Little Rock Probate Court Records

Little Rock Probate Court Records are filed and kept at the Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk, not by the city itself. The office sits at 401 W Markham Street in downtown Little Rock. You can search Little Rock Probate Court Records online through the state CourtConnect portal, walk in at the clerk's counter, or send a written request by mail for copies of wills, estates, and guardianship files. This page explains where to go, what a probate file may hold, and how to get both plain and certified copies for your own use.

Which County Handles Little Rock Probate Records

Little Rock is the county seat of Pulaski County. All probate cases from Little Rock land in the Pulaski County Circuit Court, Probate Division. The city does not run its own probate bench. District courts inside city limits hear traffic and small civil matters, but they have no power over wills or estates.

Terri Hollingsworth is the elected Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk. Her office serves as clerk to the probate court. Staff file papers, stamp copies, and help the public pull files. You can visit the Pulaski County probate page for the full rundown of local rules and fees. The main courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit the county online at pulaskiclerkar.gov for forms, the County Records Department, and links to the online case search. Little Rock sits in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Perry County. A Circuit Court judge hears probate cases on a rotating docket.

Email the clerk's court records team at courtrecords@pulaskiclerk.com for simple questions. Staff cannot give legal advice. They can quote fees, tell you if a file is open, and send you forms. Many Little Rock folks handle small estates without a lawyer, and the clerk's staff can point you to the right form packet.

Little Rock Probate Court Records Office

The clerk's office is at 401 W Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201. Call (501) 340-8500 for the main desk. The County Records Department, which holds older and archived files, sits in Suite 103 of the same building. Metered street parking is on Markham in front, and a paid garage stands at the Doubletree Hotel across the street.

The public entrance is on Markham Street. Go through security on the way in. Bring a government photo ID if you plan to look at files. Ask the front desk for the probate clerk. Staff can help with walk-in searches, copy requests, and small estate affidavit filings.

We pulled a view of the city records page to show where Little Rock residents land when they start looking. Take a look at the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness Pulaski County page to see the starting point many researchers use.

That page links out to clerk contacts, court dates, and old record notes for Little Rock probate cases.

The city's own court page is also worth a peek. The Little Rock District Court is not a probate court, but it is where some folks start by mistake. See the link below.

The Little Rock District Court page confirms the district court only hears traffic, small claims, and code cases, so probate work goes to the Pulaski County clerk instead.

Search Little Rock Probate Court Records Online

Pulaski County takes part in CourtConnect, the free statewide case lookup run by the Arkansas Judiciary. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. Probate cases show up with case status, hearing dates, and full docket lists. Basic access costs nothing.

Start at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Pick Pulaski County or the Sixth Judicial Circuit to trim your results. Filter by the probate case type to skip over civil and criminal files. Type the last name of the decedent, and hit search.

Some documents are not online. Full will images, inventory sheets, and signed orders often need a walk-in or mail pull. The County Records Department scans many items, but older cases from before 2000 may still sit on paper.

For added research, the county court also hosts a local records portal. Check out the preview below for what the Pulaski County Records page looks like.

The Pulaski County Records Department links each record type to the right staff and gives a fee list for copies.

Types of Little Rock Probate Court Records

The Pulaski County Circuit Court hears a wide set of cases. Little Rock Probate Court Records cover wills, estate administrations, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and name changes. Adoption cases are sealed by state law, so only the parties and their lawyers can view them.

A typical Little Rock probate file holds the petition, the will, proof of the will, letters testamentary, an inventory, creditor claim forms, and the final accounting. Guardianship files also hold medical statements and yearly reports. The personal representative files an inventory within 60 days under § 28-48-101. Creditors have six months from first publication to file claims under § 28-40-111.

Most Little Rock estate cases start with a petition under Arkansas Code § 28-40-107. The court admits the will, names a personal representative, and sets deadlines. See the full code at law.justia.com. A will must be filed within five years of death per § 28-40-103. Proof of a will takes at least two attesting witnesses under § 28-40-117.

Guardianship files in Little Rock follow § 28-65-101. The court sets a 20-day notice under § 28-65-207 before a guardianship hearing. Mental health commitment files are separate from regular probate but share the same clerk.

Little Rock Probate Court Records Fees

The standard Little Rock probate filing fee is $165 to open a new estate case. A small estate affidavit under § 28-41-101 runs about $25 to $30. The small estate track fits estates at or under $100,000 in value, not counting the homestead or statutory allowances. You must wait 45 days after death to file.

Copy fees at the Pulaski County clerk are set by the clerk:

• Plain copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified copy: $5 per document
• Authenticated copy: $5 per document
• Letters testamentary: $5 per set

Certified copies cannot be sent by email. Pick them up in person or get them by mail through USPS. The clerk can quote the exact total once staff pull the file. If you need more than one certified copy to close a bank account or retitle a deed, order a few extras. The per-copy cost is low, and a second trip costs much more time.

Request Little Rock Probate Court Records

You have three main ways to get Little Rock Probate Court Records. Pick the one that matches your need. Most folks start online and then mail or visit if they want a certified copy.

In person: walk in to 401 W Markham Street during business hours. Bring a photo ID. Tell staff the case name or number. They will pull the file and make copies. Plain copies often happen the same visit. Certified copies take a few more minutes for the seal and signature.

By mail: send a written letter with the case info, your return address, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check for the copy fees. The clerk will mail the copies back. If you do not have the case number, give the decedent's full name and rough year of death so staff can check the index.

Online: start with CourtConnect to find the case. Then use the forms at pulaskiclerkar.gov if the clerk offers an online copy request. Personal checks must include a driver's license number and phone. Online payment is accepted for some requests through the clerk's portal.

Historic Little Rock Probate Court Records

Pulaski County was created June 1, 1819, and Little Rock has been the county seat since then. Probate records go back to 1820 and marriage records to 1839. Records are in good shape thanks to early fire-proof storage. The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at 401 President Clinton Avenue also holds family papers, old photos, and early legal notices.

Probate files from before 1920 are at the Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock. The archives search room is free. Start online at arkansasheritage.com and email for research help. Hours at the archives are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FamilySearch has scanned many early probate and will images for Pulaski County. Visit the Pulaski County research wiki for microfilm and online index links. A free account opens most images.

Public Access to Little Rock Probate Records

Probate files in Little Rock are open to the public. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19 set the public access rules. You do not have to be an heir, a lawyer, or a party to ask for a file. Just walk in or send a FOIA request through the clerk's portal.

A few items are held back. Adoption files are sealed by law. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and the full names of minor children are redacted. Medical records in a guardianship case may be limited to the parties. The rest of the file stays open.

To seal a record in Little Rock, you file a petition under the rules in Arkansas Code and Rule 19. The judge weighs privacy against public interest. Most motions are denied unless you show strong cause. The standard rule favors open files.

Legal Help for Little Rock Probate Cases

The Center for Arkansas Legal Services covers Little Rock for low-income residents. Call (501) 376-3423 or go online at arlegalaid.org for intake. They help with small estate affidavits and simple guardianships when a case fits their rules.

The Arkansas Bar Association lawyer referral service matches you with a local probate lawyer. Many Little Rock attorneys offer a short free first call. The Arkansas Judiciary self-help page has standard forms for personal representatives, guardians, and heirs who want to file on their own.

Nearby Arkansas Cities

Other cities in and around Pulaski County file at the same Little Rock courthouse. See their pages for local tips.