Search Howard County Probate Records

Howard County Probate Court Records are held at the County Clerk and Circuit Clerk offices in Nashville, Arkansas. You can search Howard County Probate Court Records online through the free state CourtConnect portal, walk in to 421 N. Main Street, or mail a written request. The files cover wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships filed with the 4th Judicial Circuit. This page shows where the records sit, how to search by name or case number, and how to order plain or certified copies for your own use in Howard County.

Howard County Probate Court Records Office

The Howard County Clerk is the clerk of the probate court. Keri Teague holds the office. The Clerk files wills for safekeeping, opens estate cases, and keeps all probate papers as a matter of record. You can reach the office at (870) 845-7500, ext. 2. The fax line is (870) 845-7505.

The County Clerk office is at 421 N. Main St., Room 10, Nashville, AR 71852. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal court business time. The Circuit Clerk, Angie Lewis, works from the same address at (870) 845-7506. Probate hearings run through the Circuit Court, so case files often move between the two desks. Call first with the case name or number and staff will pull the file before you arrive.

For general county info, you can visit the Howard County page at the Association of Arkansas Counties site.

A view of the county summary page is shown below.

The listing at arcounties.org/counties/howard shows officials, addresses, and phone lines for Howard County.

That page is a good starting point when you need a current phone number for the clerk or circuit judge in Howard County.

Search Howard County Probate Court Records Online

The state runs a free case index called CourtConnect. It shows case numbers, party names, filing dates, and the full docket. Probate cases from Howard County post there once staff enter them. Some older files from the 1990s may not be in the index.

Start at caseinfo.arcourts.gov and pick the 4th Judicial Circuit. Search by last name, case number, or case type. Probate types are marked with PR in the case code. The portal is open day and night and needs no log-in.

If you want a full copy of a petition, will, or final order, you will still need to mail or visit the County Clerk. The online index does not show every document image for Howard County probate files.

Howard County Probate Court Records Types

Howard County Probate Court Records cover a broad set of case types. The Circuit Court hears estates with or without a will. It also hears guardianships of minors and of adults who cannot care for themselves. Small estate affidavits are filed with the County Clerk when the estate is worth $100,000 or less.

A full Howard County probate file often holds the original will, the proof of will by two witnesses under § 28-40-117, the petition to probate, the letters testamentary, the notice to creditors, the inventory due within 60 days under § 28-48-101, claims by banks and card firms, and the final accounting. A sealed order closes the case.

Adoption files in Howard County are sealed. Social security numbers and account numbers are redacted. Medical reports in guardianship files may be limited to the parties.

Filing Fees and Copy Costs

The standard filing fee to open a Howard County probate case is $165. The small estate affidavit fee runs about $25 to $30 under § 28-41-101. A small estate can move a bank account or a car title without full probate when the gross value is $100,000 or less and 45 days have passed since the death.

Standard copy fees at the Howard County clerk are:

• Plain copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified copy: $5 for the first page
• Extra pages on a certified copy: $0.50 each
• Letters testamentary: $5 per set

Pay with cash, card, check, or money order in person. Mail requests should include a check made out to the Howard County Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Staff can quote an exact total once the file is pulled.

Request Howard County Probate Court Records

There are three main ways to get Howard County Probate Court Records. Pick the one that fits your need and time frame.

In person: drive to 421 N. Main Street in Nashville. Bring a photo ID. Give the staff the case number or the full name of the person who died. Staff will pull the file. Plain copies can be ready in minutes. Certified copies take a short extra step for the seal and signature.

By mail: write a short letter with the case name, case number if you have it, your return address, the copy count, a check for the fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send it to the Howard County Clerk at 421 N. Main St., Room 10, Nashville, AR 71852. Plan on one to two weeks.

Online: use CourtConnect to find the case and docket. Then call or mail the clerk for full copies. The Arkansas Judiciary site has forms and rules.

Historic Howard County Probate Records

Howard County was formed in 1873 from parts of Hempstead, Sevier, Polk, and Pike. Probate records survive from 1873 with no known courthouse fires or floods. Older files from the 1800s and early 1900s sit in storage at the courthouse basement, and some microfilm copies are at the state level.

The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds copies of many old probate books. Start at arkansasheritage.com/arkansasstatearchives. The search room is free, and staff can pull microfilm for Howard County by date range.

FamilySearch has digitized many early Arkansas probate volumes. Check the Howard County research wiki for links to indexes and scans that cover wills, estate books, and guardian bonds.

Public Access to Howard County Probate Court Records

Probate files are open to the public. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19 give any person the right to view or copy a case file, unless a judge has sealed the case. You do not need to be an heir, a lawyer, or a party to ask.

Some content in Howard County probate files is held back. Adoption cases are sealed by statute. Full bank account numbers are redacted. Social security numbers are masked. The rest of the record stays open.

Legal Help in Howard County

Legal Aid of Arkansas serves Howard County for low-income residents. Reach them at arlegalaid.org or by statewide phone intake. They help with small estate affidavits, wills, and simple guardianship cases when the case fits their rules.

The Arkansas Bar Association runs a lawyer referral line. Many Nashville and Texarkana lawyers take short free first calls. The state court self-help page has sample forms for personal representatives and heirs who want to file on their own in Howard County.

Nearby Arkansas Counties

Howard County sits in southwest Arkansas. These nearby counties handle their own probate files in the same way.