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Scott County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Scott County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Scott County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Scott County Circuit/County Clerk, styled as County Clerk for probate duties on the county site |
| Courthouse address | 190 W 1st St, Waldron, AR 72958 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 10, Waldron, AR 72958 |
| Phone | (479) 637-2642 |
| Fax | (479) 637-0124 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| 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 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Local forms | Use the Arkansas Judiciary's Official Probate Forms and statewide probate cover sheet. Scott County's clerk page does not list county-specific probate downloads. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the clerk whether that court will register them, with in-person or mail filing as the fallback. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides free statewide case information. Document availability depends on the court. |
| Phone or video hearings | Ask the Scott County Circuit/County Clerk and review the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit administrative plan. The circuit judge sets how any phone or video request is handled. |
| Website | https://scottcountyar.com/countyclerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Waldron, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, titled property, beneficiary designations, and whether any original will exists. That first pass determines whether Scott County estate settlement needs a petition for a personal representative or whether a court-filed affidavit may be enough.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, policies, and property that might otherwise be missed. Use that inventory before you choose forms, pay the filing fee, or ask the Scott County Circuit/County Clerk what the next local step will be.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Scott County is filed at the Scott County Courthouse in Waldron, in the probate division of the Scott County Circuit Court. Scott County is part of Arkansas's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit with Logan, Conway, and Yell counties, but a Scott County estate is filed at the Scott County courthouse, not at another county's courthouse.
Arkansas venue for probate of a will or administration is set by A.C.A. § 28-40-102. The usual filing county is where the decedent resided at death; if the decedent did not reside in Arkansas, the statute looks to Arkansas property, place of death, or where a cause of action may be maintained by the personal representative. The first properly commenced proceeding controls, and if a case is filed in the wrong county, the circuit court can transfer the file rather than making the family start over.
The jurisdiction process
- Find the death certificate, the original will if there is one, and a preliminary asset and debt list before starting the Scott County estate settlement.
- Check the Arkansas five-year outer limit: no will may be admitted to probate and no administration granted unless the application is made within five years from death, subject to the statute's exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the filing path. If 45 days have passed, no personal representative case is pending or granted, and the estate is $100,000 or under after encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances under A.C.A. § 28-39-101, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee may be available as of August 2026 (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 include the statewide probate cover sheet. For a full administration, the personal representative means the executor or administrator appointed by the court.
- File the packet with the Scott County Circuit/County Clerk at the Scott County Courthouse in Waldron or ask the clerk about mail filing. Pay the $165.00 opening fee as of August 2026, made up of $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and $15.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416, or ask the court about a Rule 72 in forma pauperis request if payment is not possible.
- If the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, the court must set a hearing; otherwise the court may decide whether a hearing is needed (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk how the assigned circuit judge handles any phone or video request.
- After appointment, complete any required acceptance or bond step. 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 notice of appointment and serve required copies. Claims are barred six months from the first publication, and copies must go to heirs, devisees, and known or reasonably ascertainable unpaid creditors within one month after first publication, including any required Department of Human Services notice (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Administer the estate by gathering assets, handling claims, paying valid debts and taxes, filing any required inventory and accounting, distributing property under the will or Arkansas law, and seeking final discharge from the court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Scott County
Use the Arkansas Judiciary's statewide Official Probate Forms for decedent estates, including the petition forms, proof of will, bond, acceptance, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. The statewide probate cover sheet should be included with a new Scott County probate filing.
Scott County's clerk page describes probate filing duties but does not list a separate county probate packet, checklist, or local cover sheet instruction. If you are filing by mail, call the Scott County Circuit/County Clerk before sending originals, checks, or proposed letters.
Local nuance
Scott County-specific considerations
Scott County is one of the Arkansas counties where the circuit clerk and county clerk functions are combined for the probate filing counter. The county site lists both Circuit Clerk and County Clerk pages, but both pages show the same phone and fax, and the County Clerk page describes probate filing duties. For a family filing in Scott County, that means there is one local clerk counter to call for decedent estate filings.
Do not confuse the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit with a shared filing location. The circuit includes Logan, Scott, Conway, and Yell counties, but a Scott County probate case is filed in Waldron at the Scott County Courthouse.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means for Scott County families |
|---|---|
| Legal Aid coverage changed on January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the statewide Legal Services Corporation funded provider for all 75 Arkansas counties. It is income-restricted and may not take estate matters, but eligible families can check intake at 1-800-952-9243. |
| eFlex filing updates | The Arkansas Judiciary announced an eFlex Electronic Filing Rejection Policy effective December 9, 2025, and the end of subscription-based payment support effective June 5, 2026. eFlex is at efile.arcourts.gov. |
| Search ARCourts | Arkansas public case lookup is moving to Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov, which provides statewide case information for circuit courts. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path in Scott County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking the deed and beneficiary designations. If the home passes outside probate, the remaining estate settlement may be narrower. If a probate filing is still needed, file at the Scott County Courthouse in Waldron. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, and titled assets before the spouse pays a filing fee or prepares a petition. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies under the $100,000 rule as of August 2026, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is filed with the Scott County probate clerk, and certified copies are then used with banks or other holders (A.C.A. § 28-41-101). Ask the clerk about mail filing and any phone or video request. | Sunset helps determine whether accounts exist, generates the right packet, and connects the family with local counsel if letters are needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit route can reach real property under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, but real property adds publication steps and a creditor window. A sale often requires letters issued after the court appoints a personal representative, so the parent should expect a full petition if a buyer or title company requires court authority. | Sunset organizes asset information, prepares filings for review, and helps find a local probate attorney for the sale process. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Scott County Circuit/County Clerk | Local filing counter for probate filings in Waldron, including questions about hours, mailing, fees, and how the assigned judge handles hearing requests. | https://scottcountyar.com/countyclerk (479) 637-2642 |
| Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms | Statewide probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet used for Arkansas probate filings. | https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Arkansas Law Help | Public legal information, including a small-estate packet that tracks A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | https://arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case information for circuit courts. Document availability depends on the court. | https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Income-restricted civil legal help statewide. Estate representation is not promised, but eligible families can check intake. | 1-800-952-9243 https://arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Scott County when heirs disagree, a will contest is possible, real property must be sold, a creditor issue is unclear, a nonresident personal representative needs help with Arkansas forms, or the family is close to a filing deadline. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions so families can find bank accounts, investments, insurance, and other assets before choosing the Scott County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the asset list and family information into an organized probate packet using Arkansas forms and Scott County filing details.
Find a local probate attorney
If the estate needs legal advice, a home sale, contested filings, or help from someone who appears in Arkansas circuit courts, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process, understand next steps, and get connected to professional help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Scott County, Arkansas?
File in Waldron at the Scott County Courthouse, with the Scott County Circuit/County Clerk for the probate division of the Scott County Circuit Court. Arkansas venue is governed by A.C.A. § 28-40-102.
What is the Scott County probate filing fee?
As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00: $150.00 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 plus the $15.00 court technology fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. 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.
Can I e-file a Scott County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should call the Scott County Circuit/County Clerk to ask whether that court will register them for electronic filing, and should use in-person or mail filing if that is the clerk's instruction.
Does Scott County have its own probate forms?
Scott County's clerk page does not list county-specific probate downloads. Use the Arkansas Judiciary's Official Probate Forms and the statewide probate cover sheet, and call the clerk before mailing originals or proposed letters.
Will Scott County set a probate hearing?
Arkansas law requires a hearing 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 clerk how the assigned circuit judge handles scheduling and any phone or video request.
Can I look up a Scott County probate case online?
Yes. Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides free statewide case information for Arkansas circuit courts. Whether filings themselves are viewable online depends on the court and the type of document.
Do I have to travel to Waldron for Scott County probate?
Possibly not for every step. Call the Scott County Circuit/County Clerk to ask about mail filing and how the assigned circuit judge handles any phone or video request. Do not assume that a hearing can be handled remotely until the court gives instructions.
What deadline matters most when opening probate in Scott County?
Arkansas has a five-year outer limit for applying to admit a will to probate or to grant administration, subject to statutory exceptions (A.C.A. § 28-40-103). After letters are granted, creditor claims 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.