ann. §§ 21-6-403(b)(1), 21-6-416(b)(2)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Arkansas sets attorney fees by statute — a percentage of the estate's gross value. Every attorney charges the same schedule, so the decision to hire one comes down to complexity, not price.
Arkansas allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.03% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules pay, capped by statute at 3.03%Ark. Code § 28-48-108(a) (just and reasonable; not to exceed 10% first $1K + 5% next $4K + 3% balance of personal property passing through PR's hands)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Arkansas requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
Probate in Arkansas typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Circuit Court - Probate Division
Probate cases in Craighead County, Arkansas are filed at the Circuit Court - Probate Division. The court sits in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Lake City office (Eastern District) and County Clerk (probate filings).
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Arkansas has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableArk. Code § 28-40-119 (the circuit court admits the will and grants letters); § 28-1-106(b)(1) (clerk appointment only in the judge's absence); no informal probate trackVerified Sep 8, 2026View source.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Self-represented filers file on paper unless the court has mandated e-filing in their case
eFlex accounts are open to attorneys and to a self-represented litigant in a case where the court has mandated electronic filing. A self-represented filer otherwise files with the circuit clerk's office in person or by mail. Statewide probate forms: arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms.
Filed with the opening petition at the Circuit Court - Probate Division: Death certificate (customary, not required by statute or by any official Arkansas probate form); Original will and any codicils (for testate estates) lodged with the court (filed with Form 3); Proof of the will's execution (proof of will / self-proving affidavit) at presentation of the petition; Probate Cover Sheet (statewide AOC form required by Administrative Order No. 8); Acceptance of Appointment as Personal Representative (Form 8), where no bond is required; Bond of Personal Representative (Form 6), only if the court requires a bond (Ark. Code Ann. § 28-48-201(a))Ark. Code Ann. § 28-40-102 (venue); § 28-40-107 (contents of the petition for probate & appointment); § 28-48-102 (letters & power to act); § 28-48-201, § 28-48-206 (bond)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Craighead County
In Arkansas a death is registered locally, and in Craighead County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Craighead County Local Health Unit as well as by Arkansas Department of Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Craighead County · Craighead County Local Health Unit
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Circuit Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Craighead County are recorded with the Circuit Clerk at 511 South Main Street, Suite 200, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Phone: 1-870-933-4530. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Circuit Clerk charges $15 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Craighead County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Indecomm and Simplifile.
Arkansas uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Craighead County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Arkansas are set by statute as a percentage of the estate's value, so every Craighead County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Circuit Court - Probate Division and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court - Probate Division, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Jonesboro firm practicing exclusively in estate planning, elder law, and probate for families across Craighead and surrounding Northeast Arkansas counties. Attorney Chad R. Oldham handles trust and estate administration, wills and trusts, special-needs planning, and estate and trust taxation — a single-area practice rather than a general one.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
Jonesboro firm serving Craighead County and Northeast Arkansas, with a second office in Walnut Ridge for Lawrence and Randolph county families. Aaron Heller leads the estate side, handling wills, trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney, and probate. Heller served two terms as chairman of the Elder Law Section of the Arkansas Bar Association. Free initial case evaluation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
Jonesboro firm serving Craighead and surrounding Northeast Arkansas counties, led by Carrie Russom Quraishi, who pairs legal and wealth-management work. Handles probate, trust administration, estate and trust taxation, elder law, and special-needs planning. Integrates estate work with ongoing tax and financial planning under one roof.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
Jonesboro firm serving Craighead County and northeast Arkansas. For families administering an estate, the firm guides executors and administrators through Craighead County probate from appointment through the claims process to final distribution, and prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Offers a free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBanking Lawand 3 more
Office
111 East Huntington Ave., 2nd FloorJonesboro, AR 72401
Paragould firm serving Greene County and surrounding Northeast Arkansas for over 25 years. Attorney Lorie L. Whitby handles probate and estate planning (wills, deeds, powers of attorney) within a general practice that also covers family law, adoptions, and guardianships. Offers a complimentary consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipBusiness Lawand 2 more
Jonesboro firm serving Craighead County in wills, trusts, and estates, with a probate, business, and tax-law practice. Attorney G. S. Brant Perkins co-authored Arkansas Probate and Estate Administration (West 2010) and has edited the Arkansas Probate and Trust Law Review since 2009, bringing deep local probate experience to estate settlement.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Arkansas statutes and official state code. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Arkansas
Free tools for settling an estate in Arkansas: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Arkansas.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Arkansas: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysArk. Code § 28-49-110Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsArk. Code §§ 28-50-101, 28-50-103, 28-50-104, 28-50-105, 28-50-106, 28-1-112, 28-40-111Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Arkansas happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeArk. Code Ann. § 28-73-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysArk. Code §§ 28-73-813, 28-73-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Arkansas has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableArk. Code § 28-40-119 (the circuit court admits the will and grants letters); § 28-1-106(b)(1) (clerk appointment only in the judge's absence); no informal probate trackVerified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Enter the estate value to see Arkansas attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
Examples:
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
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See whether you can file probate yourself
Enter the estate value to see whether Arkansas lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
