Mississippi County Probate Court Records
Mississippi County Probate Court Records sit with the clerks in Blytheville and Osceola. Files cover wills, estates, small estate affidavits, guardianships, and conservatorships. You can search Mississippi County Probate Court Records on Arkansas CourtConnect, visit either courthouse, or mail a written request. The county has two court districts, so it helps to know which one holds your case before you travel. This page covers the offices, the fees, the online tools, and the older records held at state archives.
Mississippi County Probate Court Records Overview
Mississippi County Probate Court Records Office
Mississippi County has two court districts. The Chickasawba District sits in Blytheville and the Osceola District sits in Osceola. Each has its own clerk office, and each keeps probate files for the part of the county it serves. Filings must go to the right district based on where the decedent lived.
The Circuit Clerk in the Chickasawba District is at 200 West Walnut Street, Blytheville, AR 72315. The County Clerk is one block over. You can visit mississippicountyar.org/county-clerk for the county clerk, and mississippicountyar.org/circuit-clerk for the circuit clerk. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Osceola Courthouse is at 200 West Hale Avenue, Osceola, AR 72370. The same county government runs both offices, but files do not cross over between them without a court order. If your decedent lived in the north half of the county (Blytheville, Leachville, Manila) your case goes to Chickasawba. South half (Osceola, Wilson, Joiner) goes to Osceola.
A view of the Mississippi County Clerk home page is shown below.
Lead through the Mississippi County Clerk office to browse probate and estate tools.
The clerk page lists small estate filings, marriage records, and contacts for each court district in Mississippi County.
Search Mississippi County Probate Court Records Online
CourtConnect is the best free tool for online search. The state runs it at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Pick the Second Judicial Circuit to narrow to Mississippi County. You can search by name, case number, or file date.
Results show case number, parties, case type, and a full docket. Probate cases use codes like PR. Guardianship cases may show under a separate code. Many filings have PDF links, but most probate exhibits stay paper only. For the full file you still need the clerk.
The Mississippi County Circuit Clerk page is below.
The Mississippi County Circuit Clerk home page points to court records and case search tools.
You can find the circuit clerk contact info, a fee chart, and court forms on that county page.
Note: The clerk in Blytheville holds files for the Chickasawba District; Osceola records stay at the Osceola courthouse and are not combined online.
Mississippi County Probate Court Records Record Types
Mississippi County Probate Court Records cover a wide range of cases. The Second Judicial Circuit hears full probate matters. Typical files hold the will, proof of will, letters testamentary or of administration, an inventory, creditor claims, and a final accounting.
Under Arkansas Code § 28-40-103, a will must be filed within five years of death. Proof of will requires two witnesses under § 28-40-117. The personal representative files an inventory within 60 days under § 28-48-101, and an appraisal under § 28-48-201. Creditors have six months from first notice to file claims under § 28-40-111.
Guardianship cases follow § 28-65-101. A notice of hearing runs 20 days under § 28-65-207. The guardian files a yearly report. Conservatorships handle adults who need help with finances but not full guardianship.
Intestate estates follow § 28-9-203 for heirship. The homestead allowance is set by § 28-39-101, and the family allowance by § 28-39-201. Both give the surviving spouse and minor kids a set share before creditors are paid.
Mississippi County Probate Court Records Record Fees
The probate filing fee in Mississippi County is $165 per case. A small estate affidavit under § 28-41-101 runs about $25. Small estate is for estates at or under $100,000 in value, not counting the homestead or statutory allowances. You must wait 45 days after death to file the affidavit.
Copy fees at the Mississippi County clerks:
- Plain copy: $0.25 per page
- Certified copy: $5 per document
- Letters testamentary: $5 per set
- Real estate recording: $15 first page
- Marriage record copy: $5
Buy extra certified copies if you plan to settle bank accounts, retitle a car, or record a new deed. Most banks want to keep a certified copy in their file. The cost per extra set is small. The clerk takes cards for in-person payment, and checks payable to the Mississippi County Circuit Clerk for mail orders.
Request Mississippi County Probate Court Records
There are three ways to request a Mississippi County probate file. Pick the one that fits your time and budget.
In person: walk in to the right clerk office in Blytheville or Osceola. Staff pull the file while you wait. Show a photo ID when you ask for a copy. Plain copies print fast. Certified copies take a few more minutes for the seal and signature.
By mail: send a letter to the Chickasawba District Clerk or the Osceola District Clerk. Include the case number or the decedent's full name and year of death. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check for the copy fees. A short phone number helps in case staff need to reach you.
Online: use CourtConnect to find the case. Copy down the case number. For the full file, follow up by mail or in person. The Arkansas Judiciary at arcourts.gov has self-help forms for probate, guardianship, and small estate filings.
Historic Mississippi County Probate Records
Mississippi County was formed in 1833. Probate records at the courthouse run back to the 1830s, with some gaps from a courthouse fire. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock hold microfilm of old Mississippi County wills and estate books.
FamilySearch has digitized many Mississippi County probate records. Use the Mississippi County research wiki to find reels and online indexes. The state archives at arkansasheritage.com can help with on-site research.
For a quick overview of local offices, see arcounties.org/counties/mississippi. That page links to the county government, tax office, and court directory.
Public Access Rules
Mississippi County Probate Court Records are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19. You do not need to be a family member or an attorney to view a file. Adoption files are sealed by state law. Bank account numbers, social security numbers, and minor children's full names are redacted.
Low-income residents can reach out to Legal Aid of Arkansas for help with small estate affidavits and simple guardianships. Legal Aid serves the northeast part of the state, including Mississippi County.
Cities in Mississippi County
Mississippi County includes Blytheville, Osceola, Leachville, Manila, Wilson, and Joiner. All probate cases file at the county Circuit Clerk for the matching district. Blytheville and Osceola do not have their own qualifying city pages.