For most Miller County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.
For a Miller County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Circuit Court - Probate Division. The two tools that keep a Miller County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Circuit Clerk, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Skipping this planning step means the Circuit Court - Probate Division decides who receives the property: a simple Arkansas probate takes 6+ months and opens with $165 in court filing fees. Arkansas also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.
A beneficiary deed names a beneficiary who receives Miller County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Circuit Clerk during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, an Arkansas beneficiary deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentArk. Code Ann. 18-12-608Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathArk. Code Ann. 18-12-608Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Miller County are recorded with the Circuit Clerk, led by Penny Kilcrease, at 400 Laurel Street, Suite 109, Texarkana, AR 71854. Phone: 870-774-4501. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (open during the lunch hour).
The Circuit Clerk charges $15 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page. A 2-page beneficiary deed costs $20 to record in Miller County. A beneficiary deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Recording Office Record
Miller County · Penny Kilcrease
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $15 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
Ark. Code Ann. 21-6-306
Verified September 4, 2026 · Source
Texarkana firm serving Miller County families across the Arkansas-Texas line, with every attorney licensed in both states. Handles probate, estate administration, wills, trusts, and guardianships alongside its broader practice. Family-operated since 1965, offering a free initial consultation.
Little Rock firm on Cantrell Road handling probate and estate administration in Pulaski County and courts statewide. Walks executors through will validation, appointment of personal representatives, asset inventory and valuation, creditor claims, and final distribution under Arkansas law.
Benton firm serving Saline County and the surrounding central Arkansas counties, handling probate in the local circuit courts. For estate settlement, the firm files probate cases, settles estates, and assists with trusts and wills. Don Spears has practiced since 1975, bringing over four decades of experience to probate matters.
Bryant estate planning and elder law firm serving Saline, Pulaski, and Garland counties, with additional offices in Hot Springs Village, Fayetteville, and Bentonville. Drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and deeds, and handles long-term care and Medicaid planning, including emergency crisis cases. Founder Justin S. Elrod is one of only four Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Arkansas.
Hot Springs elder law and estate planning firm serving Garland, Hot Spring, and Saline counties and clients statewide. Handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and transferring real estate outside probate, with deep work in long-term care, Medicaid, and VA Aid and Attendance planning. Offers a free 30-minute estate planning consultation.
Downtown Little Rock firm (Simmons Bank Tower) serving central Arkansas: Pulaski, Saline, Faulkner, Lonoke. Its taxation and estate-planning group handles revocable trusts, wills, trust and estate administration, and estate/trust litigation. Established in 1986 and now 31 attorneys, including Adam D. Reid, who handles trust and estate administration.
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.
Estate planning articles for Arkansas.
Forms and tools for property owners in Miller County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for Arkansas.
