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Union County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Union County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Union County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Union County Clerk's office, the probate clerk for the Union County Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | 101 North Washington, Suite 102, El Dorado, AR 71730 |
| Mailing address | Use 101 North Washington, Suite 102, El Dorado, AR 71730, unless the clerk gives different mailing instructions |
| Phone | (870) 864-1910 |
| Fax | (870) 864-1927 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, closed federal and state holidays except Columbus Day |
| Filing fee | $165.00 to open a decedent's estate, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee reprinted effective March 6, 2013 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 court technology fee created March 9, 2009 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. The affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee fee is $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy. |
| Local forms | Union County has not posted an added local 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 Union County Clerk's office whether this court will register them, and should use in-person or mail filing if directed. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides free statewide case information. Document availability varies by court. |
| Phone or video hearing access | Ask the Union County Clerk's office how the circuit judge handles phone or video participation, and whether the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit administrative plan applies to your setting. |
| Website | unioncountyar.com/county-clerk.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Union County, list the assets, debts, known heirs, the original will if one exists, and whether any property is titled jointly or has a beneficiary. Estate settlement moves faster when you know what actually needs court authority before you choose a full administration or an affidavit route.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families organize accounts, insurance, real estate leads, debts, and documents before the Union County Clerk's office receives the probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Union County is filed with the Union County Clerk's office at 101 North Washington, Suite 102, El Dorado, AR 71730. Union County is in Arkansas's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit with Calhoun, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, and Ouachita counties, but the shared circuit does not move a Union County filing out of El Dorado.
Arkansas venue starts in the county where the decedent resided at death. If the decedent did not reside in Arkansas, the filing goes where the greater part in value of Arkansas property is located, then where the decedent died if there is no Arkansas residence or property, and otherwise where a cause of action could be maintained by the personal representative. The first legally commenced proceeding controls, and a misfiled case is 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, debts, names and addresses of heirs and devisees, and any documents showing joint ownership or beneficiary designations.
- Check the Arkansas timing rule before preparing the packet. A will is not admitted and administration is not 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 the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee applies, wait until 45 days have passed and confirm the estate is $100,000 or under after encumbrances, excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, before filing the affidavit with the probate clerk (A.C.A. § 28-41-101; A.C.A. § 28-39-101). Otherwise prepare a petition for full administration.
- Use the Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms, add the statewide probate cover sheet, and include any will, proof of will, bond, acceptance, designation of process agent, or proposed letters form that fits the filing.
- File the packet with the Union County Clerk's office at 101 North Washington, Suite 102, El Dorado. Pay the $165.00 opening cost, made up of the $150.00 fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 fee under A.C.A. § 21-6-416, unless the court allows in forma pauperis status under Rule 72.
- Handle notice and scheduling. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed, and otherwise is set only if the court directs it (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk about any phone or video participation instructions for the assigned circuit judge.
- After appointment, the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal once the required acceptance or bond step is satisfied (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- Publish notice of appointment promptly after letters are granted, serve copies on heirs, devisees, known creditors, and the Department of Human Services when required, and track the claims period. Claims are barred six months from the first publication if not properly presented (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Inventory estate assets, collect income, preserve property, review claims, pay allowed debts and taxes, and keep records for the accounting and distribution phase.
- When administration is complete, file the required settlement or accounting, request approval for final distribution and discharge, and keep certified copies of orders and letters for banks, buyers, and title companies.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Union County
Use the Arkansas Judiciary's Official Probate Forms for decedent estate filings in Union County. The statewide set includes petitions for appointment, petition for probate of will and appointment of personal representative, proof of will, bond, acceptance of appointment, designation of process agent, letters of administration, letters testamentary, notices, inventory, accounting, claim forms, and Form 23 for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee (A.C.A. § 28-41-101; A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
Union County has not posted an added local decedent estate packet or local cover-sheet instruction. Include the statewide probate cover sheet with the filing packet and call the Union County Clerk's office before filing if you are unsure which official form numbers apply.
Fees
| Fee item | Amount and authority |
|---|---|
| Open a probate case | $165.00 total, made up of the $150.00 fee reprinted effective March 6, 2013 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 technology fee created March 9, 2009 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Union County's local fee list matches this amount. |
| Reopen a probate case | $50.00 under the court-clerk fee structure in A.C.A. § 21-6-403, current on Union County's local probate fee list. |
| Affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee | $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, with a $5.00 certified copy charge. Union County lists the combined first certified-copy total as $30.00. |
| Letters of administration or letters testamentary | $5.00 for certified letters, listed by Union County and tied to probate fees under A.C.A. § 21-6-413 and letters under A.C.A. § 28-48-102. |
| Affidavit of claim against an estate | $5.00, listed by Union County under the probate fee items in A.C.A. § 21-6-413. |
| Filing and recording accounts and settlements | $50.00, listed by Union County and reflected in A.C.A. § 21-6-413. |
| Subpoena or summons in a probate matter | $5.00, listed by Union County under the probate fee items in A.C.A. § 21-6-413. |
Local nuance
Union County-specific considerations
- The probate filing counter is Suite 102, the Union County Clerk's office. The separate circuit clerk's office is in Suite 201 and has a different phone number.
- The probate phone is (870) 864-1910. Using the circuit clerk's line can send a family to the wrong office for a decedent estate filing.
- The probate fax is (870) 864-1927, published for the Union County Clerk's office.
- Union County's own probate fee list matches the Arkansas statutory totals, including $165.00 to open a case under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and A.C.A. § 21-6-416, and $25.00 plus $5.00 for the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Legal aid coverage | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole statewide LSC-funded civil legal services provider for all 75 Arkansas counties on January 1, 2026. It is income-restricted and estate administration is not on its published priority list. |
| Electronic filing rejection policy | The Arkansas Judiciary's eFlex portal at efile.arcourts.gov announced an Electronic Filing Rejection Policy effective December 9, 2025. |
| Electronic payment subscriptions | The Arkansas Judiciary's eFlex portal at efile.arcourts.gov announced that subscription-based payments end June 5, 2026, with other payment methods remaining available. |
| Case search | The public case-search platform is moving to Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad for statewide case information. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Union County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking the deed and account titles, because jointly held property may pass outside the estate. If court authority is still needed, file in El Dorado with the Union County Clerk's office. Homestead and statutory allowances matter when evaluating the affidavit route (A.C.A. § 28-39-101; A.C.A. § 28-41-101). | Sunset helps identify accounts, property clues, and debts so the spouse can see what belongs in the estate settlement before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 45 days have passed and the estate qualifies under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is filed with the Union County Clerk's office, and certified copies can be used with banks and holders of property. If full administration is needed, ask the clerk about process-agent paperwork and how the assigned judge handles phone or video participation. | Sunset organizes the institution list, death certificate needs, and forms so an out-of-state child can avoid repeated courthouse calls. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit route can include real property when A.C.A. § 28-41-101 applies, but real property adds publication and a creditor window. A sale often requires letters, so a full administration in the probate division may be the practical path if buyers, title companies, or lenders require court-issued authority (A.C.A. § 28-48-102). | Sunset helps gather asset details, prepare the probate packet, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for title and sale questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Union County Clerk's office | Probate filing counter for the Union County Circuit Court. 101 North Washington, Suite 102, El Dorado, AR 71730. Phone (870) 864-1910. Fax (870) 864-1927. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, closed federal and state holidays except Columbus Day. |
| Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms | Free statewide probate forms for petitions, letters, notices, inventory, accounting, claims, and the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee. |
| Statewide probate cover sheet | The statewide probate cover sheet is used with probate filings and should be included with the Union County packet. |
| Arkansas Law Help | Statewide public legal-information site with a small-estate packet that tracks A.C.A. § 28-41-101. |
| Search ARCourts | Free statewide case information at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Document access depends on the court and the public-access rules. |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Statewide intake at 1-800-952-9243 and arlegalaid.org. It is income-restricted, and estate administration is not listed among its published priorities. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with an Arkansas probate attorney when the estate includes real property to sell, creditor disputes, a will contest, a business, uncertain heirs, tax questions, or family conflict over who should serve as personal representative. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help is the right next step.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a clearer estate settlement inventory before filing in Union County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized set of probate documents using Arkansas forms and Union County filing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, creditor issue, or court question needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Arkansas probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps with estate settlement organization, document preparation, and attorney matching without charging families to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Union County, Arkansas?
File with the Union County Clerk's office at 101 North Washington, Suite 102, El Dorado, AR 71730. The office is the probate clerk for the probate division of the Union County Circuit Court.
Which Union County office takes decedent estate filings?
The Union County Clerk's office takes probate filings. It is separate from the circuit clerk's office in Suite 201. For probate questions, call (870) 864-1910.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Union County?
The opening cost is $165.00, made up of the $150.00 uniform filing fee reprinted effective March 6, 2013 under A.C.A. § 21-6-403 and the $15.00 court technology fee created March 9, 2009 under A.C.A. § 21-6-416. Union County's local fee list matches that amount.
What is the Union County fee for an affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee?
Union County lists the affidavit fee as $25.00 plus $5.00 for certification, for a $30.00 first certified-copy total. The affidavit route is governed by A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Does Union County have its own probate forms?
Union County has not posted an added local decedent estate packet. Use the Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms and the statewide probate cover sheet, then call the Union County Clerk's office if you are unsure which form numbers fit your filing.
Can I e-file a Union County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Union County Clerk's office whether this court will register them for electronic filing, and should use in-person or mail filing if the clerk directs that approach.
How do I look up a Union County probate case online?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides free statewide case information for circuit courts, while online document availability varies by court.
Will there be a hearing in my Union County probate case?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice has been filed. Otherwise, the court decides whether to set one (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the Union County Clerk's office for scheduling instructions after filing.
Can I attend a Union County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Union County Clerk's office how the assigned circuit judge handles phone or video participation and whether the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit administrative plan gives instructions for your 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.