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Yell County, AR Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Yell County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Yell County Circuit Court, probate division |
| Probate filings go to | Yell County Circuit/County Clerk's office. One combined clerk's office serves both the circuit clerk and county clerk functions in Yell County. |
| Danville courthouse | Yell County Courthouse, 101 E. 5th St., Danville, AR 72833. Phone: (479) 495-4850. |
| Dardanelle courthouse | Yell County Courthouse, 106 Union St., Dardanelle, AR 72834. Phone: (479) 229-4404. |
| Mailing address | PO Box 219, Danville, AR 72833. |
| Fax | Danville: (479) 495-4875. Dardanelle: (479) 229-5634. |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Office hours are not posted for either counter. Call the clerk before traveling or mailing time-sensitive documents. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, $165.00 to open a decedent's estate: $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, the small estate affidavit fee is $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy. |
| Local forms | The Arkansas Judiciary publishes the Official Probate Forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. Yell County does not publish an added local probate form or checklist on the clerk page. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Yell County Circuit/County Clerk whether this court will register them, and can otherwise file at the correct courthouse or by mail. |
| Case search | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad provides free statewide case information. Document availability depends on the court record. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Circuit/County Clerk whether the assigned circuit judge allows phone or video attendance. The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit's Administrative Order No. 14 plan is the local practice document. |
| Website | https://yellcountyar.gov/elected-county-offices-officials/circuit-county-clerks-office/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Yell County, identify the estate's assets, debts, deeded real property, bank accounts, and any original will. That inventory helps you decide whether the estate needs a personal representative or whether the Arkansas affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee may fit under A.C.A. § 28-41-101.
Yell County also requires a courthouse decision because the county has Danville and Dardanelle judicial districts. Sunset's estate settlement tools can search more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then help organize the information before you call the Circuit/County Clerk to confirm the correct filing location.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Yell County is filed in the probate division of the Yell County Circuit Court, which sits in Arkansas's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. The circuit includes Conway, Logan, Scott, and Yell counties, but a Yell County estate is filed at the proper Yell County courthouse, not in another county.
Arkansas venue is based first on where the decedent resided at death, and has additional rules for nonresidents, property located in Arkansas, and deaths occurring in Arkansas (A.C.A. § 28-40-102). Because Yell County has more than one judicial district, Arkansas law treats "county" as "district" unless the context indicates otherwise (A.C.A. § 28-1-102). That means the Danville or Dardanelle courthouse may be the correct counter depending on the decedent's Yell County district. Call the Circuit/County Clerk before filing if the district is not clear.
If more than one Arkansas proceeding is started, the first-filed proceeding controls while the court resolves venue, and a case filed in the wrong place can be transferred rather than restarted (A.C.A. § 28-40-102).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, deed information, account statements, debts, and contact information for heirs and devisees.
- Check timing before preparing papers. Arkansas generally requires the application to admit a will or grant administration to be made within five years of death (A.C.A. § 28-40-103).
- Choose the filing path. If 45 days have passed and, as of August 2026, the estate fits the $100,000 cap after encumbrances and after excluding the homestead and statutory allowances, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee may be available 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 include the statewide probate cover sheet. If a nonresident will serve, review the Designation of Process Agent form in the statewide form set.
- Call the Yell County Circuit/County Clerk to confirm whether the Danville or Dardanelle courthouse is the correct filing location for the decedent's judicial district.
- File with the Circuit/County Clerk at the correct Yell County courthouse or by mail to PO Box 219, Danville, AR 72833. As of August 2026, opening a decedent's estate costs $165.00, 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. A person who cannot afford costs can ask the court about proceeding in forma pauperis under Rule 72.
- Notice and hearing practice depends on the filing. A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice is on file, and otherwise is set at the court's discretion (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). Ask the clerk how the assigned judge handles phone or video attendance.
- If the court appoints a personal representative, the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under the court's seal after the required acceptance or bond step is satisfied (A.C.A. § 28-48-102).
- After letters are granted, publish notice of appointment and serve copies on heirs, devisees, known creditors, and the Department of Human Services when required. Claims are barred six months after first publication if not properly presented (A.C.A. § 28-40-111).
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, preparing any required inventory, addressing claims and taxes, accounting to the court when required, distributing property, and seeking final distribution and discharge.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Yell County
The Arkansas Judiciary publishes a statewide probate form set for decedent estates, including petitions, proof of will, bond, acceptance, 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 probate filing.
Yell County does not publish an added county-specific probate form, checklist, or cover-sheet instruction on the Circuit/County Clerk page. Use the statewide forms, then call the clerk to confirm whether the Danville or Dardanelle courthouse is the correct place to file.
Local nuance
Yell County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Yell County estate |
|---|---|
| Two judicial districts | Yell County has courthouse locations in Danville and Dardanelle. Because Arkansas treats "county" as "district" for counties with more than one judicial district, the correct probate filing counter depends on the decedent's district (A.C.A. § 28-1-102; A.C.A. § 28-40-102). |
| One combined clerk's office | The Yell County Circuit/County Clerk's office serves both courthouse locations. You do not need to choose between separate circuit clerk and county clerk offices in Yell County. |
| Call before traveling | Office hours are not posted for the Danville or Dardanelle probate counters. Confirm hours, filing location, and any hearing instructions before making the trip. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Aid of Arkansas became the sole Legal Services Corporation funded civil legal-aid provider for all 75 Arkansas counties. It remains an eligibility-screened legal-aid provider and should not be assumed to take estate administration matters. |
| December 9, 2025 | The Arkansas Judiciary's eFlex Electronic Filing Rejection Policy took effect for filings through efile.arcourts.gov. |
| June 5, 2026 | Subscription-based payments ended in eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov; other payment methods remain available. |
| 2026 | Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad is the public case-information portal for Arkansas circuit court case information. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and account titles before filing. If probate is needed, call the Yell County Circuit/County Clerk to confirm whether the Danville or Dardanelle courthouse matches the decedent's judicial district. The homestead and statutory allowances receive special treatment in the Arkansas small estate calculation (A.C.A. § 28-39-101; A.C.A. § 28-41-101). | Sunset helps organize deeds, accounts, debts, and contact information so the spouse can decide whether a court filing is needed for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 45 days have passed and, as of August 2026, the estate fits the $100,000 Arkansas affidavit requirements, the affidavit for collection of small estate by distributee is filed with the Yell County probate clerk, not handed first to a bank (A.C.A. § 28-41-101). Ask the clerk which courthouse to use and whether phone or video attendance is available if any hearing is set. | Sunset helps identify accounts, prepare an asset list, and generate a probate packet for the correct Yell County filing counter. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real-property estate can be sensitive in Yell County because the filing may belong in either Danville or Dardanelle. The Arkansas small estate affidavit can include real property, but it has publication requirements under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, and a sale often requires authority through letters issued under A.C.A. § 28-48-102. | Sunset helps collect property information, debts, heirs, and document needs, then connects the family with local legal help when a sale or court authority is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Yell County Circuit/County Clerk | Confirms whether the Danville or Dardanelle courthouse is the right place to file, gives current counter instructions, and issues letters after court appointment and qualification. | Danville: (479) 495-4850. Dardanelle: (479) 229-4404. https://yellcountyar.gov/elected-county-offices-officials/circuit-county-clerks-office/ |
| Arkansas Judiciary Official Probate Forms | Provides statewide probate forms and the probate cover sheet for Arkansas circuit court probate division filings. | https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms |
| Arkansas Law Help | Offers public legal information, including a small estate packet tied to A.C.A. § 28-41-101. | https://arlawhelp.org |
| Search ARCourts | Lets the public search Arkansas circuit court case information at caseinfo.arcourts.gov, with document availability depending on the court record. | https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad |
| Legal Aid of Arkansas | Provides income-screened civil legal-aid intake statewide. Estate administration may not be within its case priorities, so use intake to check eligibility and scope. | 1-800-952-9243. https://arlegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Yell County when the estate includes real property, the correct judicial district is unclear, heirs disagree, a creditor issue appears, a bond question arises, or the personal representative lives outside Arkansas. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions, helps identify insurance and retirement accounts, and organizes what belongs in the Yell County estate settlement file.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the asset and family information you provide into a structured probate packet, including the details needed for Arkansas forms and the questions to ask the Yell County Circuit/County Clerk before filing.
Find a local probate attorney
When a Yell County estate involves a home sale, disputed heirs, creditor claims, or uncertainty about the Danville or Dardanelle filing location, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Yell County?
File in the probate division of the Yell County Circuit Court through the Yell County Circuit/County Clerk. Because Yell County has courthouse locations in Danville and Dardanelle, call the clerk to confirm which judicial district applies before filing. Arkansas venue rules are in A.C.A. § 28-40-102, and the district rule for counties with more than one judicial district is in A.C.A. § 28-1-102.
Does Yell County have one probate clerk or two?
Yell County uses one combined Circuit/County Clerk's office for both courthouse locations. The practical question is not which clerk's office to use, but whether the Danville or Dardanelle courthouse is the correct filing location.
Can I e-file a Yell County probate case?
Attorneys use eFlex at efile.arcourts.gov. A self-represented filer should ask the Yell County Circuit/County Clerk whether this court will register them for electronic filing, and should be prepared to file at the correct courthouse or by mail if not.
How much does it cost to open probate in Yell County?
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, filing the Arkansas small estate affidavit costs $25.00 under A.C.A. § 28-41-101, plus $5.00 per certified copy.
Are there Yell County probate forms?
Use the Arkansas Judiciary's Official Probate Forms and the statewide probate cover sheet. Yell County does not publish an added local probate form or checklist on the Circuit/County Clerk page.
How do I look up a Yell County probate case?
Use Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. It provides free statewide circuit court case information. Some public records may have documents linked, but document availability depends on the court record.
Will I have a hearing in Yell County probate?
A hearing is required if the petition is opposed or a demand for notice is on file, and otherwise is set at the court's discretion (A.C.A. § 28-40-110). No local Yell County hearing-day schedule is posted, so ask the Circuit/County Clerk what to expect after filing.
Can I attend a Yell County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Circuit/County Clerk and follow the assigned circuit judge's instructions. The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit's Administrative Order No. 14 plan is the local practice document, and the Yell County materials reviewed for this page do not give a blanket answer.
Do I have to travel to Yell County if I live out of state?
Not every step requires travel, but filing location and hearing practice depend on the case. Mail filings can be directed to PO Box 219, Danville, AR 72833, and a nonresident personal representative should review the statewide Designation of Process Agent form. If a hearing is set, ask the clerk what the assigned judge allows.
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.