Find Lawrence County Probate Records

Lawrence County Probate Court Records are filed with the County Clerk and Circuit Clerk in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. The offices hold case files for wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships heard by the 3rd Judicial Circuit. You can search Lawrence County Probate Court Records online through the free state CourtConnect portal, walk in to 315 W. Main Street, or mail a written request for copies. This page shows how to find a case, what a file may hold, and how to get plain or certified copies from Lawrence County court staff.

Lawrence County Probate Court Records Office

Brandi Parker is the Lawrence County Clerk. The County Clerk is the clerk of the county and probate courts under § 28-1-108. The office files wills for safekeeping before probate, opens new estate cases, and keeps the estate docket. Michelle Evans is the Circuit Clerk. The Circuit Clerk keeps the full case file for each probate case.

The County Clerk office is at 315 W. Main St., Suite 2, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476. Mailing is P.O. Box 526. Phone: (870) 886-1111. Fax: (870) 886-1122. Email: countyclerk@lawrencear.org. The Circuit Clerk can be reached at (870) 886-1112. Hours run Monday through Friday during normal court business.

The Lawrence County Clerk also serves as voter registrar, records minister credentials, issues marriage licenses, and files DBA certificates. For more, see the county clerk page.

A view of the Lawrence County Clerk site is below.

The site at lawrencecountyar.com/county-clerk is a good place to start any Lawrence County Probate Court Records request.

Search Lawrence County Probate Court Records Online

CourtConnect is the free statewide case search. Probate cases in Lawrence County post there once the clerk opens a new file. Search by last name, case number, or case type. Probate cases carry a PR code. Pick the 3rd Judicial Circuit to narrow to Lawrence County.

Start at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. The index shows case number, party names, filing date, next hearing, and docket entries. Full scans of wills, petitions, and final orders are mostly not online for Lawrence County.

Types of Lawrence County Probate Court Records

Lawrence County Probate Court Records cover a wide set of case types. The Circuit Court hears full estates with a will under § 28-40-107, estates without a will under § 28-9-203, guardianships of minors and adults under § 28-65-101, and conservatorships. The County Clerk files instruments in decedent estate cases and keeps records for adoption and guardianship cases.

A full Lawrence County probate file often holds the petition to probate, the original will, proof of will by two witnesses under § 28-40-117, letters testamentary, notice to creditors, an inventory due within 60 days under § 28-48-101, creditor claims filed within six months under § 28-40-111, an appraisal under § 28-48-201, a claim payment order under § 28-50-201, and a final accounting under § 28-52-101.

The County Clerk also stores wills that have been filed for safekeeping before death. The clerk holds the sealed will until probate opens.

Lawrence County Probate Court Records Fees

The filing fee to open a Lawrence County probate case is $165. A small estate affidavit is $25 to $30 under § 28-41-101. The small estate track fits estates at or under $100,000 with a 45-day wait after the death, not counting the homestead allowance under § 28-39-101 or the family allowance under § 28-39-201.

Copy fees at the Lawrence County Clerk:

• 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 by cash, check, or money order. Mail requests should include a check made out to the Lawrence County Clerk and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Request Lawrence County Probate Court Records

Three options. Each fits a different need.

In person: drive to 315 W. Main Street, Suite 2, in Walnut Ridge. Bring a photo ID. Give the staff the case number or the full name of the person who died. Plain copies often come back in minutes. Certified copies take a short extra step for the seal.

By mail: send a short letter with the case info, copy count, return address, a check for the fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail it to P.O. Box 526, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476. Plan on one to two weeks.

Online: start at CourtConnect. Use the county clerk page for contact info and forms. The Arkansas Judiciary site has the access rules.

Historic Lawrence County Probate Records

Lawrence County was formed in 1815, one of the oldest counties in Arkansas. Probate records survive from 1815 at the courthouse. Some of those records have been filmed by the state and by FamilySearch.

The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds microfilm for old Lawrence County probate books. Start at arkansasheritage.com/arkansasstatearchives. The search room is free.

FamilySearch has digitized many Lawrence County probate records. Check the Lawrence County research wiki for links to will books, estate books, and guardian bonds.

Public Access to Lawrence County Probate Records

Probate files in Lawrence County are public. The Arkansas FOIA and Administrative Order No. 19 set the rules. Anyone can ask to view or copy a file.

Some items are held back. Adoption files are sealed by law. Social security numbers are masked. Full bank account numbers are redacted. Medical reports in guardianship cases may be limited to the named parties. The rest of the Lawrence County probate file stays open to the public.

Legal Help in Lawrence County

Legal Aid of Arkansas covers Lawrence County for low-income residents. Reach them at arlegalaid.org or by the statewide intake line. Staff help with small estate affidavits and simple guardianships when the case fits their rules.

The Arkansas Bar Association runs a lawyer referral line. The Arkansas Judiciary self-help page has sample forms for heirs, personal representatives, and guardians who want to file on their own in Lawrence County.

More Probate Court Records Tips

Before you head to the clerk, gather a few key facts. The full legal name of the decedent is the most important. A date of death, even a rough year, helps narrow the index. If you know the case number from a prior filing, bring that too. Staff can pull the right probate file in minutes when you come prepared.

Pay by check or money order if you mail a request. Some clerks take credit cards at the counter. Probate court records can also be ordered in batches, which saves time when you need several certified copies of the same order. Ask the clerk to quote a total before you pay.

Nearby Arkansas Counties

Lawrence County sits in northeast Arkansas. These nearby counties handle probate in the same way.