For most Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Monroe County property passes through the Circuit Court - Probate Division — even simple Arkansas probates run 6+ months and start with $165 in 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County are recorded with the Circuit Clerk, led by Alice Smith, at 123 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029. Phone: 870-747-3615.
The Circuit Clerk charges $15 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page beneficiary deed in Monroe County comes to $20. A beneficiary deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Recording Office Record
Monroe County · Alice Smith
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
Fort Smith firm (founded 1909) serving Sebastian County and western Arkansas, with a second office in Little Rock. For estate matters, Rex M. Terry handles trusts, estates, and probate alongside transactional and litigation work. A general practice whose estate work sits beside commercial and oil-and-gas litigation.
Estate planning and elder law firm with offices in Magnolia and Little Rock, serving Columbia, Union, and Lafayette County families. Ledly Jennings handles estate planning, probate, and estate/trust administration, including work for farming and family-business clients settling estates and preserving assets.
Fort Smith elder-law and estate firm (second office in Conway) serving Sebastian and Faulkner county families. Attorney Jamison Bonds, a VA-accredited attorney, focuses on estate planning, Medicaid/long-term-care planning, trusts, and probate. Bonds scored #1 nationally on the 2018 Certified Elder Law Medicaid Planning exam essay.
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.
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 Monroe 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.
