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Cleburne County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Cleburne County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Cleburne County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Courthouse address | Cleburne County Courthouse, 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543 |
| Probate filings go to | Call ahead because Cleburne County does not identify one probate counter on its public clerk pages. County Clerk: (501) 362-4620. Circuit Clerk: (501) 362-8149. |
| Mailing address | 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543 |
| Phone | County Clerk: (501) 362-4620. Circuit Clerk: (501) 362-8149. |
| Fax | County Clerk: (501) 362-4622. Circuit Clerk: (501) 362-4681. |
| Hours | Both public clerk pages list Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No separate filing cutoff appears on those pages. |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, last reprinted by 2013 Act 282, effective March 6, 2013, plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416, created by 2009 Act 328, approved March 9, 2009. The small-estate affidavit fee is $25.00, plus $5.00 per certified copy, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, with those fees unchanged by 2021 Act 423, approved March 23, 2021. |
| Local forms | No Cleburne County-specific probate form or checklist appears on the public county clerk or circuit clerk pages. Use the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Cleburne County clerk's office whether this court will register them, and can otherwise file in person or by mail. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides statewide circuit court case information. Document availability varies by court. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk before any hearing. Phone or video attendance is set by the circuit judge and the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit administrative plan. |
| Website | County Clerk: https://www.cleburnecountyar.com/county-clerk. Circuit Clerk: https://www.cleburnecountyar.com/circuit-clerk. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a form or call the courthouse, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, tax notices, and possible beneficiary designations. Cleburne County has two clerk offices in the same courthouse, so knowing whether you need letters, a certified copy, or only an affidavit will make that first call more useful.
Sunset's estate settlement platform can search across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts and assets, then organize what belongs in the Cleburne County packet. That preparation helps you ask the clerk the right local filing question instead of guessing which counter takes probate filings.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Cleburne County is handled at the Cleburne County Courthouse in Heber Springs, in the probate division of the Cleburne County Circuit Court. Cleburne County sits in Arkansas's Sixteenth Judicial Circuit with Fulton, Independence, Izard, and Stone counties, but a Cleburne County estate is filed in Cleburne County, not across a county line.
Arkansas venue for probate follows A.C.A. § 28-40-102: the county where the decedent resided at death comes first, then the county holding the greater part in value of the decedent's Arkansas property, then the county where the decedent died, and otherwise a county where the personal representative could maintain a cause of action. The first legally commenced proceeding controls statewide property, and a case filed in the wrong county can be transferred rather than dismissed.
Cleburne County is not one of Arkansas's two-courthouse local judicial district counties. One courthouse in Heber Springs serves the county.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of heirs and devisees, asset information, debt information, and any beneficiary or survivorship documents.
- Check the five-year filing rule before preparing the packet. Arkansas generally does not admit a will to probate or grant administration unless application is made within five years from death, subject to the statutory exceptions in A.C.A. § 28-40-103.
- Choose the route. If 45 days have passed and the estate fits the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, including the $100,000 amount measured less encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, the distributee files that affidavit with the probate clerk. Otherwise, prepare a full administration petition.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate form that matches the case, such as a petition for appointment of an administrator or a petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, and add the statewide probate cover sheet.
- Call the Cleburne County Courthouse before filing because the county's public clerk pages do not name a single probate counter. Ask whether to file with the County Clerk at (501) 362-4620 or the Circuit Clerk at (501) 362-8149.
- File the packet at the Cleburne County Courthouse, 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543. The filing amount to open a decedent's estate is $165.00, made up of $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, last reprinted by 2013 Act 282, effective March 6, 2013, plus $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416, created by 2009 Act 328, approved March 9, 2009. Ask the court about a Rule 72 fee-waiver order if the filing cost is unaffordable.
- If the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, the court must set a hearing. Otherwise, the court may decide whether a hearing is needed under A.C.A. § 28-40-110. Ask the clerk how the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit handles any phone or video request before making travel plans.
- After the circuit judge appoints the personal representative, the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal under A.C.A. § 28-48-102.
- Publish the notice of appointment and serve copies on heirs, devisees, known creditors, and the Department of Human Services when required. Creditor claims are barred six months from first publication under A.C.A. § 28-40-111.
- Administer the estate, inventory assets when required, handle claims, pay debts and taxes, distribute property under the will or Arkansas law, file the required accounting or settlement papers, and seek discharge from the court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cleburne County
Cleburne County does not list a county-specific probate form, checklist, or cover-sheet instruction on the public county clerk or circuit clerk pages. Use the Arkansas Judiciary's statewide probate form set and the statewide probate cover sheet when preparing a Cleburne County estate settlement filing.
| Form resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | The statewide set includes decedent-estate forms such as petitions, proof of will, bond, acceptance of appointment, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Use the Arkansas probate cover sheet with a new probate filing. It is the same statewide cover sheet used across Arkansas circuit courts. |
| Cleburne County clerk offices | Call before filing to ask which counter accepts probate filings in Cleburne County and whether any current local instruction has been added. |
Local nuance
Cleburne County-specific considerations
Cleburne County's local wrinkle is practical, not legal: the county has a County Clerk and a Circuit Clerk at the same courthouse address, and the public pages for those offices do not identify which one serves as the probate clerk. Do not assume the circuit clerk is the filing counter just because circuit court handles probate.
Call before you go to Heber Springs. Start with the County Clerk at (501) 362-4620 or the Circuit Clerk at (501) 362-8149, explain that you need to file a decedent-estate or affidavit packet in the probate division of the Cleburne County Circuit Court, and ask which counter should receive it.
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole Legal Services Corporation-funded provider for all 75 Arkansas counties. Its statewide intake number is 1-800-952-9243. |
| December 9, 2025 | The Arkansas Judiciary's eFlex Electronic Filing Rejection Policy took effect for filings through efile.arcourts.gov. |
| June 5, 2026 | The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts ended subscription-based payments in eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov while leaving other payment methods available. |
| Current public case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad is the Arkansas Judiciary portal for public case information. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Cleburne County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First check the deed and account titles. If the home passes outside probate by its title, the remaining estate settlement may need only a smaller court filing or no real-estate filing. If probate is needed, call the Cleburne County clerk offices before filing because the county does not identify one probate counter on its public clerk pages. Homestead and statutory allowances are handled under A.C.A. § 28-39-101 when they matter to the estate plan. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize deed and title questions for attorney review, and prepare the Cleburne County filing packet when probate is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 fits and 45 days have passed, the affidavit is filed with the probate clerk in Cleburne County, then certified copies are used with banks or asset holders. If letters are needed, ask the clerk about the right full administration petition and whether the judge will consider any phone or video request for a hearing. | Sunset helps collect asset information from a distance, generate the packet, and connect you with local counsel if the court requires letters or a sale authority. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real-estate sale often requires full administration so a personal representative can sign closing documents with authority from the court. The affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 can include real property, but it adds publication and a creditor window, so ask a probate attorney which route fits the sale. | Sunset helps assemble asset information, flag real-estate issues, and connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney for sale authority and closing steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Cleburne County Clerk's office | One of the two local clerk offices to call before filing a Cleburne County probate packet. | Cleburne County Courthouse, 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Phone (501) 362-4620. Fax (501) 362-4622. Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Cleburne County Circuit Clerk's office | One of the two local clerk offices to call before filing. The circuit clerk page also links Search ARCourts for circuit court case information. | Cleburne County Courthouse, 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Phone (501) 362-8149. Fax (501) 362-4681. Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | Free statewide probate forms, including petitions, notices, inventory, accounting, letters, and affidavit forms. | https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Use with a new probate filing in Arkansas circuit court. | https://arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/formatted-files/PR_cover_Nov_2023.pdf |
| Arkansas Law Help | Statewide public legal information, including a small-estate packet under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | https://arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case information for Arkansas circuit courts. Document availability varies by court. | https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Income-restricted civil legal aid intake. Estate administration is not on its published priority list, so ask about eligibility and scope before relying on representation. | 1-800-952-9243. https://arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring an Arkansas probate attorney if the estate includes real estate to sell, disagreement among heirs, unknown creditors, a missing or contested will, tax questions, a nonresident personal representative, or uncertainty about whether the affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough. Cleburne County's public clerk pages also do not identify a single probate counter, so counsel can help route the filing correctly and prepare the estate settlement papers. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize known assets and debts, and create a clearer picture of what belongs in the estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a ready-to-review probate packet using the Arkansas route that fits the situation, including Cleburne County courthouse details and the statewide probate cover sheet.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, a home sale, contested-heir help, or court appearance planning, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand next steps, and decide whether professional help is needed without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for Cleburne County, Arkansas?
File at the Cleburne County Courthouse, 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543, in the probate division of the Cleburne County Circuit Court. Because the county's public clerk pages do not identify one probate counter, call ahead: County Clerk (501) 362-4620 or Circuit Clerk (501) 362-8149.
Which clerk takes a Cleburne County probate filing?
Cleburne County has separate county clerk and circuit clerk offices at the same courthouse, and the public pages for those offices do not say which office is the probate clerk. Call either office before you file and ask which counter accepts decedent-estate filings for the probate division.
What does it cost to open a Cleburne County probate?
The current Arkansas filing amount to open a decedent's estate is $165.00: $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, last reprinted by 2013 Act 282, effective March 6, 2013, plus $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416, created by 2009 Act 328, approved March 9, 2009. The small-estate affidavit fee is $25.00, plus $5.00 per certified copy, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, with those fees unchanged by 2021 Act 423, approved March 23, 2021.
Can I e-file a Cleburne County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. If you are self-represented, ask the Cleburne County clerk's office whether this court will register you for electronic filing, and ask about filing in person or by mail if not.
Can I look up a Cleburne County probate case online?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad for statewide Arkansas circuit court case information. The Cleburne County Circuit Clerk's page points users to that same case-information portal. Some public records may include documents, but document availability varies by court.
Does Cleburne County have its own probate forms?
The public county clerk and circuit clerk pages do not list a Cleburne County-specific probate form or checklist. Use the Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet, and call the clerk before filing to ask whether any current local instruction applies.
Will there be a hearing in my Cleburne County probate case?
Arkansas requires a hearing if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and otherwise leaves the hearing decision to the court under A.C.A. § 28-40-110. Ask the clerk how the judge wants any hearing handled.
Do I have to travel to Heber Springs for a Cleburne County probate hearing?
If a hearing is set, ask the clerk whether the circuit judge will consider a phone or video request and whether the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit administrative plan has instructions. Do that before buying travel or assuming an appearance method.
How long do creditors have in an Arkansas probate?
After letters are granted, the personal representative publishes notice of appointment. Creditor claims are barred six months from first publication under A.C.A. § 28-40-111.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.