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Grant County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Grant County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Grant County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Grant County Circuit/County Clerk |
| Courthouse address | 101 W Center St, Room 106, Sheridan, AR 72150 |
| Mailing address | Call the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk before mailing original probate papers. |
| Phone | (870) 942-2631 |
| Fax | (870) 942-3564 |
| Hours | Call before visiting to confirm current counter hours. |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, current 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 is $25.00, current August 2026, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy, current August 2026, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Local forms | No county-specific probate forms are published on the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk page. Use the Arkansas Judiciary 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 clerk whether this court will register them for electronic filing; filing in person or by mail is the fallback. |
| 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 whether the circuit judge will allow phone or video participation, and check the Seventh Judicial Circuit administrative plan. |
| Website | https://grantcountyar.com/circuit-county-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Grant County, make a working list of the assets, debts, account holders, real property, vehicles, and possible creditor issues. The right path depends on what needs to be transferred and whether a court-appointed personal representative is needed.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families search across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets before the Grant County filing is assembled. That asset picture makes it easier to decide whether you are preparing a full probate petition or a court-filed affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Grant County is filed at the Grant County Courthouse in Sheridan, through the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk, in the probate division of the Grant County Circuit Court. The court sits in Arkansas's Seventh Judicial Circuit, but a Grant County estate is filed at the Grant County courthouse, not in another county.
Arkansas venue for probate of a will or 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 statute looks to where the greater part in value of the Arkansas property is located, then to the county of death, and then to a county where a personal representative may maintain a cause of action. If more than one proceeding is started, the first-filed proceeding controls while venue is decided, and a case filed in the wrong county may be transferred.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, creditor information, and names and addresses for heirs and devisees.
- Check the Arkansas deadline. A will cannot be admitted and administration cannot be granted unless the application is made within five years from death, subject to statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the filing path. If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies for an affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under the $100,000 ceiling, measured less encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, current August 2026, use A.C.A. § 28-41-101 and A.C.A. § 28-39-101. 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 Official Probate Forms and attach the statewide probate cover sheet. Grant County does not publish a county-specific probate form packet on the Circuit/County Clerk page.
- File with the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk at the Grant County Courthouse in Sheridan. The filing fee to open a decedent's estate is $165.00, current August 2026: $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 in forma pauperis request if the filing fee cannot be paid.
- If the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, the court must set a hearing. In other cases, the court may set a hearing (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk how the Seventh Judicial Circuit handles any request to participate by phone or video.
- After the court appoints the personal representative, the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Publish the notice of appointment and serve copies on heirs, devisees, and known or reasonably ascertainable unpaid creditors within the Arkansas deadlines. Creditor claims are barred six months from first publication if not properly presented (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Inventory the estate, collect assets, address claims, pay proper debts and taxes, distribute remaining property, and seek final distribution and discharge when the estate is ready to close.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Grant County
Grant County uses the Arkansas Judiciary's statewide probate form set. That set includes petitions for appointment, proof of will, bond, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee (A.C.A. § 28-41-101; A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
A statewide probate cover sheet should be included when opening a probate matter. The Grant County Circuit/County Clerk page does not publish a county-specific probate form packet, so use the statewide forms and call the clerk before filing if you are unsure whether the judge requires any additional local presentation.
Local nuance
Grant County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| One Circuit/County Clerk counter | Grant County is one of the Arkansas counties where one elected Circuit/County Clerk serves the local filing function, so probate filings are directed to the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk in Sheridan. |
| Address to use | Use 101 W Center St, Room 106, Sheridan, AR 72150 for the Grant County courthouse filing location, and call the clerk before mailing original documents. |
| Hours and remote requests | Call before visiting to confirm current counter hours, and ask about any phone or video appearance request before a hearing is set. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Legal aid coverage | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole statewide LSC-funded civil legal aid provider for Arkansas on January 1, 2026. |
| Electronic filing rejection policy | The Arkansas Judiciary eFlex rejection policy at efile.arcourts.gov took effect December 9, 2025. |
| Electronic filing payments | The eFlex subscription-based payment option at efile.arcourts.gov ends June 5, 2026, while other payment methods remain available. |
| Case search | Arkansas is moving public case lookup to Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Grant County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled and whether any assets still need court authority. If probate is needed, file in Sheridan with the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk. Homestead and statutory allowances may affect the affidavit calculation under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 and A.C.A. § 28-39-101. | Sunset helps identify accounts, real property clues, debts, and documents before the filing path is chosen. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate fits the $100,000 limit, current August 2026, after encumbrances and the statutory exclusions, the affidavit is filed with the Grant County probate clerk under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. If letters are needed, ask about Form 9, designation of process agent, and any hearing appearance options. | Sunset organizes assets and can generate a probate packet for review before you contact the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | An Arkansas affidavit can include real property, but real property triggers publication and a creditor window under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. A sale often requires letters from a full administration, so the petition is filed in Sheridan and the clerk issues letters after the court appoints the personal representative (A.C.A. § 28-48-102). | Sunset helps map the estate settlement tasks, find the financial accounts, and connect the family with a vetted local attorney when a sale or court authority is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Grant County Circuit/County Clerk | Local filing counter for Grant County probate papers in Sheridan. Call for hours, mailing instructions, and hearing logistics. | (870) 942-2631; https://grantcountyar.com/circuit-county-clerk/ |
| Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms | Statewide probate forms for decedent estates, including petitions, notices, inventory, accounting, and letters. | https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Cover sheet used with probate filings. | https://arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/formatted-files/PR_cover_Nov_2023.pdf |
| Arkansas Law Help | Public legal information, including a packet for the court-filed affidavit process under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | https://arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide circuit-court case information. Document availability varies by court. | https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide income-restricted civil legal aid intake. Estate administration may be outside its case priorities, so use intake to check eligibility and fit. | 1-800-952-9243; https://arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Grant County when heirs disagree, the original will is unclear or missing, real property must be sold, creditor claims are expected, a nonresident personal representative needs help with process requirements, or the family is unsure whether the affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across financial institutions, insurance, retirement, and other asset categories so the family can start estate settlement with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized probate packet for Grant County, including the forms and cover sheet that fit the chosen Arkansas path.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate needs court strategy, a sale of real property, contested issues, or help with letters, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The platform helps organize estate settlement tasks, documents, deadlines, and next steps without adding another bill during the first stage of probate.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Grant County, Arkansas?
File Grant County probate papers with the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk at the Grant County Courthouse in Sheridan, for the probate division of the Grant County Circuit Court.
What is the Grant County probate filing fee?
Opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, current August 2026: $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 affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee costs $25.00, current August 2026, plus $5.00 per certified copy, current August 2026, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Does Grant County have its own probate forms?
The Grant County Circuit/County Clerk page does not publish county-specific probate forms. Use the Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms and the statewide probate cover sheet.
Can I e-file a Grant County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk whether this court will register them for electronic filing, and should be prepared to file in person or by mail if needed.
Will there be a hearing in Grant County probate?
Arkansas law requires a hearing if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed; otherwise the court may set one (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk how the judge will handle scheduling in your case.
Can I attend a Grant County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk and check the Seventh Judicial Circuit administrative plan before assuming phone or video participation will be allowed. The permission depends on the judge and the circuit's practice.
How do I look up a Grant County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides free statewide circuit-court case information, although online document access varies by court.
Do I have to travel to Sheridan for estate settlement?
Not always. Some steps may be handled by mail, through counsel, or through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov if the filer is eligible, but you should call the Grant County Circuit/County Clerk before relying on any option that avoids an in-person visit.
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.