What to Do When Someone Dies in Union County, Arkansas
Probate in Union County runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Union County, settling their estate runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Circuit Court - Probate Division
Union County · 13th Judicial Circuit
Address
101 North Washington Street, Suite 201El Dorado, AR 71730
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 Union County, probate runs through the Circuit Court - Probate Division at 101 North Washington Street, Suite 201, El Dorado. The court sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit. Union County shares the 13th Judicial Circuit with Calhoun, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas and Ouachita.
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. The 6 monthsArk. Code § 28-50-101 (6 months from first publication of notice to creditors; § 28-50-101(h): 2 years from first publication for known or reasonably ascertainable creditors even without actual notice; § 28-50-101(d): 5-year absolute bar from death if no letters issued and no notice published)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Union County
What probate costs in Union 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 101 North Washington Street, Suite 201, El Dorado. The court is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit.
Arkansas charges $165Ark. Code Ann. §§ 21-6-403(b)(1), 21-6-416(b)(2)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Circuit Court - Probate Division (https://efile.arcourts.gov/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
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.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value), capped by 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 to 3.03%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value), capped by 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 of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Arkansas requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
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
If you're handling probate yourself in Union County, Arkansas, you can file at the Circuit Court - Probate Division in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Union County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Circuit Court - Probate Division is realistic.
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 litigants may file by paper if unable to use eFlex
Arkansas uses the eFlex electronic filing system. Self-represented (pro se) litigants who cannot use eFlex may file documents in person at the circuit clerk's office, by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS), or via filing depository. Official probate forms available at arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms.
To file at the Circuit Court - Probate Division you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Union County
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 Union County are recorded with the Circuit Clerk, led by Cheryl Cochran-Wilson, at 101 North Washington, Suite 201, El Dorado, AR 71730. Phone: 870-864-1940. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
The Circuit Clerk charges $15 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Union County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Simplifile, eRecording Partners Network (ePN).
Recording Office Record
Circuit Clerk
Union County · Cheryl Cochran-Wilson
Address
101 North Washington, Suite 201El Dorado, AR 71730
Arkansas uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Union 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 Union 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.
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.
South Arkansas firm based in Magnolia (formed 2019 from a Magnolia/El Dorado merger) covering Columbia, Union, Ouachita, Calhoun, Dallas, and Lafayette county courts. For families after a death, handles probate of wills and estates, will contests, and guardianships, plus wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Partners carry a combined 60 years of practice.
El Dorado firm serving Union County through the local circuit court, with an additional office in Camden. For families settling an estate, the firm handles probate to administer assets and carry out a will, alongside its bankruptcy and Social Security disability work.
El Dorado firm serving Union County and south Arkansas before the 13th Judicial District courts. Attorney R. Jeffrey Sawyer, a former deputy prosecutor, handles estate and probate matters alongside family law, civil litigation, and personal injury. Practicing since 2006.
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.
Location
8114 Cantrell Road, Suite 100Little Rock, AR 72227
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.
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Union County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Union County, Arkansas.
