Search Faulkner County Probate Records

Faulkner County Probate Court Records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Conway, home to the University of Central Arkansas. The clerk files all wills, estates, guardianships, and adoption cases heard in the Circuit Court's Probate Division. You can search Faulkner County Probate Court Records online through the statewide CourtConnect portal, walk in to 801 Locust Street, or mail a written request for copies. The Circuit Clerk sits just down the block at 724 Locust Avenue. This page walks through how to find a case, what a probate file holds, and how to get copies.

Faulkner County Probate Court Records Office

The Faulkner County Clerk serves as clerk to the probate court. The office files instruments in decedent estate cases and keeps records for adoptions and guardianships within the county. The clerk also issues marriage licenses, serves as secretary of the Board of Equalization, and takes U.S. Passport applications Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The office is at 801 Locust Street, Conway, AR 72034. Hours are Monday through Friday. Marriage licenses cost $60, paid in cash. Both parties must be in the office with photo ID. Ages 18-21 must provide birth certificates. Age 17 requires both parents present with custody documents. A covenant marriage requires counseling by clergy or a licensed counselor.

The Faulkner County Circuit Clerk, Nancy Eastham, sits at 724 Locust Ave., Conway, AR 72034. Call (501) 450-4911. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Circuit Court has five divisions: Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, Probate, and Juvenile. A probate case sits in the Probate Division.

Visit the Circuit Clerk online at faulknercountyar.gov/circuit-clerk for forms, fee lists, and e-filing info. A look at the Circuit Clerk page is shown below.

The page links to the public court connect tool, the eFlex filing tool, and the customer fraud alert service that emails you when a document is filed with your name.

You can visit the County Clerk online at faulknercountyar.gov/county-clerk. A view of the clerk page is below.

From the County Clerk page you can reach probate filings, voter registration, marriage licenses, and quorum court records.

Search Faulkner County Probate Court Records Online

Faulkner County takes part in CourtConnect. The free statewide case search lets you look up probate cases by party name, case number, or case type. Court records back to January 1, 2009 are open through Public Court Connect.

Start at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Pick the 20th Judicial District and narrow to Faulkner County. The search is free and open to anyone. All court cases are scanned back to 2000, and all orders in all cases are scanned back to 1997. Electronic filing began June 1, 2016 for Faulkner County.

Real estate records are scanned back to 1950. Business Information Systems (BIS) is used for electronic land recording. A free BIS portal lets the public search real estate recordings.

Faulkner County Probate Court Records Types

A Faulkner County probate file can hold a wide mix of papers. Most files start with a petition for probate or for letters of administration. The judge admits the will, names a personal representative, and issues letters. The case then builds into a full record in the Probate Division.

Common papers in a Faulkner 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 are not open to the public.

Arkansas Code runs the clock. A will must be filed within 5 years of death under § 28-40-103. Proof of the will needs at least two attesting witnesses under § 28-40-117. The personal representative files an inventory within 60 days per § 28-48-101. Creditor claims are due within 6 months of first notice under § 28-40-111. Final accounting follows § 28-52-101.

Guardianship cases follow § 28-65-101 and give 20 days notice of each hearing under § 28-65-207. The file holds medical statements, a guardian ad litem report, and yearly reports from the guardian. Small estate affidavits run under § 28-41-101 for estates at or under $100,000, which lets heirs close a short file fast.

Faulkner County Probate Probate Court Records Fees

The Faulkner County probate filing fee is $165 to open a new estate case. A small estate affidavit runs about $25 under § 28-41-101. You must wait 45 days after death before you can file a small estate. The small estate path is the fastest way to close a simple file.

For Circuit or Domestic Relations cases, the filing fee for a new Cause of Action is $185.00, which includes a $20.00 electronic filing system fee per Administrative Order 21. Appeals from District Court to Circuit Court run $185.00 for civil cases and $170.00 for criminal cases. Re-opening a Cause of Action or transferring a case is $50.00. A summons or subpoena is $2.50 at the Circuit Clerk.

Copy fees at the Circuit Clerk run $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified or authenticated copies are $5.00 each. Real estate recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each added page. Plats and surveys are $15.00. Faulkner County no longer accepts re-recordings; a scrivener's affidavit is acceptable for minor errors under Arkansas Code § 18-12-108.

Historic Faulkner County Probate Court Records

Faulkner County was formed in 1873 and is named for Sandford C. Faulkner. The county seat is Conway. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds many old Faulkner County files on microfilm. Start at arkansasheritage.com for hours and online help.

FamilySearch has put many Faulkner County probate files online. Visit the Faulkner County research wiki for links to microfilm reels and online indexes. The wiki is a strong start for any family history search.

The Circuit Clerk real estate records are scanned back to 1950, and court cases back to 2000. Older paper files sit in the secure vault at the Justice Building, 510 S. German Lane. Staff can pull a file with advance notice.

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

Request Faulkner County Probate Court Records

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

In person: walk in to 801 Locust Street for probate files at the County Clerk, or to 724 Locust Avenue for civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile files at the Circuit Clerk. Bring a photo ID. Give staff the case name or number. Plain copies often happen the same visit.

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 pull the file, copy it, and mail it back. Include the decedent's full name and year of death if you do not have a case number.

Online: start at CourtConnect to find the case. Use the eFlex tool for new filings. For full images of older files, follow up with a phone call or a trip to the Conway courthouse.

Public Access to Faulkner County Probate Records

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

Some items stay sealed. Adoption files are closed by state law. Juvenile cases are not open to the public. 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 Faulkner County Probate Court Records file is open. A request to seal a full file runs under Rule 19 and § 28 rules. Most requests to seal are denied unless a strong case is made.

Legal Help in Faulkner County

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

The Arkansas Judiciary self-help page has standard forms for personal reps, guardians, and heirs who want to file on their own. The Faulkner County Veteran Reward Program at the Circuit Clerk offers local discounts to veterans.

Cities in Faulkner County

Faulkner County holds several cities. Each files probate cases at the County Clerk in Conway.

Nearby Arkansas Counties