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Saline County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Saline County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Saline County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Saline County Clerk's office, the ex officio clerk of the probate division under A.C.A. § 14-14-502. Address: 215 N. Main St., Suite 9, Benton, AR 72015. Phone: (501) 303-5630. |
| Separate circuit clerk | The Saline County Circuit Clerk is a separate office at 200 N. Main Street, Suite 113. Probate filings go to the county clerk's office instead. |
| Judicial circuit | Arkansas's Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, composed of Saline County alone. The filing counter is in Benton. |
| Phone | (501) 303-5630, county clerk's office |
| Fax | (501) 776-2412, county clerk's published fax. Call before using fax for any probate purpose. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office asks filers to arrive by 4:15 p.m. and asks anyone opening a new probate or small estate case to arrive by 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, current under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416 in August 2026. That 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. A small estate affidavit costs $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy, current in August 2026. |
| Local forms | Saline County posts a probate cover sheet with an additional-parties page and instructions, a Saline-captioned small estate affidavit, a Saline-captioned small estate notice for publication and small estate instructions. The Arkansas Judiciary also publishes 33 official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. The circuit clerk's separate e-Filing Lite program is for existing non-probate matters and does not take new cases. A self-represented filer should ask the Saline County Clerk's office whether this court will register them and should otherwise plan to file at the counter. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides free statewide case information. Document availability varies by court. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Saline County Clerk's office and check the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit's administrative plan under Administrative Order No. 14. The circuit judge sets the practice for a particular hearing. |
| Website | https://www.salinecounty.org/government/county_clerk/probate/index.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Saline County filing path, make a complete list of accounts, real estate, debts, heirs and how each asset is titled. The county clerk's office says it cannot give legal advice or help complete legal forms, so your estate settlement paperwork needs to be complete before you bring it to the counter in Benton, and fees are due when the case is opened.
Sunset's estate settlement tools search across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they file. That inventory helps you decide whether you need full administration or whether a court-filed affidavit route may fit.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Saline County is filed with the Saline County Clerk's office, the probate clerk for the Saline County Circuit Court, at 215 N. Main St., Suite 9, Benton, AR 72015. Saline County communities named by the county include Benton, Bryant, Bauxite, Haskell, Traskwood, Alexander and Shannon Hills.
Arkansas venue starts with the county where the decedent resided at death. If the decedent did not reside in Arkansas, venue may be the county holding the greater part in value of the Arkansas property; if there was no Arkansas residence or property but the death occurred in Arkansas, the county of death; 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, and a case filed in the wrong county is transferred rather than dismissed under A.C.A. § 28-40-102.
Saline County is in Arkansas's Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, and that circuit is Saline County alone. A Saline County estate is filed at the county clerk's counter in Benton, not at a neighboring county courthouse.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, debt information and names and addresses for heirs and devisees.
- Check the five-year outer limit. In Arkansas, no will is admitted to probate and no administration is granted unless application is made within five years from the decedent's death, subject to the statute's exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the filing path. A distributee may use the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee if 45 days have elapsed and the estate qualifies under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, including the $100,000 cap measured after encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. §§ 28-41-101 and 28-39-101. Otherwise, prepare a full administration petition.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms that fit the case, such as the petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative or the petition for appointment of administrator. Add the probate cover sheet, which Saline County requires when opening a probate or small estate case.
- File with the Saline County Clerk's office at 215 N. Main St., Suite 9, Benton, AR 72015. For a new case, plan to arrive by 4:00 p.m. and call (501) 303-5630 before relying on any delivery method other than filing at the counter.
- Pay the opening fee when the case is opened. The full administration filing fee is $165.00, current under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416 in August 2026. The office lists cash, local checks and credit or debit cards with a $3.00 card processing fee as of August 2026, and it does not take out-of-town checks. If you cannot pay, ask the court about proceeding in forma pauperis under Rule 72 and A.C.A. §§ 21-6-403 and 21-6-416.
- Handle notice and any hearing. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and the court may set a hearing in other cases (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk how the judge wants appearances handled.
- After appointment, the court appoints the personal representative and 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 required copies. Claims are barred six months from the first publication, and copies go to heirs, devisees and known creditors within one month after first publication under A.C.A. § 28-40-111.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, filing any required inventory or accounting, paying allowed claims and taxes, distributing property and asking the court for final distribution and discharge.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Saline County
Saline County is a local-forms county. The county clerk posts a probate cover sheet, an additional-parties page and cover-sheet instructions, and the county states that a cover sheet is required when opening a probate or small estate case. The Arkansas Judiciary's current statewide probate cover sheet is the safest starting point if there is any question about the edition to use.
Saline County also posts its own small estate affidavit, its own small estate notice for publication and small estate instructions. The small estate paperwork is filed with the probate clerk of the Saline County Circuit Court, and the local forms are used with the statewide affidavit procedure in A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
The core full-administration petitions come from the Arkansas Judiciary's official probate form set. That statewide set includes petitions, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, inventory, letters testamentary, letters of administration and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee (A.C.A. §§ 28-48-102 and 28-41-101).
The county clerk's page says the office cannot give legal advice or assist in completing legal forms. If you are unsure which form to file, ask a probate attorney before you go to the Benton counter.
Fees
| Fee or payment item | Saline County details |
|---|---|
| Open a decedent's estate | $165.00, current in August 2026. The Saline County Clerk's probate page lists the same total. The statutory breakdown is $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. |
| Small estate affidavit | $25.00 to file the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, current in August 2026. |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per certified copy, current in August 2026, including certified copies connected to the small estate affidavit under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Notary at the office | $5.00 if the Saline County Clerk's office notarizes the document, current as listed by the county clerk in August 2026. Bring identification. |
| Cards and checks | The county clerk lists a $3.00 processing fee for credit or debit cards, current as listed in August 2026. Fees are due when the case is opened, and the office lists local checks only. |
| Publication | The court filing fee does not include any newspaper charge for a notice of appointment or for a small estate notice under A.C.A. §§ 28-40-111 and 28-41-101. The newspaper sets that charge. |
| Fee waiver | An indigent filer may ask the court about proceeding in forma pauperis under Rule 72, A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416. |
Local nuance
Saline County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Saline County filing |
|---|---|
| County clerk, not circuit clerk | All Saline County probate cases are opened and filed through the Saline County Clerk's office. The separate circuit clerk handles other parts of the circuit court and is at a different Main Street address. |
| Two Main Street addresses | The probate filing counter is 215 N. Main St., Suite 9, Benton. The circuit clerk is at 200 N. Main Street, Suite 113. Take probate papers to 215 N. Main St., Suite 9. |
| Arrival cutoffs | The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county clerk asks filers to arrive by 4:15 p.m. and asks anyone opening a new probate or small estate case to arrive by 4:00 p.m. |
| Payment at opening | Fees are due when the case is opened. The county clerk lists cash, local checks and credit or debit cards with a $3.00 card processing fee, current as listed in August 2026, and the office does not accept out-of-town checks. |
| Cover sheet required | Saline County requires a cover sheet when opening a probate or small estate case. The county posts a copy and instructions, and the Arkansas Judiciary publishes the current statewide probate cover sheet. |
| Local small estate paperwork | Saline County posts a Saline-captioned affidavit, a Saline-captioned notice for publication and instructions for the affidavit procedure under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| No form help from the counter | The county clerk's page says the office cannot give legal advice or help complete legal forms. Bring completed papers or speak with an attorney first. |
| E-filing questions | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. The local e-Filing Lite program belongs to the separate circuit clerk and is for existing non-probate matters. A self-represented filer should ask the county clerk about this court's registration practice. |
| Fax caution | The separate circuit clerk's fax-filing page sends probate questions to the county clerk. Call the county clerk before using fax for any probate purpose. |
| Case lookup | Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad for Saline County probate case information. The county clerk's separate document search is for quorum court, county court and election materials, not probate cases. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Saline County publishes unusually practical local paperwork for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. The county clerk posts a Saline-captioned affidavit, a Saline-captioned notice for publication when real property is involved and small estate instructions. The affidavit route is filed with the probate clerk of the Saline County Circuit Court under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, not handed directly to a bank instead of the court.
The county requires a cover sheet when opening a small estate case under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. The local instructions list a $25.00 filing charge, $5.00 per certified copy and a $5.00 notary charge if the office notarizes the affidavit, current as listed by the county clerk in August 2026. Because the office does not accept out-of-town checks, an out-of-state distributee should call (501) 303-5630 before traveling to Benton.
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the statewide LSC-funded civil legal aid provider for all 75 Arkansas counties. Saline County families should use the statewide intake number, 1-800-952-9243. |
| December 9, 2025 | The Arkansas Judiciary's Electronic Filing Rejection Policy took effect for filings 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 case search | The Arkansas Judiciary's public case-search tool is Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Saline County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the deed is titled. If survivorship language resolves the home, the remaining probate question may be limited to accounts or other assets. If a probate filing is needed, it goes to the Saline County Clerk's office at 215 N. Main St., Suite 9 in Benton. The homestead and statutory allowances matter to the affidavit analysis under A.C.A. §§ 28-41-101 and 28-39-101. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues so the spouse and attorney can decide whether a court filing is needed and which packet to prepare. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies, the adult child may use the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. In Saline County, the affidavit is filed with the county clerk in Benton, with a cover sheet, and a certified copy then goes to the bank or other holder. Call about payment before traveling because the office does not accept out-of-town checks. | Sunset helps locate accounts, generate the affidavit packet and flag the Saline County payment and arrival rules before the trip. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit procedure under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 can reach real property, but real property brings publication and a three-month creditor window. If a sale needs letters, full administration is usually the practical path. The filing stays with the county clerk in Benton; deed work after a sale is recorded with the circuit clerk as recorder. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, prepare the starting packet and connect the family with counsel when a sale, creditors or court authority is involved. |
Self-help resources
The Arkansas Judiciary's self-help resource directory does not list a Saline County-specific self-help center. Practical starting points are the Saline County Clerk's probate and small estate pages, the Arkansas Judiciary's free probate forms, Search ARCourts and legal help when advice is needed.
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Saline County Clerk's office | 215 N. Main St., Suite 9, Benton, AR 72015. Phone: (501) 303-5630. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a 4:00 p.m. arrival request for new cases. All Saline County probate cases are opened and filed here. |
| Saline County probate page | https://www.salinecounty.org/government/county_clerk/probate/index.php. Lists the local address, phone, hours, cutoffs, costs, payment terms, cover-sheet requirement and links to probate paperwork. |
| Saline County small estate instructions | https://www.salinecounty.org/government/county_clerk/probate/small_estate_instructions.php. Explains the local affidavit filing under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 and links the Saline-captioned affidavit and notice. |
| Arkansas Judiciary official probate forms | https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms. Free statewide probate forms, including petitions, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, inventory, letters testamentary, letters of administration and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee (A.C.A. §§ 28-48-102 and 28-41-101). |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | https://arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/formatted-files/PR_cover_Nov_2023.pdf. The Arkansas Judiciary's probate cover sheet. Saline County requires a cover sheet when a probate or small estate case is opened. |
| Arkansas Law Help | https://arlawhelp.org. Statewide public legal information, including a small estate packet that explains filing the affidavit with the probate clerk under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Search ARCourts | https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Free statewide case information from Arkansas circuit courts. Search by participant name or case number. Ask the Saline County Clerk's office about document access for a particular case. |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide intake: 1-800-952-9243. Apply at https://arlegalaid.org. Legal Aid of Arkansas is income-restricted and limited to its case priorities, which include guardianship, powers of attorney and wills. Estate administration may be outside those priorities. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Saline County when there is real estate to sell, a possible will contest, an insolvent or disputed estate, creditor pressure, an out-of-state personal representative, uncertainty about whether the affidavit route under A.C.A. § 28-41-101 is enough or questions about remote appearance. The county clerk's office says it cannot give legal advice or help complete forms, new cases must arrive by 4:00 p.m. with payment ready and probate goes to the county clerk rather than the separate circuit clerk, so local procedure matters. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help build the asset list, identify debts and understand what may need to pass through a Saline County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family and asset information into an organized starting packet, including the forms and next steps that fit a Saline County filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, a real estate sale, creditor strategy or court representation, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and attorney help is available when the family chooses it.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Saline County?
File with the Saline County Clerk's office at 215 N. Main St., Suite 9, Benton, AR 72015. The phone number is (501) 303-5630. Saline County probate is in the probate division of the Saline County Circuit Court.
Do I file with the circuit clerk or the county clerk in Saline County?
File with the county clerk's office. Saline County has a separate circuit clerk at 200 N. Main Street, but the county clerk's office opens and files probate cases and serves as the ex officio probate clerk under A.C.A. § 14-14-502.
What does it cost to open an estate in Saline County?
The cost to open a decedent's estate is $165.00, current in August 2026. The statutory breakdown is $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. A small estate affidavit costs $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy, current in August 2026.
How can I pay the Saline County Clerk's filing fee?
The county clerk lists cash, local checks and credit or debit cards, with a $3.00 processing fee for cards, current as listed in August 2026. Fees are due when the case is opened, and the office lists local checks only.
When is the Saline County Clerk's office in Benton open?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It asks filers to arrive by 4:15 p.m. and asks anyone opening a new probate or small estate case to arrive by 4:00 p.m.
Do I have to e-file if I am handling the estate myself?
Ask the Saline County Clerk's office whether this court will register a self-represented filer. Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov, and the statewide portal says a self-represented litigant may register only in a particular court. If you are not registered, plan to file at the county clerk's counter in Benton.
Will there be a hearing in a Saline County probate case?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and the court may set a hearing in other cases (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the county clerk how the judge is handling the particular filing.
Can I appear by phone or video instead of traveling to Benton?
Ask the Saline County Clerk's office and check the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit's administrative plan under Administrative Order No. 14. The practice for a hearing is set by the circuit judge and the circuit's plan.
How do I look up a Saline County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides free statewide case information for Arkansas circuit courts. Document availability varies by court, so call the Saline County Clerk's office about documents in a particular case.
Is there a deadline to open probate in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas generally requires the application for admission of a will to probate or for administration to be made within five years from the decedent's death, subject to statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
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.