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Faulkner County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Faulkner County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Faulkner County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Faulkner County Clerk's office, the probate clerk for the Faulkner County Circuit Court. The circuit clerk is a separate office at a separate address. |
| Judicial circuit | Arkansas's Twentieth Judicial Circuit, composed of Faulkner, Searcy and Van Buren counties (A.C.A. § 16-13-2801). A Faulkner County estate is still filed in Conway. |
| Courthouse address | Faulkner County Courthouse, 801 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034 |
| Mailing address | Faulkner County Clerk, 801 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034 |
| Phone | 501-450-4909 |
| Fax | 501-450-4938. The office publishes a fax number, but does not say that probate filings may be faxed. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except county holidays. Faulkner County publishes a 2026 holiday closing schedule, and the county judge can proclaim additional closings, so call before travelling on a deadline. |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, current as reviewed 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 and unchanged by 2025 reprints. The county clerk's own list also shows $165.00 for a probate filing. Separately, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, current as reviewed August 2026 with no 2025 change found, plus $5.00 per certified copy under the same section. |
| Local forms | The Faulkner County Clerk publishes a collection-of-small-estates form. Faulkner County does not publish its own probate petition. Use the Arkansas Judiciary's 33 official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet, which states that it is required under Administrative Order Number 8. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Faulkner County Clerk whether this court will register them, and should otherwise plan to file in person or ask about mailing papers to 801 Locust Avenue. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides free statewide case information. Document availability varies by court. |
| Remote appearance | Whether a hearing can be attended by phone or video is set by the circuit judge and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit's administrative plan under Administrative Order No. 14. Ask the Faulkner County Clerk before relying on remote access. |
| Website | https://www.faulknercountyar.gov/government/departments/county-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Faulkner County, identify the assets, debts, heirs, the original will if there is one, and how each account or parcel is titled. The county clerk's office in Conway files the papers and collects the fee, but it does not choose the probate route or complete the petition for you.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts by looking for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions, then turns that information into a practical probate plan for the Faulkner County filing counter.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Faulkner County is filed with the Faulkner County Clerk's office at the Faulkner County Courthouse, 801 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034. The courthouse in Conway serves Faulkner County, including Conway, Greenbrier and Vilonia.
Arkansas venue for probate and administration is governed by A.C.A. § 28-40-102. The first question is where the decedent resided at death; if the decedent did not reside in Arkansas, the rule looks to the Arkansas county with the greater part in value of the decedent's Arkansas property, then to the county of death if there was no Arkansas residence or property, and otherwise to a county where the personal representative could maintain a cause of action. The first legally commenced proceeding controls, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred rather than dismissed (A.C.A. § 28-40-102).
Faulkner County sits in Arkansas's Twentieth Judicial Circuit with Searcy and Van Buren counties, but that circuit groups judges, not filing counters. A Faulkner County estate is filed in Conway, not in another county's courthouse.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of heirs, asset information, debts and any documents showing how property is titled.
- Check the Arkansas five-year outer limit. No will is admitted and no administration is granted unless application is made within five years from death, subject to the statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the filing route. If the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is available, the statewide requirements include 45 days since death, the value test stated in A.C.A. § 28-41-101, filing with the probate clerk of the circuit court, and a certified copy for the bank or other property holder. Otherwise, prepare a full administration petition.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms for the situation, such as the petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative or the petition for appointment of an administrator, and include the statewide probate cover sheet.
- File with the Faulkner County Clerk's office, the probate clerk for the Faulkner County Circuit Court, at 801 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034. The office phone is 501-450-4909. The county clerk's published probate filing fee is $165.00, current as reviewed August 2026, 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, and the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416, created by 2009 Act 328 approved March 9, 2009 and unchanged by 2025 reprints.
- If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask about filing in forma pauperis under Rule 72 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure. Faulkner County publishes an instruction packet for that request.
- After filing, the case is assigned at random by the clerk's case-management software between two divisions of the Faulkner County Circuit Court under the Twentieth Judicial Circuit's administrative plan. The family does not choose the judge.
- A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed; otherwise the court may set a hearing or may act on the papers (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk where any hearing will be held and whether the judge will allow phone or video attendance.
- If the court appoints a personal representative, the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal after the required acceptance or bond step is complete (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Publish and serve the notice of appointment as required. Creditor claims are barred six months from the date of first publication, and copies must be served on heirs, devisees and known creditors within one month after first publication, with notice to the Department of Human Services when required (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Administer the estate, gather assets, address claims, pay lawful expenses and taxes, account as required, distribute property under the court's orders, and seek discharge when the estate settlement is ready to close.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Faulkner County
Faulkner County has one important local probate form point: the Faulkner County Clerk publishes a collection-of-small-estates form on the county website. The form is linked from the County Clerk page, but its scanned contents are not described here.
Faulkner County does not publish its own probate petition. For full administration, use the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms, including the petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, petition for appointment of administrator, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, letters testamentary, letters of administration, inventory and affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee.
The statewide probate cover sheet is headed for the Arkansas circuit court probate division and states on its face that it is required under Administrative Order Number 8. Faulkner County's website does not add a local cover-sheet instruction, so use the statewide cover sheet with the official probate forms.
The Faulkner County Circuit Clerk's forms page also publishes an in forma pauperis instruction sheet for asking the court to waive filing fees under Rule 72, plus a self-represented-litigant resource sheet. Those are not probate petitions, but they may matter if cost is the barrier to filing.
Fees
| Fee item | Amount and local note |
|---|---|
| Opening a decedent's estate | $165.00, current as reviewed August 2026. Faulkner County Clerk publishes the same amount for a probate filing. The total is 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 and unchanged by 2025 reprints. |
| Affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee | A.C.A. § 28-41-101 sets a $25.00 filing charge, current as reviewed August 2026 with no 2025 change found, plus $5.00 per certified copy under the same section. Faulkner County Clerk's published list shows $30.00 for a small estate, with no breakdown, so call 501-450-4909 to confirm the exact amount before going to Conway or mailing papers. |
| Claim against estate | Faulkner County Clerk publishes $5.00, current as reviewed August 2026, matching A.C.A. § 21-6-413. |
| Certified copy | Faulkner County Clerk publishes $5.00, current as reviewed August 2026. Certified copies of the small-estate affidavit are also $5.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Fee waiver request | An indigent person may ask to proceed in forma pauperis under Rule 72 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure. The fee-waiver route is recognized in A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416, and Faulkner County publishes an instruction packet. |
| Costs outside the clerk's filing fee | Publication charges, bond premiums and attorney fees are separate from the court filing fee and are not set by the Faulkner County Clerk's probate filing line. |
Local nuance
Faulkner County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Probate goes to the county clerk | Faulkner County has separate county clerk and circuit clerk offices. The county clerk at 801 Locust Avenue files instruments in decedent estate cases and is the probate clerk for the Faulkner County Circuit Court. The circuit clerk is at 724 Locust Avenue and is not the probate filing counter. |
| Two offices sit on the same street | The addresses and phone numbers are easy to mix up. Use 801 Locust Avenue and 501-450-4909 for probate filings. |
| Fax numbers differ by one digit | The county clerk's fax is 501-450-4938. The circuit clerk's fax is 501-450-4948. Neither office states that probate filings may be faxed. |
| The county publishes the probate fee | The county clerk's list shows $165.00 for a probate filing, current as reviewed August 2026, which matches A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416. |
| The small-estate amount should be checked | A.C.A. § 28-41-101 sets the affidavit filing charge at $25.00, current as reviewed August 2026, plus $5.00 per certified copy. Faulkner County's list shows $30.00 for a small estate without a breakdown, so call before filing. |
| Faulkner County publishes a local small-estate form | The county clerk links a collection-of-small-estates form. The rest of the probate packet comes from the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. |
| Fee waiver instructions are local | Faulkner County publishes an in forma pauperis instruction packet for a Rule 72 filing-fee waiver request. |
| Cases are assigned after filing | The Twentieth Judicial Circuit's administrative plan assigns newly filed Faulkner County probate cases at random between two divisions of the circuit court. The family does not pick the judge. |
| One circuit does not mean one courthouse | Faulkner, Searcy and Van Buren counties share Arkansas's Twentieth Judicial Circuit, but a Faulkner County estate is filed in Conway. |
| Call before a deadline trip | The county clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except county holidays. Faulkner County publishes a 2026 holiday schedule and allows additional proclaimed closings. |
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 line at 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 21. |
| June 5, 2026 | Subscription billing ends in eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. Other payment methods remain available. |
| November 25, 2025 | Faulkner County filed its 2026 holiday schedule for county offices, including the county clerk's office at the courthouse in Conway. |
| Current 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 Faulkner County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed. If the deed has survivorship language, the house may pass outside probate. If an estate is still needed, file in Conway with the Faulkner County Clerk, not with the separate circuit clerk. The homestead and statutory allowances matter to the Arkansas affidavit analysis under A.C.A. § 28-39-101 and A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title clues so the spouse can see whether a court filing is needed for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is filed with the Faulkner County Clerk at 801 Locust Avenue in Conway, and a certified copy then goes to the bank or holder of property. Faulkner County publishes its own collection-of-small-estates form. Call 501-450-4909 to confirm the amount, because the statute says $25.00 plus $5.00 per certified copy, current as reviewed August 2026, and the county list shows $30.00. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps determine what documents are needed, and can prepare a packet for review before anything is mailed to Conway. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The Arkansas affidavit route can include real property under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, 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 full administration may be the practical path. The case will be assigned at random between two divisions after filing. | Sunset helps gather property, mortgage, creditor and heir information, then connects the family with a local attorney when a sale or court authority is needed. |
Self-help resources
For Faulkner County probate, start with the county clerk's office in Conway, the county's own published forms and fee-waiver sheets, the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms, and legal help when advice is needed.
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Faulkner County Clerk's office | Probate filing counter for the Faulkner County Circuit Court. Address: 801 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034. Phone: 501-450-4909. Fax: 501-450-4938. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except county holidays. |
| Faulkner County collection-of-small-estates form | A six-page form published by the Faulkner County Clerk for the affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. Use it together with the Arkansas requirements and call the clerk about the filing amount. |
| Faulkner County in forma pauperis instruction sheet | Explains how to ask the court for permission to file without paying court fees when the person cannot afford them. This is the local packet for a Rule 72 request. |
| Faulkner County court services information sheet | A self-represented-litigant resource sheet with court and form links. Use current legal-aid information from Legal Aid of Arkansas. |
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | Free official probate forms for Arkansas circuit court probate matters, including petitions, acceptance of appointment, inventory, letters testamentary, letters of administration and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | A one-page Arkansas circuit court probate cover sheet dated November 15, 2023 that states it is required under Administrative Order Number 8. |
| Arkansas Law Help | Statewide public legal information site at https://arlawhelp.org. Its small-estate packet explains that the affidavit is filed with the probate clerk of the circuit court of proper venue under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case information at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Document availability varies by court, so ask the clerk's office in Conway about documents in a Faulkner County case. |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide intake 1-800-952-9243, apply at https://arlegalaid.org. It is income-restricted and limited to published priorities; estate administration is not listed as a priority, so check eligibility and availability before relying on representation. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Faulkner County when a home must be sold, heirs disagree, creditors may exceed assets, the will may be challenged, or a personal representative lives out of state. Local details are easy to misread: probate filings go to the county clerk at 801 Locust Avenue, not the separate circuit clerk at 724 Locust Avenue; the county publishes a $165.00 probate filing fee current as reviewed August 2026 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416, but its small-estate line should be confirmed against A.C.A. § 28-41-101; and remote attendance depends on the judge and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit's plan. If cost is the barrier, Arkansas allows a Rule 72 in forma pauperis request, and Faulkner County publishes an instruction packet. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, debts and other assets that shape the Faulkner County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized packet using the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms, the statewide probate cover sheet and the Faulkner County filing details for the county clerk's office in Conway.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, contested issues, creditor problems or an out-of-state personal representative, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the filing path and decide whether they need local counsel without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a probate case in Faulkner County?
File with the Faulkner County Clerk's office at the Faulkner County Courthouse, 801 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034. The phone number is 501-450-4909.
Do I file with the circuit clerk or the county clerk in Faulkner County?
Use the county clerk's office. Faulkner County has a separate circuit clerk at 724 Locust Avenue, but probate filings for the Faulkner County Circuit Court go to the county clerk's office at 801 Locust Avenue.
What does it cost to open an estate in Faulkner County?
The county clerk's published probate filing fee is $165.00, current as reviewed August 2026. That is 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 and unchanged by 2025 reprints.
What are the county clerk's hours in Conway?
The Faulkner County Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except county holidays. The county publishes a 2026 holiday schedule and additional closings may be proclaimed, so call before travelling on a deadline.
Can I ask for the filing fee to be waived?
Yes, if you qualify. Arkansas recognizes an in forma pauperis request under Rule 72 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, and the fee-waiver statutes include A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Faulkner County publishes an instruction packet for that request.
Do I have to use eFlex if I am handling the estate myself?
Attorneys file through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. The Arkansas portal says a self-represented litigant may register only in a particular court, so ask the Faulkner County Clerk whether this court will register you. If not, ask how to file in person or by mail.
Will there be a hearing, and how is the judge assigned?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed; otherwise the court may set a hearing or may act on the papers (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). In Faulkner County, newly filed probate cases are assigned at random between two divisions under the Twentieth Judicial Circuit's administrative plan.
Can I appear by phone or video instead of travelling to Conway?
Do not assume either answer. Whether a phone or video appearance is allowed depends on the circuit judge and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit's administrative plan under Administrative Order No. 14. Call the Faulkner County Clerk at 501-450-4909 before relying on remote access.
How do I look up a Faulkner County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides free statewide case information. Document availability varies by court, so ask the clerk's office in Conway about documents in a specific Faulkner County case.
Is there a deadline to open probate in Arkansas?
Yes. No will is admitted and no administration is granted unless application is made within five years from the decedent's death, subject to the statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103). That deadline is separate from the six months creditor-claim bar after first publication of notice 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.