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Craighead County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Craighead County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Craighead County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Craighead County Clerk's office, the probate clerk for the Craighead County Circuit Court under A.C.A. § 14-14-502. Jonesboro phone: (870) 933-4520. The circuit clerk is a separate office. |
| Judicial circuit | Arkansas's Second Judicial Circuit, with Clay, Crittenden, Greene, Mississippi and Poinsett counties under A.C.A. § 16-13-1001. A Craighead County case is still filed at a Craighead County courthouse. |
| Courthouse address | Western (Jonesboro) District: Craighead County Courthouse, 511 South Main Street, Room 202, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Eastern (Lake City) District: Lake City Courthouse, 107 Cobean Blvd, Lake City, AR 72437. |
| Mailing address | The county clerk does not publish a post office box for probate filings. Use the street address for the courthouse in the correct district and call before mailing an original will or filing packet. |
| Phone | (870) 933-4520 for the county clerk in Jonesboro. (870) 237-4342 for the county clerk's counter at the Lake City Courthouse. |
| Fax | (870) 933-4514 is published as the county clerk's fax. Do not assume a probate filing may be faxed. |
| Hours | Jonesboro courthouse: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except court-approved holidays. Lake City hours are not published, so call (870) 237-4342 before traveling. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. As of August 2026, $25.00 to file a small-estate affidavit under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy. |
| Local forms | Yes. Craighead County publishes small-estate instructions, a district-specific affidavit for the Western (Jonesboro) District, a district-specific affidavit for the Eastern (Lake City) District, a notice-of-publication template and probate cover-sheet material. The Arkansas Judiciary also publishes 33 official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the county clerk whether this court will register them in this particular case and should otherwise plan for in-person filing at the courthouse for the correct district. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides free statewide case information. Public document access depends on the court and the case. |
| Remote appearance | Phone or video appearance is controlled by the circuit judge and the Second Judicial Circuit's Administrative Order No. 14 plan. Ask the county clerk before assuming a travel plan. |
| Website | https://www.craigheadclerk.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Craighead County estate settlement path, identify the assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries and how each account, vehicle and parcel is titled. In Craighead County, also identify where the decedent lived inside the county, because the Western (Jonesboro) District and the Eastern (Lake City) District use separate courthouse filing counters and separate local small-estate affidavit forms.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before they file, which can prevent choosing the wrong estate settlement route or leaving an asset out of the probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Craighead County probate filings go to the Craighead County Clerk's office, which serves as the probate clerk for the Craighead County Circuit Court. The Western (Jonesboro) District filing counter is in Room 202 of the Craighead County Courthouse, 511 South Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401. The Eastern (Lake City) District filing counter is at the Lake City Courthouse, 107 Cobean Blvd, Lake City, AR 72437.
The county's two courthouses serve Craighead County communities including Jonesboro, Bay, Black Oak, Bono, Brookland, Caraway, Cash, Egypt, Lake City and Monette. Do not assign a community to one district without asking the county clerk, because the published local material does not draw the district boundary.
Arkansas venue for probate starts with the county where the decedent resided at death, then moves to the county holding the greater part in value of Arkansas property for a nonresident, then the county of death if there was no Arkansas residence or property, and finally any county where the personal representative could maintain a cause of action if none of those apply (A.C.A. § 28-40-102). In a county with more than one district, Arkansas treats the word county as district unless the law indicates otherwise, so Craighead County venue requires a district check as well (A.C.A. § 28-1-102(a)(3)). The first legally commenced proceeding controls statewide, and a misfiled case is transferred rather than dismissed under A.C.A. § 28-40-102.
Craighead County is in Arkansas's Second Judicial Circuit, but the circuit does not merge filing counters. A Craighead County estate is filed in Jonesboro or Lake City, Arkansas, not in another county in the circuit.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, account information, deeds, vehicle titles, creditor information and the names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries.
- Check the timing. Arkansas generally requires application to admit a will or open administration within five years after death, subject to the statute's exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Decide which Craighead County district applies before selecting forms. Call the county clerk in Jonesboro at (870) 933-4520 or the Lake City counter at (870) 237-4342 if you are not sure whether the estate belongs in the Western (Jonesboro) District or the Eastern (Lake City) District.
- Choose the filing path. If the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is available, forty-five days must have passed, the estate must fit the Arkansas calculation, and the affidavit is filed with the probate clerk of the circuit court rather than handed first to a bank (A.C.A. § 28-41-101). Otherwise, prepare a petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, or a petition for appointment of an administrator.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms and the current statewide probate cover sheet. Craighead County's cover-sheet instructions say an initial pleading must be accompanied by the reporting form and must identify the county and district.
- File with the Craighead County Clerk's office, not the separate circuit clerk's office. Use Room 202 at 511 South Main Street in Jonesboro for the Western District, or 107 Cobean Blvd in Lake City for the Eastern District.
- Pay the filing fee or ask the court about a Rule 72 in forma pauperis request. As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate is $165.00, made up of $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416.
- Handle notice and any hearing. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and otherwise is set if the court requires one (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the county clerk how the circuit judge handles any phone or video request.
- After appointment, the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal when the statutory requirements are met (A.C.A. § 28-48-102). The court appoints the personal representative, not the clerk.
- Publish the notice of appointment, serve copies on heirs, devisees and known or reasonably ascertainable unpaid creditors within one month after first publication, and handle any Department of Human Services notice required by A.C.A. § 28-40-111. Claims are barred six months from first publication under A.C.A. § 28-40-111.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, preparing the inventory, addressing claims, paying debts and taxes, distributing property and filing the accounting, final distribution papers and discharge request required for closing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Craighead County
Craighead County publishes local probate material through the county clerk's website. That local material includes small-estate instructions, a separate affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee for the Western (Jonesboro) District, a separate affidavit for the Eastern (Lake City) District, a notice-of-publication template and probate cover-sheet instructions with a continuation page.
For a full administration, use the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms, including the petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, the petition for appointment of an administrator, the acceptance of appointment, the designation of process agent, the inventory, letters testamentary, letters of administration and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee (A.C.A. § 28-48-102; A.C.A. § 28-41-101). Use the current statewide probate cover sheet from the Arkansas Judiciary, and ask the county clerk which cover-sheet version it wants with the initial filing.
The local district split matters. Craighead County's two small-estate affidavit forms are captioned separately for the Western District and Eastern District, and the clerk assigns the case number. If you are unsure which form to use, call the county clerk before filing.
Local nuance
Craighead County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Two districts and two courthouses | Craighead County has the Western (Jonesboro) District and the Eastern (Lake City) District. The venue rule points to the district in a two-district county, so ask the county clerk which courthouse takes the estate before filing (A.C.A. § 28-1-102(a)(3); A.C.A. § 28-40-102). |
| County clerk takes probate | Probate filings go to the Craighead County Clerk's office. In Jonesboro, that is Room 202 at 511 South Main Street. The separate circuit clerk is in Room 200 and does not publish Craighead probate filing material. |
| District-specific affidavit forms | The county clerk publishes one small-estate affidavit for the Western (Jonesboro) District and another for the Eastern (Lake City) District. Use the district form that matches the estate (A.C.A. § 28-41-101). |
| Cover sheet asks for the district | Craighead County's cover-sheet instructions say an initial pleading must include the reporting form and that the county and district blanks must be completed. |
| Jonesboro hours are published | The Jonesboro courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except court-approved holidays. Lake City courthouse hours are not published, so call (870) 237-4342 before traveling. |
| One circuit, local filing | Craighead County shares Arkansas's Second Judicial Circuit with five other counties, but a Craighead County estate stays at a Craighead County courthouse. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Craighead County has a local small-estate detail that matters: the county clerk publishes its own small-estate instructions and separate affidavit forms for the Western (Jonesboro) District and the Eastern (Lake City) District. Before using the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee, call the county clerk if you are unsure which district applies (A.C.A. § 28-41-101).
The affidavit is filed with the Craighead County Clerk's office as the probate clerk for the circuit court. After filing, a certified copy can be used with a bank or other holder of property. As of August 2026, the filing charge is $25.00 and each certified copy is $5.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
The Arkansas small-estate affidavit can include real property if the statutory requirements are met. Craighead County publishes a notice-of-publication template for that situation. The template found on the clerk's site is captioned to the Western District, so an Eastern District filer should ask the county clerk which notice form the office wants (A.C.A. § 28-41-101).
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole statewide provider of free civil legal services in Arkansas, with one statewide intake number, 1-800-952-9243. |
| December 9, 2025 | The Arkansas Judiciary's Electronic Filing Rejection Policy took effect for filings made through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov, as authorized by Administrative Order No. 21. |
| June 5, 2026 | Subscription billing ends in eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. Other payment methods remain available through the e-filing system. |
| Current public case search | The Arkansas Judiciary's public case-search tool is Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Craighead County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and account titles. Survivorship may handle the home outside an estate, while homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101 can affect the small-estate calculation under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. If a filing is needed, the county clerk must know whether the estate belongs in the Western (Jonesboro) District or the Eastern (Lake City) District. | Sunset finds accounts, organizes title information and helps generate the right estate settlement packet for the county clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Arkansas affidavit route fits, forty-five days must have passed and the affidavit is filed with the Craighead County Clerk's office, then a certified copy goes to the bank or holder of property (A.C.A. § 28-41-101). Because Craighead County publishes separate Western and Eastern District affidavit forms, call the clerk before selecting the form. If full administration is needed, the Judiciary's designation of process agent form may be relevant for a nonresident personal representative. | Sunset helps identify assets before filing, prepares a county-aware packet and can help the family ask local counsel about travel and hearing logistics. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A small-estate affidavit can include real property when the statute fits, but publication is required and a creditor window follows (A.C.A. § 28-41-101). A sale often requires letters from a full administration, so the filing should go to the county clerk in the correct district and the family should ask which notice and cover-sheet version the office wants. | Sunset helps locate accounts, organize the real estate information, generate filing documents and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or creditor issue makes advice important. |
Self-help resources
The practical starting points in Craighead County are the county clerk's office, the county's own probate documents, the Arkansas Judiciary's free probate forms and legal help when advice is needed.
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Craighead County Clerk's office | Probate filing counter for Craighead County. Western (Jonesboro) District: 511 South Main Street, Room 202, Jonesboro, AR 72401, (870) 933-4520. Eastern (Lake City) District: 107 Cobean Blvd, Lake City, AR 72437, (870) 237-4342. |
| Craighead County probate documents | The county clerk publishes small-estate instructions, a district-specific affidavit for each district, a notice-of-publication template and probate cover-sheet material at https://www.craigheadclerk.com/probate. |
| Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms | Free statewide probate forms at https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms, including petitions, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, inventory, letters and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee (A.C.A. § 28-41-101; A.C.A. § 28-48-102). |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | The Arkansas Judiciary's current probate cover sheet is at https://arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/formatted-files/PR_cover_Nov_2023.pdf. Ask the Craighead County Clerk's office which version it wants with an initial pleading. |
| Arkansas Law Help | Statewide public legal information at https://arlawhelp.org, including small-estate material explaining filing with the probate clerk, the certified-copy step and the fees under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Search ARCourts | Free case information at https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Search ARCourts covers Arkansas circuit courts for case information, while public document access depends on the court and case. |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide intake at 1-800-952-9243 and applications at https://arlegalaid.org. It is income-restricted and limited to published case priorities, so ask about eligibility and scope before relying on it for an estate matter. |
When to hire an attorney
A Craighead County lawyer is especially useful when the estate includes real estate to sell, a will dispute, creditor pressure, insolvency, an out-of-state personal representative or uncertainty about whether the Western (Jonesboro) District or Eastern (Lake City) District applies. The county clerk can file and issue letters under the court's seal, but the clerk cannot choose a legal route, complete the petition for you or advise whether the affidavit under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough. Sunset connects the family to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find bank, brokerage, retirement and insurance accounts before they file. That asset picture helps determine whether a Craighead County estate settlement needs full administration or a smaller affidavit route.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family intake into a probate-ready packet using Arkansas forms and Craighead County details, including the county clerk filing counter and the need to choose the Western (Jonesboro) District or Eastern (Lake City) District.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate has real property, a dispute, creditor issues or an out-of-state personal representative, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted attorney who understands Craighead County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, locate assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Craighead County?
File with the Craighead County Clerk's office, which is the probate clerk for the Craighead County Circuit Court. Western District filings go to Room 202 at 511 South Main Street in Jonesboro. Eastern District filings go to the Lake City Courthouse at 107 Cobean Blvd in Lake City.
Do I file in Jonesboro or Lake City?
It depends on the Craighead County district tied to the estate. Arkansas venue points to the district in a two-district county, so call the county clerk before filing if you are unsure (A.C.A. § 28-1-102(a)(3); A.C.A. § 28-40-102).
Do I file with the circuit clerk or the county clerk in Craighead County?
Use the county clerk for probate. In Jonesboro, the county clerk is in Room 202 and the separate circuit clerk is in Room 200. The probate filing phone is (870) 933-4520, not the separate circuit clerk line.
What does it cost to open an estate in Craighead County?
As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00: $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. As of August 2026, a small-estate affidavit costs $25.00 to file plus $5.00 per certified copy under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
When is the county clerk's office in Jonesboro open?
The Jonesboro courthouse hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except court-approved holidays. Lake City courthouse hours are not published, so call (870) 237-4342 before traveling there.
Does Craighead County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Craighead County publishes small-estate instructions, a Western District affidavit, an Eastern District affidavit, a notice-of-publication template and probate cover-sheet material. Full administration forms come from the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate form set.
Do I have to e-file if I am handling the estate myself?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Craighead County Clerk's office whether this court will register them for e-filing in the particular case and should otherwise plan to file in person at the courthouse for the correct district.
Will there be a hearing in a Craighead County probate case?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and otherwise depends on what the court sets (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the county clerk how the judge wants a specific filing handled.
Can I appear by phone or video instead of traveling to Craighead County?
Ask the county clerk before making travel plans. Phone or video appearance is controlled by the circuit judge and the Second Judicial Circuit's Administrative Order No. 14 plan.
How do I look up a Craighead County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Search ARCourts provides free statewide case information from Arkansas circuit courts, and public document access depends on the court and case.
Is there a deadline to open probate in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas generally requires application to admit a will or open administration within five years after death, subject to the statute's exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103). Creditor claims follow a separate six months from first publication rule after letters are granted (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.