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Randolph County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Randolph County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Randolph County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Courthouse address | 107 West Broadway, Pocahontas, AR 72455. The Circuit Clerk address is listed as 107 West Broadway, Suite A, Pocahontas, AR 72455. |
| Probate filings go to | Call ahead to confirm the correct probate clerk counter. Circuit Clerk: (870) 892-5522. County Clerk: (870) 892-5822. |
| Mailing address | Call the clerk before mailing probate papers. No separate Randolph County probate mailing address is published for these Arkansas clerk offices. |
| Phone | Circuit Clerk: (870) 892-5522. County Clerk: (870) 892-5822. |
| Fax | Circuit Clerk: (870) 892-8794. County Clerk: (870) 892-5829. |
| Hours | Call before visiting. Randolph County office hours for probate filings are not published in the available Arkansas clerk information. |
| Filing fee | 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 and the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. 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 | Use the Arkansas Judiciary's statewide Official Probate Forms and statewide probate cover sheet. A Randolph County-specific probate form page for the Arkansas clerk offices is not published. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Randolph County clerk whether that court will register them for electronic filing and should ask about filing in person or by mail if not. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides statewide circuit court case information. Document availability depends on the court. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk before any hearing whether the circuit judge has authorized phone or video attendance and where the Third Judicial Circuit's administrative plan addresses that practice. |
| Website | No dedicated Randolph County, Arkansas clerk website is published for these probate questions. Use the phone numbers above and Search ARCourts for case information. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Randolph County filing path, list the assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, and any beneficiary designations. Estate settlement moves faster when you know which assets actually need court authority and which can pass outside probate.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, insurers, brokerages, and benefit providers so families can build a complete starting inventory before they call the Pocahontas courthouse or prepare the probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Randolph County is filed at the Randolph County Courthouse in Pocahontas, in the probate division of the Randolph County Circuit Court. Randolph County sits in Arkansas's Third Judicial Circuit with Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, and Sharp counties, but a Randolph County estate is filed at the Randolph County courthouse, not in another county.
Arkansas venue for probate of a will or estate administration is based first on the county where the decedent resided at death, then on the Arkansas county where the greater part in value of the decedent's Arkansas property is located, then where the decedent died if there was no Arkansas residence or property, and then any county where the personal representative can maintain a cause of action if none of those apply (A.C.A. § 28-40-102). If more than one proceeding is started, the first legally commenced proceeding controls while venue is determined, and a case filed in the wrong county can be transferred rather than dismissed (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 first inventory of assets and debts for the Randolph County estate settlement.
- Check the Arkansas timing rule before preparing papers. A will generally cannot be admitted to probate and administration generally cannot be granted unless application is made within five years from the death, subject to the statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the filing path. If 45 days have passed since death and the estate qualifies for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee, as of August 2026 the value must not exceed $100,000 after encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, and the affidavit is filed with the probate clerk under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. 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's official probate forms and attach the statewide probate cover sheet. For a full estate, include the petition, the will if any, proposed letters testamentary or letters of administration, and any required acceptance, bond, or process-agent form that applies (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Before going to the courthouse, call both Randolph County clerk lines to confirm which counter is taking probate filings: Circuit Clerk at (870) 892-5522 and County Clerk at (870) 892-5822. File at 107 West Broadway in Pocahontas once the correct counter is confirmed.
- Pay the filing fee or ask the court about a fee waiver. As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, made up of $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. A person allowed to proceed in forma pauperis under Rule 72 does not pay those filing fees under the cited fee statutes.
- After filing, follow the court's directions on notice and hearings. Arkansas law requires the court to set a hearing if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and otherwise leaves the hearing decision to the court (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk whether phone or video attendance is available for any scheduled hearing.
- If the court appoints a personal representative, the clerk issues letters under the seal of the court after any required bond is approved or, when the court does not require a bond, after the personal representative files a written acceptance (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- After letters are granted, publish the notice of appointment and serve copies on heirs, devisees, known creditors, and the Department of Human Services when required. Claims must be presented within six months from the first publication or they are forever barred under A.C.A. § 28-40-111.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, handling claims, paying approved debts and taxes, preparing any required inventory and accounting, distributing property under the will or Arkansas law, and seeking final distribution and discharge from the court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Randolph County
The Arkansas Judiciary publishes statewide Official Probate Forms for decedent estates, including petitions, proof of will, bond, acceptance of appointment, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. The statewide probate cover sheet should be included with a new Randolph County probate filing.
Randolph County-specific probate instructions are not published on a dedicated Arkansas clerk page. Before filing in Pocahontas, call the Circuit Clerk at (870) 892-5522 and the County Clerk at (870) 892-5822 to confirm the correct counter and whether any local add-on is required.
Local nuance
Randolph County-specific considerations
Randolph County is not one of the Arkansas counties with a combined circuit and county clerk. The courthouse has separate Circuit Clerk and County Clerk phone lines, and the public Arkansas clerk information for Randolph County does not identify which office takes decedent-estate filings in the probate division. Call both offices before you bring or mail papers.
A similarly named clerk website online is not a Randolph County, Arkansas clerk site. For Randolph County, Arkansas probate questions, rely on the Pocahontas courthouse phone numbers and the statewide Search ARCourts case portal.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Statewide legal aid coverage | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole statewide civil legal-aid provider for all 75 Arkansas counties on January 1, 2026. It is income-restricted and may not take estate matters. |
| eFlex filing policy | The Arkansas Judiciary announced an Electronic Filing Rejection Policy effective December 9, 2025 for eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. |
| eFlex payments | The Arkansas Judiciary announced that subscription-based payments in eFlex end June 5, 2026, with other payment methods remaining available. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Randolph County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home was titled and which assets still need court authority. If a probate filing is needed, call the Pocahontas courthouse before filing to confirm whether the Circuit Clerk or County Clerk is taking probate papers. The spouse should also ask a lawyer about homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101. | Sunset helps organize title information, account lists, debts, and next-step questions so the spouse can avoid filing before knowing what is actually in the estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Arkansas affidavit route fits, 45 days must have passed and, as of August 2026, the estate must be $100,000 or under after the Arkansas exclusions in A.C.A. § 28-41-101. The affidavit is filed with the probate clerk, and certified copies are used with banks and other holders. Call Randolph County first to confirm the correct counter and ask about mail filing. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare the packet, and flag when letters may be needed instead of relying on the affidavit alone. |
| Parent settling a 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 triggers publication and a creditor window. A sale often requires letters from a full estate case, so the parent should confirm the filing counter and speak with a probate attorney before signing a listing or deed. | Sunset helps collect property, debt, and heir information and can connect the family with a Randolph County probate attorney for the sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Randolph County Circuit Clerk | One of the two courthouse offices to call before filing to confirm where probate papers are accepted. | 107 West Broadway, Suite A, Pocahontas, AR 72455. Phone: (870) 892-5522. Fax: (870) 892-8794. |
| Randolph County Clerk | One of the two courthouse offices to call before filing to confirm where probate papers are accepted. | 107 West Broadway, Pocahontas, AR 72455. Phone: (870) 892-5822. Fax: (870) 892-5829. |
| Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms | Statewide probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet for filings in the probate division. | arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Arkansas Law Help | Statewide public legal information, including a packet for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide circuit court case information, with document availability depending on the court. | caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Income-restricted civil legal-aid intake for Arkansas residents. Estate matters may be outside its case priorities. | 1-800-952-9243. arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Randolph County when the filing counter is unclear, a home must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor claim is disputed, a nonresident family member is serving, or a hearing is likely. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement benefits, and other assets so the family can begin estate settlement with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet using the Arkansas forms and cover sheet that fit the filing path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney familiar with Arkansas estate settlement and county filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, discover assets, prepare next steps, and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Randolph County, Arkansas?
File at the Randolph County Courthouse, 107 West Broadway in Pocahontas, in the probate division of the Randolph County Circuit Court. Call first because Randolph County has separate Circuit Clerk and County Clerk lines and the Arkansas public clerk information does not identify which counter is taking probate filings.
Do I call the Circuit Clerk or the County Clerk in Randolph County?
Call both before filing. Circuit Clerk: (870) 892-5522. County Clerk: (870) 892-5822. Ask which office is acting as the probate clerk for decedent-estate filings and whether you should file in person or by mail.
How much does it cost to open probate in Randolph County?
As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00 statewide, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. As of August 2026, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee costs $25.00 to file under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 for each certified copy.
Can I e-file a Randolph County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. If you are representing yourself, ask the Randolph County clerk whether that court will register you for electronic filing and what in-person or mail options are available for your filing.
Can I look up a Randolph County probate case online?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides statewide circuit court case information. Some courts link documents for some public cases, but online document access depends on the court and the case.
Does Randolph County publish its own probate forms?
Plan on using the Arkansas Judiciary's statewide Official Probate Forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. A Randolph County-specific probate form page for the Arkansas clerk offices is not published, so call the clerk before filing to ask whether any local add-on is required.
Will I have a probate hearing in Randolph County?
Arkansas law requires a hearing if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and otherwise allows the court to decide whether to set one (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). The Randolph County clerk can tell you what the judge requires after your petition is filed.
Can I attend a Randolph County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the clerk before the hearing. Phone or video attendance depends on the circuit judge and the Third Judicial Circuit's administrative plan, not on a statewide promise for every probate matter.
Do I have to travel to Pocahontas for estate settlement?
You may need to file at or coordinate with the Pocahontas courthouse, but you should call before traveling. Ask the clerk about mail filing, eFlex registration if you represent yourself, certified copies, and whether any hearing will require personal attendance.
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.