Crittenden County Probate Records Lookup

Crittenden County Probate Court Records sit at the County Clerk's office in Marion, the county seat. The clerk files wills, estates, guardianships, and adoption cases heard in the Circuit Court. You can search Crittenden County Probate Court Records online through the statewide CourtConnect portal, walk in to 100 Court Street, or send a mail request for copies. The county sits in east Arkansas on the Mississippi River, across from Memphis. This page shows where to start, what a probate file holds, and how to get copies.

Crittenden County Probate Court Records Office

The Crittenden County Clerk serves as the probate court clerk. The office files all papers in decedent estate cases. The clerk keeps every adoption file and every guardianship file, issues marriage licenses for $60, and runs the assumed business name index. Crittenden County probate records date from 1825. The county was named for Robert Crittenden.

The clerk's office is at 100 Court Square, Marion, AR 72364. You can call (870) 739-4434 or email crittcoclerk@gmail.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. West Memphis is the largest city in the county. The District Court has branches in six Crittenden County towns: Earle, Gilmore, Jericho, Turrell, Marion, and West Memphis, but only the Circuit Court hears probate matters.

The Crittenden County Circuit Clerk sits at 85 Jackson Street, Marion, AR 72364. Reach that office at (870) 739-3241. The circuit clerk handles civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile files, plus land records as ex-officio recorder. The office provides public access terminals for record searching.

Search Crittenden County Probate Court Records Online

Crittenden County takes part in CourtConnect for some case types. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. Each result shows basic case info, party names, and docket entries.

Start at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Pick the Second Judicial District and narrow to Crittenden County. The search is free and open to anyone. For a case filed before the county went live on CourtConnect, you may need to call the clerk for help.

For full images of wills, inventories, and orders, you may still need to walk in or mail a request. The Crittenden County clerk's office keeps paper and digital files, and staff can pull a file once you give them a name or case number.

A look at the statewide case search page is below. For Crittenden County probate matters, use this page as the first stop, then follow up with a phone call to (870) 739-4434 for case copies.

The page above links out to all circuit courts in Arkansas, including Crittenden. From the main Arkansas Judiciary page at arcourts.gov you can also reach self-help forms and general court info.

Crittenden County Probate Court Records Types

A Crittenden County probate file holds a wide mix of papers. Most files begin with a petition for probate or for letters of administration. The judge admits the will, names a personal representative, and issues letters. From there the case builds into a full record.

Common papers in a Crittenden County Probate Court Records file include the petition, the will and proof of will, letters testamentary or of administration, the inventory and appraisal of assets, creditor claim forms, notices to heirs, petitions for family or homestead allowances, sale orders for real estate, the final accounting, and the order of discharge. Adoption cases and sealed guardianship files sit apart and are not open to the public.

Arkansas law runs the clock in every probate case. A will must be filed within 5 years of death per § 28-40-103. Proof of the will needs at least two attesting witnesses under § 28-40-117. The personal representative has 60 days to file an inventory per § 28-48-101. Creditor claims are due within 6 months of first notice under § 28-40-111. Homestead and family allowances flow from § 28-39-101 and § 28-39-201.

Guardianship matters follow § 28-65-101 and give 20 days notice of each hearing under § 28-65-207. The Crittenden County clerk keeps these files with the estate files in secure storage.

Crittenden County Probate Probate Court Records Fees

The Crittenden County probate filing fee is $165 for a new estate case. A small estate affidavit runs about $25 under § 28-41-101 for estates at or under $100,000 in value, not counting the homestead or family allowance. You must wait 45 days after death before you can file a small estate.

Copy fees at the clerk run $0.50 per page for plain copies, plus $5.00 for a certification stamp. Certified copies of probate documents are $5 per document. Real estate recording fees at the circuit clerk are $15 for the first page and $5 for each added page. UCC filings have their own fee list at the circuit clerk counter.

Order a few extra certified copies to cover bank, broker, and title firm needs. The cost is low, and a second mail cycle takes more time than a few extra copies on the first trip.

Historic Crittenden County Probate Court Records

Crittenden County was created October 22, 1825. Marriage records at the clerk go back to 1837. Probate records date from 1839. Court records start in 1826. There are no known courthouse disasters in the county's history, which means the paper trail runs long and steady.

The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds many old Crittenden County files on microfilm. Start at arkansasheritage.com to set up a visit or ask for a search by staff. The archives are free to use, and staff can help you look up estate files from the 1800s.

FamilySearch has put many Crittenden County probate files online as well. Visit the Crittenden County research wiki to find links to microfilm reels and online indexes. Many old wills can be read from your own home if the film is scanned.

State birth and death records in Arkansas began in 1914. A probate file from before that date may be your best source for a date of death and for a short family tree.

Request Crittenden County Probate Records

You have three main paths to get Crittenden County Probate Court Records. Pick the one that fits your need.

In person: walk in to 100 Court Square in Marion during office hours. Bring a photo ID. Fill out the records request form and give staff the case number, party names, or other info you have. Plain copies often happen the same visit. Certified copies take a few more minutes.

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

Online: start at CourtConnect to find the case. For older cases that are not online, use the FamilySearch wiki or the State Archives.

Public Access to Crittenden County Probate Records

Probate files in Crittenden County are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19. You do not need to be an heir, a lawyer, or a party to ask for the file.

Some items stay sealed. Adoption records are closed by law. Juvenile court cases are not open to the public. Specific family law matters may have limits. 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 a Crittenden County Probate Court Records file is open to the public. A party can ask to seal a full file under Rule 19 and § 28 rules. The judge then weighs privacy against the public right to see court work. Most requests to seal are denied unless a strong case is made.

Legal Help in Crittenden County

Legal Aid of Arkansas serves Crittenden County for low-income residents. The group helps with small estate affidavits and simple guardianships. Visit arlegalaid.org for intake forms and help.

The Arkansas Judiciary self-help page has standard forms for personal reps, guardians, and heirs who want to file on their own. The Association of Arkansas Counties also runs a county page at arcounties.org/counties/crittenden with local office links.

Nearby Arkansas Counties

Crittenden County sits in east Arkansas on the Mississippi River. Nearby counties file probate cases at their own county clerk offices.