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Lonoke County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Lonoke County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Lonoke County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Lonoke County Clerk's office, Suite 103, as ex officio clerk of the probate division under A.C.A. § 14-14-502. Call (501) 676-2368. The circuit clerk is a separate office and does not take probate filings. |
| Judicial circuit | Arkansas's Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, composed of Lonoke County alone. A Lonoke County case is filed in the city of Lonoke. |
| Courthouse address | Lonoke County Courthouse, 301 North Center Street, Suite 103, Lonoke, AR 72086 |
| Mailing address | Lonoke County Clerk, PO Box 188, Lonoke, AR 72086. The circuit clerk's P.O. Box 870 is not the probate mailing address. |
| Phone | (501) 676-2368 |
| [email protected]. Do not treat email as a filing channel unless the clerk tells you to. | |
| Fax | (501) 676-2423 is published for the county clerk. The office does not say probate filings may be sent by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office does not post a lunch closing or a filing cutoff, so call before travelling near a deadline. |
| Payment | The county clerk's fee list says all fees are to be paid in exact cash. Call before assuming another payment method. |
| Filing fee | Current as of August 2026, $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Current as of August 2026, $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. |
| Local forms | Lonoke County does not publish a county probate packet or local cover-sheet instruction. Use the Arkansas Judiciary's 33 official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet, which states 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 Lonoke County Clerk's office whether this court will register them and can otherwise plan to file at the courthouse. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides free statewide case information. Document availability varies by court. |
| Remote appearance | Set by the circuit judge and the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit's administrative plan. Ask the assigned division or the county clerk before relying on phone or video attendance. |
| Website | https://lonokecoclerk.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Lonoke County, make a list of the assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries and how each account or parcel is titled. The Lonoke County Clerk's office files decedent estates and affidavits for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, but the office states that state law prohibits it from providing legal advice.
Sunset can help with estate settlement by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and benefits, then organizing what you found into a probate packet or an attorney handoff. That asset picture matters because Arkansas's affidavit route depends on value after encumbrances and on exclusions for the homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Lonoke County is filed with the Lonoke County Clerk at the Lonoke County Courthouse, 301 North Center Street, Suite 103, Lonoke, AR 72086. Probate mail goes to Lonoke County Clerk, PO Box 188, Lonoke, AR 72086. The circuit clerk's P.O. Box 870 belongs to a different office in the same courthouse.
The Lonoke courthouse serves the whole county, including Cabot, Ward, Austin, England, Carlisle, Allport, Humnoke and the city of Lonoke. A Cabot or Ward estate is filed in the city of Lonoke, not at another county courthouse.
Arkansas venue for probate and administration is in the county where the decedent resided at death, or, for a nonresident, the county holding the greater part in value of the Arkansas property, or, if there was no Arkansas residence or property but the death occurred in Arkansas, the county of death, or otherwise a county where the personal representative could maintain a cause of action (A.C.A. § 28-40-102). The first legally commenced proceeding controls statewide property, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred rather than dismissed. Lonoke County alone makes up Arkansas's Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, so a Lonoke County estate settlement is filed at the Lonoke County Courthouse.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of heirs and beneficiaries, and an asset and debt list before you choose a path.
- Check the Arkansas deadline. A will cannot be admitted and administration cannot be granted unless application is made within five years from death, subject to the statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Decide whether the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough, or whether full administration is needed. For the affidavit route, 45 days must have passed since death, the statutory value test must be met, and the Lonoke County Clerk's fee list says the death certificate must be presented.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms for the route you are using, such as the petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, the petition for appointment of administrator, proof of will, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, inventory, or affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
- Add the statewide probate cover sheet. The cover sheet states that it is required under Administrative Order Number 8 and asks for the county, division and case type.
- File with the Lonoke County Clerk, Suite 103, Lonoke County Courthouse, 301 North Center Street, Lonoke, AR 72086. If you want to mail papers to PO Box 188, call (501) 676-2368 first and ask how the office wants the filing and payment handled.
- Pay the filing charge. Current as of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. The county clerk's fee list says all fees are to be paid in exact cash. If you cannot afford the charge, ask about proceeding in forma pauperis under Rule 72.
- Watch for notice and hearing instructions. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and is otherwise discretionary (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). In Lonoke County, hearings are scheduled through the assigned division's office. Division 1 schedules through (501) 676-3131, Division 2 through (501) 676-3007 and Division 3 through (501) 676-3090. The case paperwork shows the division.
- After the circuit judge 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 the required copies. Claims are barred six months from first publication, and copies must be served on heirs, devisees and known creditors within one month, with Department of Human Services notice when required (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Administer the estate by inventorying assets, handling claims, paying debts and taxes, and keeping records for the estate settlement.
- Close with any required accounting, final distribution and discharge order after the court approves the final steps.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lonoke County
Lonoke County does not publish a county probate packet, local probate checklist or local cover-sheet instruction. The Lonoke County Clerk's office also states that state law prohibits the office from providing legal advice, and its fee list recommends using an attorney for a decedent estate filing.
Use the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms for the probate division. The statewide form set includes petitions for appointment, petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, proof of will, bond, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, notice of appointment, inventory, accounting, letters testamentary, letters of administration and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee (A.C.A. § 28-41-101; A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
The statewide probate cover sheet goes on top of the filing. It is headed for Arkansas circuit court probate matters and states that it is required under Administrative Order Number 8. Its fields include county, filing date, judge, division, case ID and case type, which helps match the filing to the correct division in Lonoke County.
Fees
The Lonoke County Clerk publishes a probate fee list that matches Arkansas's statewide filing statutes. Current as of August 2026, the office lists $165.00 for a decedent estate, which is the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Current as of August 2026, it lists $25.00 for an affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 and $5.00 per certified copy under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
The same Lonoke County Clerk fee list says all fees are to be paid in exact cash. Call (501) 676-2368 before assuming the office will take a card, check or money order, and before mailing a filing with payment.
The $165.00 opening charge is the same in every Arkansas county because A.C.A. § 21-6-403(f) bars a county from adding a filing fee not authorized by state law. A person allowed to proceed in forma pauperis under Rule 72 may have the charges waived under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Newspaper publication charges, any bond premium, copy charges outside the statute and recording charges are separate from the court filing fee.
Local nuance
Lonoke County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Lonoke County |
|---|---|
| Use the county clerk, not the circuit clerk | The Lonoke County Clerk files decedent estates, affidavits for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, guardianships and adoptions. The separate circuit clerk handles other case types and the circuit clerk as ex officio recorder handles land records. |
| Use the right mailing address | Probate mail goes to Lonoke County Clerk, PO Box 188, Lonoke, AR 72086. P.O. Box 870 belongs to the circuit clerk and is not the probate address. |
| Bring exact cash | The county clerk's fee list says all fees are to be paid in exact cash. Current as of August 2026, the decedent estate charge is $165.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee charge is $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Find Suite 103 | The Lonoke County Clerk's counter is listed at Suite 103 in the Lonoke County Courthouse, 301 North Center Street, Lonoke, AR 72086. |
| Bring the death certificate for the affidavit route | The county clerk's fee list says the death certificate must be presented and 45 days must have lapsed since death before filing an affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Expect no drafting help from the counter | The county clerk's office states that state law prohibits it from providing legal advice, and its decedent estate line recommends using an attorney for that filing. |
| One courthouse serves the whole county | Cabot, Ward, Austin, England, Carlisle, Allport, Humnoke and the city of Lonoke all file probate matters at the Lonoke County Courthouse in the city of Lonoke. |
| The Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit is Lonoke County only | There is no sister county counter for a Lonoke County estate settlement. File at the Lonoke County Courthouse. |
| Hearings are set through the assigned division | Division 1 schedules through (501) 676-3131, Division 2 through (501) 676-3007 and Division 3 through (501) 676-3090. The case paperwork shows which division is assigned. |
| Read the notice for the courtroom | The circuit uses more than one courtroom. The notice to appear names the courtroom, and a daily marquee in the courthouse lists what is being heard where. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the statewide free civil legal services provider for all 75 Arkansas counties, with one statewide intake line, 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. |
| Current as of August 2026 | The Arkansas Judiciary's public case search is Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start with the deed and how the home is titled. If survivorship keeps the home outside the estate settlement, the Lonoke filing may focus on accounts or property in the decedent's sole name. The homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101 matter when testing the affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | Sunset helps identify accounts, benefits and debts so the spouse can see whether a court filing is needed and what goes to the Lonoke County Clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is filed with the Lonoke County Clerk under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. Current as of August 2026, the filing charge is $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 and certified copies are $5.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. The fee list says to present the death certificate and pay exact cash, so call before travelling. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags accounts that may need certified copies or letters, and helps prepare the estate settlement packet for the trip or attorney review. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 can reach real property, but real property triggers publication within 30 days and a three-month creditor window. A sale often needs letters from full administration. Current as of August 2026, opening the estate costs $165.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416, paid to the Lonoke County Clerk. A later deed recording is handled by the circuit clerk as ex officio recorder, a different office. | Sunset helps collect property, mortgage, account and debt information, then connects the family with a local attorney when a sale and court authority are needed. |
Self-help resources
Lonoke County does not publish a local probate clinic or facilitator program. Practical help starts with the Lonoke County Clerk's counter, the statewide probate forms and statewide legal information resources.
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Lonoke County Clerk | Files decedent estates, affidavits for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, guardianships and adoptions. Address: 301 North Center Street, Suite 103, Lonoke, AR 72086. Mailing: PO Box 188, Lonoke, AR 72086. Phone: (501) 676-2368. Email: [email protected]. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office states that state law prohibits it from providing legal advice. |
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | Free statewide probate division forms, including petitions, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, inventory, letters testamentary and letters of administration under A.C.A. § 28-48-102, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Required under Administrative Order Number 8. The cover sheet asks for the county, division and case type. |
| Arkansas Law Help | Statewide public legal information at arlawhelp.org, including a small-estate packet that explains the court-filed affidavit and the $25.00 filing charge and $5.00 certified-copy charge, current as of August 2026, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case information at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Document availability varies by court. |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide intake at 1-800-952-9243 and arlegalaid.org. Legal Aid of Arkansas is income-restricted and limited to its published priorities, which include guardianship, powers of attorney and wills. It may not take a decedent estate administration matter. |
When to hire an attorney
A Lonoke County probate attorney is especially useful when real estate must be sold, a will may be contested, creditors are pressing, the estate may be insolvent, the personal representative lives outside Arkansas, or it is unclear whether the affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough. Local process is also easy to misroute because the county clerk, not the circuit clerk, takes probate filings, and the Lonoke County Clerk's office states that state law prohibits it from providing legal advice and recommends using an attorney for a decedent estate filing. Sunset connects the family to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps build the inventory of accounts, insurance, benefits, debts and real property that drives estate settlement in Lonoke County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Arkansas Judiciary forms, the statewide probate cover sheet and the Lonoke County Clerk filing, including the fee, exact-cash reminder and clerk contact information.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, creditor issue, contested will or full administration needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney familiar with local filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to find assets, understand next steps and move the estate settlement forward without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Lonoke County?
File with the Lonoke County Clerk at the Lonoke County Courthouse, 301 North Center Street, Suite 103, Lonoke, AR 72086. Probate mail goes to Lonoke County Clerk, PO Box 188, Lonoke, AR 72086. Venue is governed by A.C.A. § 28-40-102.
Do I use the Lonoke County Clerk or the circuit clerk?
Use the Lonoke County Clerk for probate filings. The county clerk files decedent estates and affidavits for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. The circuit clerk is a separate office in the same courthouse and does not take probate filings.
Which post office box should probate mail go to in Lonoke County?
Use Lonoke County Clerk, PO Box 188, Lonoke, AR 72086. Do not use the circuit clerk's P.O. Box 870 for probate mail.
What does it cost to open an estate in Lonoke County?
Current as of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Current as of August 2026, an 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. The county clerk's fee list says all fees are to be paid in exact cash.
When is the Lonoke County Clerk open?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office does not post a lunch closing or a filing cutoff, so call (501) 676-2368 before travelling near a deadline.
Do self-represented filers have to use eFlex in Lonoke County?
Attorneys file through eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Lonoke County Clerk whether this court will register them and can otherwise plan to file at the courthouse.
Will there be a hearing in a Lonoke County probate case?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and is otherwise discretionary (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). In Lonoke County, the assigned division schedules hearings. Division 1 uses (501) 676-3131, Division 2 uses (501) 676-3007 and Division 3 uses (501) 676-3090.
Can I attend a Lonoke County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask before relying on phone or video attendance. Remote appearance is set by the circuit judge and the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit's administrative plan, and the case notice controls where and how to appear.
How do I look up a Lonoke County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad for free statewide case information. Search by party name or case number. Document availability varies by court, so ask the Lonoke County Clerk about documents in a particular case.
Does Lonoke County have its own probate forms?
Lonoke County does not publish a county probate packet or local cover-sheet instruction. Use the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. The forms include letters testamentary, letters of administration and other papers tied to A.C.A. § 28-48-102, plus the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
What is the deadline to open probate in Arkansas?
Arkansas generally requires the application to admit a will or grant administration within five years from death, subject to the statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103). Creditor claims are a separate clock and are barred six months from first publication of the notice of appointment (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.