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Dallas County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Dallas County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Dallas County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office, 206 W 3rd St, Fordyce, AR 71742, at the corner of 3rd and Oak Streets |
| Mailing | Call before mailing a probate paper. No separate clerk PO Box is available from the clerk contact information used for this page. |
| Phone | (870) 352-2307 |
| Fax | (870) 352-7179 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Counter hours, midday closures, and filing cutoffs are not posted for the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office. Call before travelling to Fordyce. |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, current as of August 2026: $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 affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee costs $25.00 to file, plus $5.00 per certified copy, current as of August 2026 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Local forms | Use the Arkansas Judiciary's Official Probate Forms and statewide probate cover sheet. Dallas County does not publish an added probate form online. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office whether that court will register them and, if not, how to deliver papers 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. Phone or video participation depends on the circuit judge and the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit administrative plan. |
| Website | State county information page: portal.arkansas.gov/counties/dallas/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Dallas County, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, debts, titled property, real estate, and any original will. The right estate settlement path depends on what must be transferred, whether anyone needs letters testamentary or letters of administration, and whether the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families identify accounts before they pay a filing fee or ask the clerk for copies. That matters in Dallas County because the clerk can file papers and issue letters under the court's seal after appointment, but the clerk cannot tell you which assets require probate or prepare a petition for you.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Dallas County is filed at the Dallas County Courthouse in Fordyce, in the probate division of the Dallas County Circuit Court. Dallas County sits in Arkansas's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which also includes Calhoun, Cleveland, Columbia, Ouachita, and Union counties, but a Dallas County estate is filed at the Dallas County courthouse unless the Arkansas venue rule points somewhere else.
Arkansas venue for probate and administration is governed by A.C.A. § 28-40-102. The usual filing county is where the decedent resided at death. If the decedent did not reside in Arkansas, the rule looks to where the greater part in value of the Arkansas property is located, then to where the decedent died if there was no Arkansas residence or property, and then to a county where a cause of action may be maintained by the personal representative. If more than one proceeding is started, the first legally commenced proceeding controls while venue is sorted out, and a case filed in the wrong county can be transferred.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of heirs and devisees, asset information, debts, and any deed or title documents.
- Check the Arkansas timing rule before preparing a petition. A will generally cannot be admitted and administration generally cannot be granted unless application is made within five years from death, subject to the statute's exceptions (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 at $100,000 or under after encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, the distributee may use the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee, current as of August 2026 under 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.
- Use the Arkansas Judiciary's Official Probate Forms and include the statewide probate cover sheet. If you are opening a full estate, use the form that matches whether there is a will.
- File with the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office at the Dallas County Courthouse, 206 W 3rd St, Fordyce, AR 71742. The opening fee is $165.00, current as of August 2026, made up of the $150.00 fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. If you cannot afford the fee, ask about proceeding in forma pauperis under Rule 72.
- Ask the clerk how the case will be presented to the circuit judge. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and the court may set a hearing in other cases (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask before relying on phone or video participation.
- After the court appoints the personal representative, complete any required acceptance and bond step. The clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal after appointment and qualification (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Publish the notice of appointment, then serve copies on heirs, devisees, known creditors, and the Department of Human Services when required. Creditor claims are barred six months from the first publication if not properly presented (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Inventory and administer the estate, collect assets, address claims, pay debts and taxes, account to the court as required, distribute the remaining property, and request discharge when the estate is ready to close.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Dallas County
Dallas County uses the statewide Arkansas probate form set rather than a separate county form packet. The Arkansas Judiciary publishes Official Probate Forms for decedent estates, including petitions for appointment, proof of will, bond, acceptance, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting, claim affidavit, and Form 23, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Include the statewide probate cover sheet when opening or closing a probate matter. If you are filing in Fordyce without a lawyer, call the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office before travelling to confirm the current copy needs, payment method, and whether the judge requires any additional local instruction for your filing.
Local nuance
Dallas County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Combined clerk | Dallas County has a combined Circuit/County Clerk's office, so families use one local filing counter for probate in Fordyce. |
| Courthouse address | The courthouse is listed as 206 W 3rd St and also described as being at 3rd and Oak Streets. Use 206 W 3rd St, Fordyce, AR 71742, and call the clerk before mailing. |
| No posted counter hours | Plan the trip to Fordyce only after calling (870) 352-2307 to confirm hours, filing cutoff, and payment method. |
| No added Dallas County probate packet online | Use the Arkansas Judiciary forms and statewide probate cover sheet unless the clerk tells you a local instruction applies. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Legal aid coverage | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole Legal Services Corporation funded provider for all 75 Arkansas counties on January 1, 2026. Families may check eligibility at arlegalaid.org or 1-800-952-9243, but estate administration may not be a listed case priority. |
| eFlex filing policy | The Arkansas Judiciary's eFlex Electronic Filing Rejection Policy took effect December 9, 2025. eFlex subscription billing ends June 5, 2026. Use efile.arcourts.gov for the current portal. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the current statewide public case-information portal. |
Scenarios
| Family situation | Likely Dallas County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed to see whether the home passes outside probate. If probate is still needed, consider the homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101 before deciding whether the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 fits. File any needed Dallas County probate paper with the Circuit/County Clerk's office in Fordyce. | Sunset helps identify accounts and property, organize deed and title information, and generate the Dallas County probate packet for attorney review or filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies at $100,000 or under, current as of August 2026 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, the distributee files the affidavit with the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office and uses certified copies for banks or holders of property. If letters are needed, ask the clerk about hearing logistics before making travel plans. | Sunset helps collect account information, prepare the affidavit materials, and connect you with a local attorney if the court requires more than the affidavit. |
| Parent settling a 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 reach real property, but real property adds publication and a creditor window. A sale often requires letters, and attorney compensation has a statutory default schedule that can be contracted around or adjusted by the court under A.C.A. § 28-48-108. | Sunset helps find assets, gather real estate details, build a petition packet, and connect the family with a Dallas County probate attorney when a sale or title issue makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office | Local filing counter for probate in Fordyce. Call for hours, payment method, mailing instructions, and hearing logistics. | (870) 352-2307 |
| Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms | Statewide probate forms, including petitions, letters, notices, inventory, accounting, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Cover sheet used with probate filings in Arkansas circuit courts. | arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/formatted-files/PR_cover_Nov_2023.pdf |
| Arkansas Law Help | Statewide legal-information site with a small-estate packet that tracks A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case-information search. Document availability varies by court. | caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Income-restricted civil legal aid intake for Arkansas. Check eligibility, but do not assume estate administration is a covered case type. | 1-800-952-9243, arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Dallas County when the estate includes real estate to sell, a possible will contest, creditor pressure, an insolvent estate, or an out-of-state personal representative. The Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office can accept filings and issue letters after the court appoints a personal representative, but it cannot choose a strategy or draft legal arguments for the family. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families discover accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property before choosing an estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Dallas County probate packet using Arkansas terminology, the statewide probate cover sheet, and the forms that fit the situation.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Dallas County estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney for advice, review, or representation.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand assets, prepare for probate, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Dallas County, Arkansas?
File at the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office at the Dallas County Courthouse, 206 W 3rd St, Fordyce, AR 71742. Probate is in the probate division of the Dallas County Circuit Court.
How much does it cost to open a Dallas County probate estate?
The filing fee to open a decedent's estate is $165.00, current as of August 2026. That is $150.00 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 affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee costs $25.00 to file, plus $5.00 per certified copy, current as of August 2026 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Can I e-file probate papers in Dallas County?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. If you are representing yourself, ask the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office whether that court will register you and how to deliver papers if you are not using the electronic system.
Are Dallas County probate forms online?
Use the Arkansas Judiciary's Official Probate Forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. Dallas County does not publish a separate probate form packet online.
Will Dallas County set a hearing?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and the court may set a hearing in other cases (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). No Dallas County hearing-day schedule is posted, so call the clerk for the current setting practice.
Can I attend a Dallas County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the clerk before the hearing. Phone or video participation depends on the circuit judge and the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit administrative plan, not on a general promise on this page.
How do I look up a Dallas County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. It provides free statewide case information, but document availability varies by court.
Do I have to travel to Fordyce for estate settlement?
Your need to travel depends on the filing method, whether the court sets a hearing, and whether the judge allows phone or video participation. Call the Dallas County Circuit/County Clerk's office before making travel plans.
Is there a deadline to start probate in Dallas County?
Arkansas generally requires application to admit a will or grant administration within five years from death, subject to the statute's exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103). After letters issue, creditor claims are barred six months from first publication if not properly presented (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.