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Stone County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Stone County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Stone County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Stone County Circuit/County Clerk, 107 West Main Street, Suite D, Mountain View, AR 72560 |
| Phone | Main line: (870) 269-3271. County-clerk line listed by the office: (870) 269-5550. |
| Fax | Main fax: (870) 269-2303. County-clerk fax listed by the office: (870) 269-9058. |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ask the clerk about any same-day filing cutoff before traveling. |
| Mailing | Ask the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk for current mailing instructions before sending original wills, payment, or signed pleadings. |
| 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, 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 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, with $5.00 per certified copy, and those figures were left unchanged by 2021 Act 423 approved March 23, 2021. |
| Local forms | The Arkansas Judiciary publishes official probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. Ask the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk whether any current Stone County instruction sheet must be added. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the clerk whether the Stone County court will register that filer for e-filing, and should ask about in-person or mail filing if not. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides statewide case information. Document access varies by court. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk before any hearing. Phone or video practice is set by the circuit judge and the circuit's administrative plan. |
| Website | https://www.stonecountyar.gov/circuit-and-county-clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Stone County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations, and any original will. The right estate settlement path depends on what actually passes through the estate, whether letters are needed, and whether real property must be transferred or sold.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions so families can find accounts before choosing a filing route. That preparation helps you file the right Stone County probate packet the first time and avoid reopening the estate settlement plan later.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Stone County is filed at the Stone County Courthouse in Mountain View, through the probate division of the Stone County Circuit Court. The court sits in Arkansas's Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, which Stone County shares with Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, and Izard counties, but a Stone County estate is filed at Stone County's own courthouse.
Arkansas venue for probate of a will or administration is generally the county where the decedent resided at death; if the decedent was not an Arkansas resident, the rule looks to where the greater part in value of the Arkansas property is located, where the decedent died in Arkansas, or where a cause of action may be maintained by the personal representative (A.C.A. § 28-40-102). If proceedings start in more than one county, the first legally commenced proceeding controls while venue is determined, and a misfiled case 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, asset information, debt information, and the names and addresses of heirs and devisees. If the will or administration is being opened more than five years after death, review the five-year limit before filing (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the local filing path. If the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee fits, 45 days must have passed since death and the estate must meet the $100,000 calculation, less encumbrances and excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, under A.C.A. §§ 28-41-101 and 28-39-101; the $100,000 figure was reprinted unchanged by 2021 Act 423 approved March 23, 2021. Otherwise, prepare a full administration petition.
- Prepare the Arkansas Judiciary probate forms that fit the case, such as a petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, a petition for appointment of administrator, proof of will, acceptance, bond if required, and proposed letters testamentary or letters of administration (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Add the statewide probate cover sheet before filing. Ask the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk whether any current local instruction must be added to the statewide form packet.
- File with the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk at 107 West Main Street, Suite D, Mountain View, AR 72560, or ask the clerk for current mail or eFlex filing instructions at efile.arcourts.gov. Opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, made up of the $150.00 filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, 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. If you cannot afford the fee, ask about proceeding in forma pauperis under Rule 72.
- If the petition is opposed or someone has demanded notice, 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 circuit judge handles phone or video requests before any scheduled setting.
- After the court appoints the personal representative, the clerk issues letters under the seal of the court when the required acceptance and any required bond are in place (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Promptly 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 if not properly presented (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Inventory the estate, collect assets, address claims, pay approved debts and taxes, and keep records of all receipts and disbursements.
- When administration is complete, file the required accounting or closing papers, distribute the remaining property under the will or Arkansas law, and seek discharge of the personal representative.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Stone County
The Arkansas Judiciary publishes official probate forms for decedent estates, including petitions, proof of will, bonds, acceptances, letters testamentary, letters of administration, notices, inventory, accounting, and Form 23 for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. Stone County filings also use the statewide probate cover sheet.
Because no Stone County-specific probate form or checklist is included here, ask the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk whether the court wants any current local instruction, copy, or payment format added to the statewide packet before you file.
Local nuance
Stone County-specific considerations
Stone County is one of the Arkansas counties with a combined Circuit/County Clerk. That means the filing-officer issue that can send families to different counters in some Arkansas counties is simpler in Stone County: probate filings go through the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk.
The office lists a main line, (870) 269-3271, and a county-clerk line, (870) 269-5550. If your question is specifically about a decedent estate, call the main line first and use the county-clerk line as an alternate if directed.
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole statewide Legal Services Corporation funded civil legal aid provider for all 75 Arkansas counties. Families should use Legal Aid of Arkansas for eligibility screening and should not assume it will take an estate matter. |
| December 9, 2025 | The Arkansas Judiciary eFlex portal at efile.arcourts.gov lists an Electronic Filing Rejection Policy effective on this date. |
| June 5, 2026 | The Arkansas Judiciary eFlex portal at efile.arcourts.gov states that subscription-based payments are discontinued as of this date, while other payment methods remain available. |
| Current case search | Arkansas is moving public case lookup to Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Stone County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and whether any asset actually needs probate in Stone County. If probate is needed, file through the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk in Mountain View and review spouse protections and statutory allowances with counsel if the estate includes probate assets (A.C.A. § 28-39-101). | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues so the spouse can decide whether a court filing is needed for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate meets the $100,000 calculation under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, the adult child may be looking at the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee, filed with the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk, with certified copies used afterward. The $100,000 figure was reprinted unchanged by 2021 Act 423 approved March 23, 2021. Ask the clerk about signing, mailing, and any eFlex registration question at efile.arcourts.gov. | Sunset organizes asset information and generates a packet so an out-of-state family member can call the clerk with specific questions instead of starting from scratch. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real-property sale often requires full administration and letters, even though the Arkansas affidavit process can reach real property in qualifying cases. If the court appoints a personal representative, the clerk issues letters under the court's seal (A.C.A. § 28-48-102). Counsel is especially useful before listing or closing on the home. | Sunset helps gather property, debt, and account information and connects the family with a local probate attorney for the sale and estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Stone County Circuit/County Clerk | Local filing counter, office hours, phone numbers, and questions about current filing method for Stone County probate papers. | https://www.stonecountyar.gov/circuit-and-county-clerk, (870) 269-3271 |
| Arkansas Judiciary probate forms | Official statewide probate forms and the statewide probate cover sheet used for Arkansas probate filings. | https://www.arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Arkansas Law Help | Public legal information, including a packet for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | https://arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case information lookup at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Document availability varies by court. | https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide civil legal aid intake for eligible people. It may not take estate matters, but families can check eligibility for related civil legal issues. | 1-800-952-9243, https://arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Stone County when heirs disagree, a will contest is possible, real property must be sold, creditor claims are expected, a nonresident will serve as personal representative, or the family is unsure whether the affidavit route fits. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families locate accounts, insurance, investments, debts, and other assets before a Stone County filing is prepared.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized estate settlement packet using the Arkansas forms and Stone County filing details, so you can review it before filing with the clerk or an attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs a lawyer, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney who can advise on petitions, hearings, real property, creditors, and closing the estate.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset. If attorney help is needed, the lawyer explains any fee arrangement directly.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Stone County, Arkansas?
File Stone County probate papers with the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk at 107 West Main Street, Suite D, Mountain View, AR 72560, for the probate division of the Stone County Circuit Court.
Which clerk handles Stone County probate filings?
Stone County has a combined Circuit/County Clerk, so probate filings go to the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk. The main phone number is (870) 269-3271, and the office also lists a county-clerk line at (870) 269-5550.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Stone County?
Opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, consisting of the $150.00 uniform filing fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403, 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 costs $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, with $5.00 per certified copy, and those figures were left unchanged by 2021 Act 423 approved March 23, 2021.
Can I e-file a Stone County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. If you are filing without an attorney, ask the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk whether the court will register you for that case or whether you should file in person or by mail.
Will Stone County set a hearing for probate?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and otherwise the court decides whether a hearing is needed (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk how the circuit judge schedules any Stone County hearing.
Can I attend a Stone County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the clerk before the hearing date. Remote appearance practice is set by the circuit judge and the circuit's administrative plan, so do not assume the answer until the court gives instructions.
How do I look up a Stone County probate case online?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides statewide case information, but access to filed documents varies by court.
Are there Stone County probate forms?
Arkansas provides statewide official probate forms and a statewide probate cover sheet. Ask the Stone County Circuit/County Clerk whether any current Stone County instruction sheet must be included with those forms.
Do I have to travel to Mountain View for estate settlement?
Not always, but you should ask the clerk before mailing originals or relying on eFlex. If a hearing is scheduled, ask the clerk how the circuit judge handles attendance for that specific setting.
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.