OptionaleFlex electronic filing is available. Self-represented filers may register for eFlex only in a case where the court has mandated electronic filing; otherwise they file paper with the circuit clerk.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe County Clerk's probate page links the probate cover sheet, a Saline County small estate affidavit with its instructions, and the statewide probate forms. The office does not give legal advice or help complete forms.
Accepted payment
At the counterCash, Check, Credit card, Debit card.Probate fees are paid when the case is opened. The County Clerk accepts local checks only, and adds a $3.00 processing fee to card payments.
County Clerk (probate filings)1-501-303-5630 · 215 North Main Street, Suite 9Probate and small estate cases are opened at the County Clerk's Office, not the Circuit Clerk's office.
Probate and small estate cases are filed with the Saline County Clerk's Office (215 N. Main St., Suite 9), which the Circuit Clerk's website links as its probate page.
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 Saline County, probate runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 200 North Main Street, Suite 113, Benton. The court sits in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.
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 Saline County
What probate costs in Saline 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 200 North Main Street, Suite 113, Benton. The court is part of the 22nd 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 documents in Saline County can be filed in person at the Circuit Court - Probate Division, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for County Clerk (probate filings), Recording and Passport, Child Support and Juvenile, and Jury.
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.
Probate and small estate cases are opened at the County Clerk's Office
In Saline County a probate or small estate case is opened at the County Clerk's Office, 215 N. Main St., Suite 9, Benton (501-303-5630). A cover sheet is required when opening a probate or small estate case, and a new case is opened for a filer who arrives by 4:00 p.m.
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 Saline County
In Arkansas a death is registered locally, and in Saline County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Saline County Local Health Unit as well as by Arkansas Department of Health - Vital Records.
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 Saline County are recorded with the Circuit Clerk at 200 North Main Street, Suite 113, Benton, AR 72015. Phone: 1-501-303-5607. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
The Circuit Clerk charges $15 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Saline 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 Saline 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 Saline 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.
Little Rock firm serving Pulaski, Saline, Faulkner, and Lonoke counties in central Arkansas, with probate handled in the local circuit courts. For families settling an estate, partner Cade L. Cox handles probate, wills, and trust administration, ranging from simple wills to trust and tax planning. Each of the firm's attorneys has practiced in their focus area for more than a decade.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningBusiness Law
Office
8201 Cantrell Road, Suite 330Little Rock, AR 72227
Little Rock litigation and transactional firm (offices also in Russellville) handling Pulaski County probate matters. Opens and administers decedents' estates, represents executors, personal representatives, and beneficiaries, and litigates undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty, and elder financial exploitation claims. Roots trace to a firm founded in 1957.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
Little Rock litigation firm with a focused estate and trust litigation practice serving Pulaski County and beyond. Opens probate estates, admits wills, secures appointment of executors and personal representatives, and litigates contested trust and estate disputes for fiduciaries and beneficiaries. AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and listed in its Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
Benton firm serving Saline and Pulaski County families through the probate process. Guides executors and administrators in filing petitions, inventorying assets, paying creditor claims, and distributing inheritances, and assists trustees with administering and distributing trust assets. Its attorneys bring over 75 years of combined experience; free initial consultations, in person or virtual.
Benton firm serving Saline, Perry, and Pulaski County families. Gregg Knutson handles estate planning, trust administration, and probate, helping survivors move wills through the local court and administer estates, alongside real estate and other civil matters. Licensed since 1997.
Bryant firm serving Saline and Pulaski county families in probate and estate planning, with real estate and business work alongside. Attorney Paul D. White is well-versed in Arkansas probate law and assists out-of-state executors and administrators with Arkansas estate administration. Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, practicing 25-plus years locally.
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.
