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Greene County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Greene County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Greene County Clerk, 320 West Court St, Paragould, AR 72450 |
| Phone | (870) 239-6311 |
| Fax | (870) 239-6320 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call before filing close to the end of the day. |
| Mailing | Call the Greene County Clerk before mailing a probate filing. The public office address for probate filings is 320 West Court St, Paragould, AR 72450. |
| Judicial circuit | Second Judicial Circuit, covering Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Greene, Mississippi and Poinsett counties. File Greene County cases in Greene County, not another county in the circuit. |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee last reprinted effective March 6, 2013 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 court technology fee created effective March 9, 2009 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Greene County also lists $25.00 for an affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee and $5.00 per certified copy, current under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 as reviewed August 2026. |
| Local fees | The Greene County Clerk lists probate charges on the County Clerk page and states that fees are paid by cash or money order. |
| Forms | Use the Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. Ask the Greene County Clerk whether any Greene County checklist is required before filing. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Greene County Clerk whether the court will register them for e-filing in that matter and should also ask about in-person or mail filing. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides free statewide case information. Document access varies by court. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Greene County Clerk before planning a phone or video appearance. Practice is set by the circuit judge and the Second Judicial Circuit administrative plan. |
| Websites | Greene County Clerk: https://greenecounty.arkansas.gov/departments/county-clerks-office. Circuit Clerk: https://greenecounty.arkansas.gov/circuit-clerk/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Greene County, list the assets, debts, account titles, real property, beneficiary designations and any original will. The right estate settlement path depends on what needs court authority, not just on whether family members agree.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then helps turn that inventory into a probate packet for the Greene County Clerk or a discussion with a local attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Greene County is filed at the Greene County Courthouse in Paragould, in the probate division of the Greene County Circuit Court. The filing counter for Greene County probate is the Greene County Clerk at 320 West Court St, Paragould, AR 72450.
Arkansas venue for probate and administration is set by A.C.A. § 28-40-102. The usual filing county is where the decedent resided at death; if the decedent was not an Arkansas resident, 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 personal representative may maintain a cause of action. The first legally commenced proceeding controls statewide property unless the circuit court transfers the case.
Greene County sits in Arkansas's Second Judicial Circuit with Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Mississippi and Poinsett counties, but that circuit does not create a shared filing counter. File a Greene County estate in Greene County.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, asset information, creditor information and names and addresses for heirs and devisees.
- Check the Arkansas filing deadline. No will may be admitted to probate and no administration may be granted unless application is made within five years from the decedent's death, subject to statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the route. If 45 days have elapsed since death, no personal representative has been appointed and the estate fits the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee rules, including the $100,000 cap measured less encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, the affidavit route may be available (A.C.A. § 28-41-101). Otherwise prepare a full administration petition.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms that fit the case, including the petition, any will proof, acceptance, bond paperwork if required by the court, designation of process agent if needed, and the statewide probate cover sheet.
- File with the Greene County Clerk, the probate clerk for the probate division of the Greene County Circuit Court, at 320 West Court St in Paragould. Pay $165.00 to open the estate, consisting of the $150.00 filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, last reprinted effective March 6, 2013, plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416, created effective March 9, 2009, or ask the court about proceeding in forma pauperis under Rule 72.
- Handle notice and any hearing. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed; otherwise the court may decide whether a hearing is needed (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the Greene County Clerk how the judge wants any hearing request handled.
- After the court appoints the personal representative, complete any required qualification step. The clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal after the appointment and qualification requirements are met (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Publish notice of appointment and serve required copies. Claims are barred six months from the first publication if not properly presented, and copies must be served on heirs, devisees and known or reasonably ascertainable unpaid creditors within one month after first publication, including required notice to the Department of Human Services when applicable (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, protecting property, preparing any required inventory, addressing valid claims, paying expenses and taxes, and keeping records for the accounting.
- Close the estate by filing the required accounting or settlement papers, requesting final distribution and discharge, and completing any final orders required by the circuit judge.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Greene County
The Arkansas Judiciary publishes official probate forms for decedent estates, including petitions, proof of will, bond, acceptance, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting and Form 23 for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. The statewide probate cover sheet should be included with a new probate filing.
For Greene County, start with the statewide forms and call the Greene County Clerk before filing to ask whether the judge or clerk wants any additional local checklist, copies or payment format. Greene County's County Clerk page lists probate fees and states that fees are paid by cash or money order.
| Form source | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | Opening a full administration, proving a will, qualifying the personal representative, giving notices and filing inventory or accounting papers. |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Include with a probate filing in the circuit court probate division. |
| Greene County Clerk | Confirm copy count, payment method and whether any local checklist is expected in Paragould. |
Fees
Greene County publishes a local probate fee list on the County Clerk page. The listed opening charge matches the statewide Arkansas filing structure, and the page states that fees are paid by cash or money order.
| Greene County fee item | Amount and authority |
|---|---|
| Initiating a probate matter | $165.00, matching the $150.00 uniform filing fee last reprinted effective March 6, 2013 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee created effective March 9, 2009 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. |
| Affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee | $25.00, current under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 as reviewed August 2026. |
| Certified copy | $5.00, current under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 as reviewed August 2026 for certified copies of the affidavit. |
| Affidavit of claim against an estate | $5.00, listed by Greene County as of August 2026 and within the Arkansas probate fee statutes in A.C.A. § 21-6-413. |
| Accounting filed after one year | $50.00, listed by Greene County as of August 2026 and within the Arkansas probate fee statutes in A.C.A. § 21-6-413. |
| Reopening a probate matter | $50.00, listed by Greene County as of August 2026 and consistent with reopening fees under A.C.A. § 21-6-403. |
| Copies | $0.25 per page, listed by Greene County as of August 2026. |
Local nuance
Greene County-specific considerations
Greene County is a split-clerk county for probate filing purposes. The Circuit Clerk page lists domestic relations, civil, criminal and juvenile court records and the recorder function, while the County Clerk page lists probate among the County Clerk's duties. For a decedent estate in Greene County, start with the Greene County Clerk.
Both offices are in the same courthouse at 320 West Court St in Paragould, so the distinction is about the correct counter and phone number. The probate filing line is the Greene County Clerk at (870) 239-6311, not the Circuit Clerk line.
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the single statewide LSC funded civil legal aid provider for all 75 Arkansas counties. Estate administration may not be within its case priorities, so families should check eligibility and scope before relying on legal aid for an estate settlement issue. |
| December 9, 2025 | The Arkansas Judiciary eFlex Electronic Filing Rejection Policy took effect for filings through efile.arcourts.gov. |
| June 5, 2026 | The Arkansas Judiciary announced that subscription-based payment support in eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov would end, while other payment methods would remain available. |
| Current case lookup | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad is the statewide public case information system for Arkansas circuit courts. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by identifying how the Paragould or Greene County home is titled and whether assets pass outside probate. If court authority is still needed, file in the probate division through the Greene County Clerk. If the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is being considered, remember that Arkansas excludes the homestead and statutory allowances from the $100,000 calculation under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 and A.C.A. § 28-39-101. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare questions for the Greene County Clerk or a local attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate fits A.C.A. § 28-41-101, the affidavit is filed with the Greene County Clerk, and certified copies are then used with banks or other holders. If full administration is needed, ask about the Arkansas form for designation of process agent and ask the clerk how any hearing will be handled. | Sunset turns the asset list into an estate settlement plan, prepares the probate packet, and helps coordinate attorney help if letters are needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee can include real property under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, but real property adds publication and creditor timing. A sale often requires letters testamentary or letters of administration under A.C.A. § 28-48-102, so counsel should review the title and sale plan before filing. | Sunset helps locate accounts, collect documents, identify whether a full administration is more practical, and connect the family with a Greene County probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Greene County Clerk | Probate filing counter for Greene County, including filing questions, fees, copy charges and local payment method. | 320 West Court St, Paragould, AR 72450. Phone: (870) 239-6311. Website: https://greenecounty.arkansas.gov/departments/county-clerks-office. |
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | Statewide forms for petitions, notices, letters, inventory, accounting and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Cover sheet to include with a circuit court probate division filing. | https://arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/formatted-files/PR_cover_Nov_2023.pdf |
| Arkansas Law Help | Public legal information, including a small-estate packet that explains filing the affidavit with the probate clerk and the $25.00 fee current under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 as reviewed August 2026. | https://arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case information for circuit courts. Document availability varies by court. | https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide income-restricted civil legal aid intake. Its priorities may not include estate administration, but families can check eligibility for related civil legal issues. | 1-800-952-9243. https://arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Greene County when a home must be sold, heirs disagree, the original will is missing or contested, a creditor claim is disputed, a nonresident personal representative needs to qualify, 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 more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, real property and debts so the family can choose the right estate settlement path before filing in Greene County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the asset inventory and family information to help assemble the Arkansas probate forms, probate cover sheet and supporting documents for the Greene County Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs court strategy, a home sale, creditor work or contested guidance, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney who understands the Greene County filing process.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, track documents and understand next steps without paying Sunset for the planning tools.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Greene County, Arkansas?
File Greene County probate papers with the Greene County Clerk at 320 West Court St in Paragould. The case is in the probate division of the Greene County Circuit Court.
Is the Greene County Circuit Clerk the probate filing office?
No. In Greene County, probate filings go to the Greene County Clerk. The Circuit Clerk is in the same courthouse and handles other circuit court records and the recorder function, but the local probate filing counter is the County Clerk.
How much does it cost to open probate in Greene County?
The opening charge is $165.00, consisting of the $150.00 uniform filing fee last reprinted effective March 6, 2013 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 court technology fee created effective March 9, 2009 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Greene County states that County Clerk fees are paid by cash or money order.
Does Greene County have a small-estate affidavit?
Arkansas has an affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. It is filed with the probate clerk when the requirements of A.C.A. § 28-41-101 are met, including 45 days after death and the $100,000 cap measured less encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances. Greene County lists the filing charge as $25.00, current under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 as reviewed August 2026.
Can I e-file a Greene County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Greene County Clerk whether the court will register them for e-filing in that matter and should also ask about filing in person or by mail.
Will I have to appear in court in Paragould?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed; otherwise the court decides whether a hearing is needed (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). If travel is difficult, ask the Greene County Clerk how the judge handles requests for phone or video participation.
How do I look up a Greene County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides free statewide case information for circuit courts, while access to documents varies by court.
What forms do I need for Greene County probate?
Start with the Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. Before filing, call the Greene County Clerk to ask about copy count, payment method and any local checklist the judge or clerk wants included.
What is the deadline to start probate in Greene County?
Arkansas generally requires the application to admit a will to probate or grant administration to be made within five years from death, subject to statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103). Creditor claims follow a different deadline: after letters issue and notice is published, 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.