Wills and Estates

Probate is a legal process that takes place after someone dies.

The probate process usually includes:

• proving in court that a deceased person's will is legal (usually a routine matter)
• listing the deceased person's property
• getting the property appraised (how much is it worth)
• paying the debts and taxes
• distributing what is left as directed by either the will or, if there is no will, Arkansas law

Many people want to avoid the probate process because it can be a long and expensive process. There are many ways to avoid probate, such as owning property jointly, Payable on Death (POD) accounts, or giving the property away before death. You can also avoid or shorten the probate process with small estate laws.

Small estate laws were enacted in Arkansas to allow heirs to receive the property that the deceased wanted them to have without the long process of probate. In Arkansas, you may be able to avoid the probate process or at least shorten the process if certain conditions are met.

These conditions include:

• the total value of the estate is less than $100,000 and claims (debts or judgments) against the estate have been paid—there are other exclusions and exemptions from this amount, such as the homestead exemption and spouse and child allowances
• 45 days have passed since the death before filing the affidavit
• there is neither a personal representative of the estate already appointed nor a petition for an appointment pending

You must file an Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate with the probate clerk of the circuit court in the county where the deceased last lived. The affidavit can be filed by one or more of the people receiving proceeds from the estate (called distributees).

The affidavit must state, among other things, that the conditions in the previous section are true.

After you file the affidavit with the probate clerk, the clerk will sign the affidavit and place their seal on it. You can then provide a copy of the affidavit to financial institutions or other persons or entities that have property of the deceased.

• affidavit: a written document where the signer swears under oath (such as notary public) that the statements in the document are true
• deceased: the person who has died
• distributee: anyone who received something—usually the term refers to someone who inherits a deceased person's property
• homestead: the main dwelling of the family 

Step 1: 

An affidavit filed with the probate clerk of the circuit court of the county of proper venue for administration must be completed by one or more of the distributees (heirs). 

See the form “Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate by Distributee” in the packet below:

Step 2:

This affidavit must be filed with the probate clerk. There is a charge of $25 for filing and $5 for each certified copy. No additional fee shall be charged if a will is attached. If there are other heirs, and the other heirs have no interest in the property, they may sign a waiver in which they waive their interest in the property. This waiver would need to be filed with the affidavit.  The waiver would need to be signed by each heir other than you who may have an interest in the estate property. 

See the form “Disclaimer” in the packet below:

Step 3:

Since there is also real property involved, you will also need to file a notice in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two weeks. 

The cost of placing this notice will vary from newspaper to newspaper. Once the notice has run, the newspaper will send you an affidavit stating that the notice has run and the dates of publication. This will need to be filed with the probate clerk. In addition, if there are other heirs, each one will need to be sent a copy of the notice.

 See the form “Notice of Publication” in the packet below:

Step 4:

After the filing of the affidavit and the notice, and once the waiting period has passed, the distributees shall be authorized to issue to themselves a deed of distribution for the real property of the decedent. They also shall deliver notice of the transfer of ownership to the county assessor of each county where the real property is located. 

See “Deed of Distribution Pursuant to §28-41-103” in the packet below: