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Cross County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Cross County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Cross County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Cross County Clerk's office, 705 E. Union St., Room 8, Wynne, AR 72396 |
| Mailing address | 705 E. Union St., Room 8, Wynne, AR 72396 |
| Phone | (870) 238-5735 |
| Fax | No fax is published for the Cross County Clerk's office |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the office does not close during the noon hour and is closed on federal holidays |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, made up of the $150.00 filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416; $25.00 to file an affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 |
| Local forms | No Cross County-specific probate form, checklist, or cover-sheet instruction is posted; use the Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms and statewide probate cover sheet |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov; a self-represented filer should ask the Cross County Clerk's office whether that court will register them, and can otherwise file in person or by mail |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides free statewide case information; document availability varies by court |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk before any hearing whether the circuit judge will allow phone or video attendance, and check the First Judicial Circuit administrative plan |
| Website | https://www.crosscountyar.org/county-clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Wynne, identify the decedent's assets, debts, will, beneficiary designations, real estate, and accounts that may pass outside probate. That first inventory tells you whether Cross County estate settlement needs full administration, a court-filed affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, or no probate filing for a particular asset.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, policies, and other property before they choose a filing path. In Cross County, that preparation is especially helpful because the probate filing counter is the County Clerk's office in Room 8, while the separate circuit clerk in Room 9 handles different court and recorder functions.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Cross County is filed with the Cross County Clerk's office at the Cross County Courthouse, 705 E. Union St., Room 8, Wynne, AR 72396. The case is in the probate division of the Cross County Circuit Court, which sits in Arkansas's First Judicial Circuit.
Arkansas venue for probate of a will or administration is governed by A.C.A. § 28-40-102. The usual filing place is the county where the decedent resided at death; if the decedent did not reside in Arkansas, the statute looks to where the greater value of Arkansas property is located, where the person died if there was no Arkansas residence or property, or where a cause of action may be maintained by the personal representative. The first legally commenced proceeding controls statewide property, and a case filed in the wrong county can be transferred rather than dismissed.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, debt information, and names and addresses for heirs, devisees, and known creditors.
- Check the Arkansas five-year filing limit. No will is admitted to probate and no administration is granted unless the application is made within five years from death, subject to the statutory exceptions in A.C.A. § 28-40-103.
- Choose the filing path. If 45 days have passed, no personal representative has been appointed, and the estate qualifies under the $100,000 calculation that is less encumbrances and excludes the homestead and statutory allowances, a distributee may use the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. Otherwise, prepare for full administration.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms that match the case, such as the petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, petition for appointment of administrator, proof of will, acceptance of appointment, and proposed letters testamentary or letters of administration under A.C.A. § 28-48-102. Add the statewide probate cover sheet.
- File with the Cross County Clerk's office at 705 E. Union St., Room 8, Wynne. As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, consisting of $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. A person who cannot afford the filing cost can ask the court about a fee waiver under Rule 72.
- 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 before the setting whether the circuit judge will allow phone or video attendance.
- The circuit judge decides whether to admit the will and appoint the personal representative. After appointment and qualification, the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal under A.C.A. § 28-48-102.
- After letters are granted, publish notice of appointment. Claims are barred six months from the date of first publication under A.C.A. § 28-40-111, and copies must be served on heirs, devisees, known creditors, and the Department of Human Services when the statute requires it.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, protecting property, handling creditor claims, paying allowed debts and taxes, and preparing any required inventory and accounting.
- When administration is complete, request final distribution and discharge so the Cross County case can be closed by court order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cross County
Cross County does not post a county-specific probate form, checklist, or cover-sheet instruction on its clerk pages. Use the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms for decedent estates and the statewide probate cover sheet.
Common statewide forms include the petition for appointment of administrator, petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, proof of will, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, letters testamentary, letters of administration, inventory, accounting, and affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. If you are not sure which forms fit the estate, ask a probate attorney before filing because the clerk cannot prepare the petition or choose the legal path for you.
Fees
Cross County's own County Clerk fee list matches the Arkansas probate filing amounts. As listed in August 2026, the office lists probate at $165.00, which matches $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416.
| Fee item | Amount and authority |
|---|---|
| Open a decedent's estate | $165.00 as listed by Cross County in August 2026, made up of $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416 |
| Reopen a case | $50.00 as listed by Cross County in August 2026 and under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 |
| Affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee | $25.00 as listed by Cross County in August 2026 and under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 |
| Certified copy for the affidavit route | $5.00 per certified copy under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 |
| Claim against an estate | $5.00 as listed by Cross County in August 2026 |
| Other copies | $0.50 per page as listed by Cross County in August 2026 |
The Cross County Clerk page also says all fees except probate fees must be paid in cash. That means the probate fee is not described as cash-only, but the page does not name which other payment methods the office accepts. Call the clerk before filing if payment method matters.
Local nuance
Cross County-specific considerations
Cross County is a split-clerk county, and probate filings go to the Cross County Clerk's office. Do not use the separate circuit clerk's phone number for probate filing questions.
Both offices are in the same courthouse at 705 E. Union in Wynne. The Cross County Clerk's office is in Room 8 and handles probate filings; the Cross County Circuit Clerk's office is in Room 9 and has a different phone line.
Cross County is not one of Arkansas's two-courthouse probate counties. File Cross County probate matters at the Wynne courthouse unless the clerk or circuit judge gives a case-specific instruction.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Legal Aid coverage | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole statewide free civil legal-services provider for all 75 Arkansas counties on January 1, 2026. |
| Electronic filing rejection policy | The eFlex electronic-filing rejection policy at efile.arcourts.gov took effect December 9, 2025. |
| Electronic filing payments | Subscription-based payments in eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov end June 5, 2026; other payment methods remain available. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the live statewide case-information portal for Arkansas courts. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Cross County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with the deed and beneficiary designations. If the home passes outside probate, the Cross County filing may focus only on assets that remain in the estate. If probate is needed, consider the homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101 and whether the remaining estate qualifies for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, and title questions before the spouse spends time at the Wynne courthouse. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, the affidavit is filed with the Cross County Clerk's office in Room 8, with $25.00 due under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 as of August 2026. A certified copy then goes to the bank or other holder. If letters are needed, use the full administration forms and ask the clerk about phone or video attendance before any hearing. | Sunset helps collect asset details, generate an organized probate packet, and connect the child with Arkansas counsel when letters or real estate issues make the case more formal. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 can include real property, but real property adds publication and a creditor window. A sale often requires letters testamentary or letters of administration under A.C.A. § 28-48-102, so the parent should expect a full filing with the Cross County Clerk if a buyer, title company, or lender needs court-issued authority. | Sunset helps locate assets and debts, organize documents for the attorney, and reduce delays before a sale contract or closing deadline. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Cross County |
|---|---|
| Cross County Clerk's office | The local filing counter for probate in Wynne. Call (870) 238-5735 for filing logistics, current payment methods, and questions about phone or video attendance for a setting. |
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | Provides the statewide probate forms and the probate cover sheet used for decedent-estate filings in Arkansas. |
| Arkansas Law Help | Provides public legal information and a small-estate packet for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Search ARCourts | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov lets you search statewide public case information without a login; document availability varies by court. |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide intake is 1-800-952-9243. It is income-restricted and may not take estate-administration matters, but eligible families can check whether any related civil legal issue fits its priorities. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Cross County when real estate must be sold, a will may be contested, creditors may exceed estate assets, the personal representative lives outside Arkansas, or the family is unsure whether the County Clerk's affidavit path under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough. Counsel can also help prepare filings because the clerk files documents but does not choose the legal strategy or draft the petition. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect the Cross County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized packet for the Cross County Clerk's office, the Arkansas Judiciary forms, and your attorney if the estate needs full administration.
Find a local probate attorney. When a will contest, creditor issue, real estate sale, or out-of-state personal representative makes the case harder, Sunset connects families with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and decide when attorney help is needed without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Cross County, Arkansas?
File probate documents with the Cross County Clerk's office at 705 E. Union St., Room 8, Wynne, AR 72396. The case is in the probate division of the Cross County Circuit Court.
Is the Cross County Circuit Clerk the probate filing counter?
No. Cross County has a separate circuit clerk in Room 9, but probate filings go to the Cross County Clerk's office in Room 8. Use the County Clerk's probate phone line, (870) 238-5735.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Cross County?
As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, made up of $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. The affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee costs $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Does Cross County have its own probate forms?
Cross County does not post a county-specific probate form, checklist, or cover-sheet instruction. Use the Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet.
Can I e-file a Cross County probate case?
Attorneys file through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Cross County Clerk's office whether that court will register them, and can otherwise file in person or by mail.
How do I look up a Cross County probate case online?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. The portal provides free statewide case information without a login, but whether documents are viewable depends on the court and the particular record.
Will there be a hearing in a Cross County probate case?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or if a demand for notice has been filed; otherwise the court may decide whether a hearing is needed under A.C.A. § 28-40-110. Ask the clerk about scheduling after the petition is filed.
Do I have to travel to Wynne for probate?
Plan on using the Wynne courthouse for filing unless the clerk gives filing instructions that fit your situation. If a hearing is set, ask early whether the circuit judge will allow phone or video attendance and check the First Judicial Circuit administrative plan.
What Arkansas deadlines matter in a Cross County estate?
An application to admit a will or grant administration generally must be made within five years of death under A.C.A. § 28-40-103. After letters issue, 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.