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Prairie County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Prairie County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Prairie County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Judicial circuit | Arkansas's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, shared by Prairie and White counties. A Prairie County estate is filed at a Prairie County courthouse, not in White County. |
| Probate filings go to | Prairie County Clerk/Circuit Clerk, the probate clerk for the Prairie County Circuit Court |
| Des Arc counter | Prairie County Courthouse, 200 Courthouse Square, Suite 104, Des Arc, AR 72040. Phone: (870) 256-4434. Fax: (870) 256-1369. |
| DeValls Bluff counter | DeValls Bluff Courthouse, 123 Magnolia St, DeValls Bluff, AR 72041. Phone: (870) 998-2314. Fax: (870) 998-2010. |
| Mailing address | No separate probate mailing box is listed for either counter. Use the courthouse address for the correct district, and call the clerk before mailing a filing. |
| Hours | Call the clerk before traveling to either courthouse. Posted clerk hours were not listed for either counter. |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, last reprinted by 2013 Act 282 approved 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, plus $5.00 per certified copy, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, with the fee text current as of August 2026 and unchanged by 2021 Act 423 approved March 23, 2021. |
| Local forms | Prairie County lists no add-on probate packet. 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 Prairie County Clerk/Circuit Clerk whether that court will register them, and should use in-person or mail filing if electronic filing is not available for that filer. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides statewide case information. Document availability varies by court. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk whether the circuit judge will allow a phone or video appearance in your matter. Local practice would be addressed by the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit's administrative plan or by the judge handling the case. |
| Website | https://portal.arkansas.gov/counties/prairie/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Prairie County, make a practical list of the assets, debts, accounts, real property, vehicles, and beneficiary designations. That list drives the estate settlement path, including whether the filing belongs in the Northern District counter in Des Arc or the Southern District counter in DeValls Bluff.
Sunset's estate settlement process includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps families find accounts before they choose a probate filing route or ask the Clerk/Circuit Clerk about the correct district.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Prairie County is filed with the Prairie County Clerk/Circuit Clerk's office, which serves as the probate clerk for the Prairie County Circuit Court. The Northern District counter is at the Prairie County Courthouse in Des Arc, and the Southern District counter is at the DeValls Bluff Courthouse. Because Prairie County has two judicial districts, A.C.A. § 28-1-102(a)(3) makes the district the venue unit for probate purposes.
Under A.C.A. § 28-40-102, venue starts with the county where the decedent resided at death. If the decedent did not reside in Arkansas, venue is where the greater part in value of the Arkansas property is located. If there was no Arkansas residence or property but the person died in Arkansas, venue is where death occurred. If none of those applies, venue can be where the personal representative may maintain a cause of action. In Prairie County, call the clerk before filing to confirm which district applies. The first-filed proceeding controls, and a case filed in the wrong place is transferred rather than dismissed under A.C.A. § 28-40-102.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of heirs and devisees, and a working inventory of assets and liabilities for the estate settlement.
- Check the five-year filing rule. A.C.A. § 28-40-103 says a will may not be admitted and administration may not be granted unless application is made within five years from death, subject to the statute's exceptions.
- Choose the route. If 45 days have passed, no personal representative petition is pending or granted, and the estate fits the currently effective $100,000 amount under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, measured less encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101, a distributee may use the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. Otherwise, prepare a full administration petition.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate form that fits the case, such as a petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative or a petition for appointment of administrator, and add the statewide probate cover sheet.
- Call the Prairie County Clerk/Circuit Clerk before filing to confirm whether the case belongs at the Des Arc counter for the Northern District or the DeValls Bluff counter for the Southern District. File with that probate clerk and pay the statutory filing fee listed in the at-a-glance table, or ask the court about a Rule 72 fee waiver if the filer cannot afford court costs.
- Give notice as the case requires. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or if a demand for notice is on file; otherwise the court may decide whether to set one under A.C.A. § 28-40-110.
- 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 under A.C.A. § 28-48-102.
- After letters issue, publish the notice of appointment and 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 under A.C.A. § 28-40-111.
- Administer the estate by gathering assets, filing any required inventory or accounting, paying valid debts and taxes, distributing property, and asking the court for final distribution and discharge when administration is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Prairie County
Prairie County uses the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. The Judiciary publishes forms for petitions, proof of will, bond, acceptance of appointment, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting, claims, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee.
Prairie County does not list a county-specific probate packet or checklist on its county contact pages. Before filing, call the Clerk/Circuit Clerk to confirm the correct district counter and whether the clerk wants any local cover information in addition to the statewide probate cover sheet.
Local nuance
Prairie County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two judicial districts | Prairie County has a Northern District counter in Des Arc and a Southern District counter in DeValls Bluff. A.C.A. § 28-1-102(a)(3) makes the district matter for probate venue in a two-district county, so call before filing if the decedent's district is unclear. |
| One combined clerk office | Prairie County is a combined Clerk/Circuit Clerk county, so families do not have to choose between separate clerk offices for probate. The question is which district counter to use. |
| No posted clerk hours | Call the Des Arc or DeValls Bluff counter before traveling, mailing a filing, or relying on a fax number for any probate filing question. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the statewide Legal Services Corporation funded civil legal-aid provider for all 75 Arkansas counties. Families should use its statewide intake number and should not assume estate administration is within its published priorities. |
| December 9, 2025 | The Arkansas Judiciary's eFlex portal announced an Electronic Filing Rejection Policy effective on this date. |
| June 5, 2026 | The Arkansas Judiciary's eFlex portal announced that subscription-based payments would end on this date, with other payment methods remaining available. |
| Current public case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the statewide public case-information portal for circuit court case information. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Prairie County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the home was titled and whether any probate asset remains. If a probate filing is needed, call the Clerk/Circuit Clerk to confirm whether the Northern District or Southern District counter applies. The small estate path under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 may be relevant only if the estate fits that statute after encumbrances and the homestead and statutory allowances are treated correctly. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues so the spouse can decide whether an estate settlement filing is needed before preparing forms. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate fits A.C.A. § 28-41-101, a distributee may file the affidavit with the Prairie County probate clerk and use certified copies with banks or other holders. If letters are needed, the child should ask the clerk about the proper district counter and whether any appearance can be handled by phone or video. | Sunset helps assemble asset details, generate the correct packet, and find a local probate attorney when an out-of-state family member needs local help. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 can include real property, but real property brings a publication step and a creditor period under that statute. A sale often requires court authority and letters, so full administration may be the practical path. The parent should confirm the Prairie County district before filing. | Sunset helps organize the estate settlement, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with counsel for the sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps Prairie County families |
|---|---|
| Prairie County Clerk/Circuit Clerk | Call Des Arc at (870) 256-4434 or DeValls Bluff at (870) 998-2314 to confirm the correct district counter, current hours, mailing instructions, and local filing preferences. |
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | Provides the statewide probate forms used for Arkansas probate filings, including petitions, notices, letters, inventories, accountings, claims, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | Use the Arkansas Judiciary probate cover sheet with a new probate filing or closing filing when required by statewide court administration practice. |
| Arkansas Law Help | Provides public legal information, including a small-estate packet that tracks the A.C.A. § 28-41-101 affidavit process. |
| Search ARCourts | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides public case information statewide. Document availability varies by court. |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Call 1-800-952-9243 or visit arlegalaid.org to check eligibility for income-restricted civil legal help. Its published priorities do not list decedent estate administration, so ask before relying on it for an estate matter. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Prairie County when the estate includes real property to sell, possible creditor disputes, a contested will, unclear heirs, a nonresident personal representative, or uncertainty about which Prairie County district should take the filing. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, balances, and liabilities before they choose an estate settlement path in Prairie County.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized probate packet using the Arkansas Judiciary forms and the Prairie County filing details that matter, including the Des Arc and DeValls Bluff counters.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate settlement needs legal judgment, a home sale, contested issues, or help with hearings, Sunset can connect the family with an Arkansas probate attorney familiar with local filing practice.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The platform helps organize the work, reduce missed assets, and make the next filing step clearer.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Prairie County?
File with the Prairie County Clerk/Circuit Clerk, which serves as the probate clerk for the Prairie County Circuit Court. Prairie County has two counters: Des Arc for the Northern District and DeValls Bluff for the Southern District. Call the clerk to confirm which district applies before filing. Venue is governed by A.C.A. § 28-40-102, and Prairie County's two-district rule also uses A.C.A. § 28-1-102(a)(3).
Which courthouse should I use, Des Arc or DeValls Bluff?
Use the district tied to the decedent's Prairie County residence or the other venue facts that apply under A.C.A. § 28-40-102. The district boundary was not published in the county contact materials, so call Des Arc at (870) 256-4434 or DeValls Bluff at (870) 998-2314 before traveling or mailing a filing.
Can I e-file a Prairie County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Prairie County Clerk/Circuit Clerk whether that court will register them for electronic filing and should use in-person or mail filing if not.
How much does it cost to open probate in Prairie County?
The statewide cost to open a decedent's estate is $165.00: the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, last reprinted by 2013 Act 282 approved 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, plus $5.00 per certified copy, under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, with the fee text current as of August 2026 and unchanged by 2021 Act 423 approved March 23, 2021.
Does Prairie County have its own probate forms?
Prairie County lists no county-specific probate packet. Use the Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet, then call the Clerk/Circuit Clerk to confirm any local filing preference for the correct district counter.
Can I look up a Prairie County probate case online?
Yes. Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides statewide case information for circuit courts. Whether Prairie County probate documents can be viewed online depends on document availability for that court.
Will there be a hearing in a Prairie County probate case?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed. Otherwise, the court may decide whether to set a hearing under A.C.A. § 28-40-110. Ask the clerk how the circuit judge handles scheduling and whether phone or video appearance is available in your matter.
Can an out-of-state family member handle a Prairie County small estate filing?
An out-of-state family member should first confirm that 45 days have passed and that the estate fits A.C.A. § 28-41-101. The affidavit is filed with the Prairie County probate clerk, and certified copies are then used with holders of property. Call the clerk to confirm the proper district counter before filing.
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.