Nevada County Probate Records Lookup
Nevada County Probate Court Records sit at the Circuit Clerk office in Prescott. Files cover wills, estates, small estate affidavits, guardianships, and conservatorship cases. You can search Nevada County Probate Court Records on the free state CourtConnect portal, walk in at the courthouse, or mail a written request. This page covers the clerk address, the fees, the online tools, and the steps to get a plain or certified copy of any probate file open to the public under Arkansas law.
Nevada County Probate Court Records Overview
Nevada County Probate Court Records Office
The Nevada County Circuit Clerk keeps the probate file room. The office is clerk to the probate division of the Eighth Judicial Circuit North. Under Arkansas Code § 28-1-106, the county clerk acts as clerk to the probate court, files papers, issues notices, and swears witnesses. Arkansas Circuit Courts have probate jurisdiction under § 28-1-104.
The courthouse is at 215 East 2nd Street South, Prescott, AR 71857. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (870) 887-2511 for probate or guardianship questions. Bring a photo ID when you request copies.
Nevada County was formed in 1871. Probate records date back to the county's first years. For county contact info, see the Association of Arkansas Counties Nevada County page. The Arkansas Judiciary runs arcourts.gov for court forms and self-help resources.
Search Nevada County Probate Court Records Online
Arkansas CourtConnect is the free statewide case search. Go to caseinfo.arcourts.gov and narrow to the Eighth Circuit North to find Nevada County. Search by party name, case number, or file date.
Results list case type, parties, file date, and the full docket. Probate cases use the PR code. Not every rural county puts full PDF images of probate files online. For full case records you may still need to mail or visit the clerk.
Note: Nevada County Probate Court Records on CourtConnect show dockets; wills and inventories may stay in paper form at the clerk.
Nevada County Probate Court Records Record Types
The probate division hears a wide set of cases. A typical Nevada County file holds the first petition, the will, proof of will, letters testamentary or of administration, the inventory, creditor claims, and a final accounting. Adoption cases are sealed under state law.
Under § 28-40-103, a will must be filed within five years of death. Proof of will needs two witnesses per § 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 the first notice to file claims under § 28-40-111.
Common case types in Nevada County Probate Court Records:
- Testate estates with a will
- Intestate estates under § 28-9-203
- Small estate affidavits under § 28-41-101
- Guardianships and conservatorships
- Trust proceedings
- Name change cases
- Adoption cases (sealed)
Guardianships follow § 28-65-101. Notice of hearing runs 20 days under § 28-65-207. The guardian files a yearly report with the court on finances and care.
Nevada County Probate Court Records Fees
The probate filing fee in Nevada County is $165 per case. A small estate affidavit runs about $25. Small estate is capped at $100,000 in value, not counting the homestead or statutory allowances. You must wait 45 days from the date of death to file the affidavit.
Copy fees at the Circuit Clerk:
- Plain copies: $0.25 per page
- Certified copies: $5 per document
- Letters testamentary: $5 per set
- Recording fee: $15 first page
Order extra certified copies if you plan to settle bank accounts or retitle a vehicle. Each extra set is only a few dollars. The clerk takes cards for in-person payment. Mail orders should include a check payable to the Nevada County Circuit Clerk.
Request Nevada County Probate Court Records
You have three ways to request a Nevada County probate file. Pick the one that fits your time.
In person: walk in to 215 East 2nd Street South in Prescott during office hours. Bring a photo ID. Give staff the case number or the decedent's name and year of death. They pull the file and make copies while you wait.
By mail: send a written letter with the case details, a check for copy fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include a phone number in case staff have a follow-up question.
Online: start at CourtConnect to get the case number. Follow up with the clerk for full copies. The Arkansas Judiciary at arcourts.gov hosts free self-help forms for probate, small estate, and guardianship filings.
Historic Nevada County Records
Nevada County was formed on March 20, 1871. Probate books and marriage indexes at the courthouse go back to the early 1870s. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock hold microfilm copies of many old Nevada County wills and estate books. Visit arkansasheritage.com to set up a research visit.
FamilySearch has digitized many Nevada County probate records. The Nevada County research wiki lists reels and online indexes. The site is free to use with a free account.
Public Access to Nevada County Probate Records
Nevada County Probate Court Records are public. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19 set the rules. Anyone can walk in, search online, or send a FOIA request.
Some items are held back. Adoption records are sealed under state law. Bank account numbers, social security numbers, and the full names of minor children are redacted. Medical records from a guardianship case may be limited to the parties.
For help with a simple estate or guardianship, Legal Aid of Arkansas offers free service to low-income residents.
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.
Nevada County Probate Court Records Deadlines
Time rules shape every probate file in Nevada County. A will must be offered for probate within five years of the death under Arkansas Code § 28-40-103. Miss the window and the court may refuse to admit the will. Creditors get six months from first publication to file a claim per § 28-40-111. A personal representative files an inventory within 60 days under § 28-48-101. The final accounting comes at the close under § 28-52-101.
Guardianship hearings run on a 20-day notice under § 28-65-207. Interested parties can ask for written notice on any estate hearing per § 28-65-209. These rules apply statewide. The Nevada County Clerk follows the same deadlines as every other Arkansas county.
Cities in Nevada County
Nevada County towns include Prescott, Rosston, Bluff City, and Bodcaw. All probate cases file at the Circuit Court in Prescott. No town in the county is large enough for its own page.