Access Ouachita County Probate Records
Ouachita County Probate Court Records are filed at the Circuit Clerk in Camden. The office handles wills, estates, small estate affidavits, guardianships, and conservatorships for this south Arkansas county. You can search Ouachita 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 office, the online tools, the fee chart, and the steps to get a plain or certified copy of a probate file on record.
Ouachita County Probate Court Records Overview
Ouachita County Probate Court Records Office
The Ouachita County Circuit Clerk holds the probate file room. The office is clerk to the probate division of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. 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 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, AR 71701. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (870) 837-2230 for probate questions. Bring a photo ID when you ask for copies. The office can pull case files and quote copy fees.
Ouachita County was formed in 1842. Probate records at the courthouse go back to that period. For county contact info and a list of elected officials, see the Association of Arkansas Counties Ouachita County page.
Search Ouachita County Probate Court Records Online
Arkansas CourtConnect is the free state case search tool. The portal sits at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Pick the Thirteenth Circuit to narrow to Ouachita County. Search by party name, case number, or file date.
Results show case type, parties, file date, and the docket list. Probate cases use the PR code. Guardianship cases show under a separate code. Full case images may stay in paper form for older Ouachita County files. For a full copy of a will or inventory, follow up with the clerk.
Note: Ouachita County Probate Court Records on CourtConnect include docket data; scanned images are not always online and may need an in-person or mail copy request.
Ouachita County Probate Court Records Record Types
The probate division hears a wide set of cases. A typical Ouachita 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 by state law.
Under § 28-40-103, a will must be filed within five years of death. Proof of will needs two attesting witnesses under § 28-40-117. The personal representative files an inventory within 60 days under § 28-48-101. Creditors have six months from first publication to file claims under § 28-40-111.
Common case types in Ouachita County Probate Court Records:
- Full estate administration
- Small estate affidavits under § 28-41-101
- Intestate estates under § 28-9-203
- Guardianships of minors and adults
- Conservatorships
- Trust proceedings
- Adoption cases (sealed)
Guardianships follow § 28-65-101 and § 28-65-207 for the 20-day notice before each hearing. Homestead allowance follows § 28-39-101. Family allowance follows § 28-39-201.
Ouachita County Probate Court Records Fees
The probate filing fee in Ouachita County is $165 per case. A small estate affidavit runs about $25 to $30. Small estate is capped at $100,000, 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 first page: $15
Order a few extra certified copies if you plan to settle bank accounts or retitle a vehicle. Each extra copy is only a few dollars. The clerk accepts cards for in-person payment. Mail orders should include a check payable to the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk.
Request Ouachita County Probate Court Records
You have three ways to ask for a probate file in Ouachita County.
In person: walk in to 145 Jefferson Street SW in Camden during office hours. Bring a photo ID. Give staff the case number or the decedent's full name and year of death. Staff pull the file and make copies while you wait.
By mail: send a written letter with case info, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check for copy fees. The clerk mails copies back within a week or two. Add a phone number in case of follow-up.
Online: start at CourtConnect for the case number. Follow up with the clerk for full copies. For self-help forms, see arcourts.gov.
Historic Ouachita County Records
Ouachita County was formed in 1842. Old probate books and marriage indexes at the courthouse go back to the mid-1800s. Camden was an important river port, and many estate files from that era survive. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock hold microfilm for many older wills and estate books.
Visit arkansasheritage.com to plan a research visit. FamilySearch has digitized many Ouachita County probate records; the Ouachita County research wiki lists reels and online indexes.
Public Access Rules
Ouachita County Probate Court Records are open to the public. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19 set the rules. Anyone can walk in, search online, or file a FOIA request.
Some items stay sealed. Adoption files are closed under state law. Social security numbers, account numbers, and minor children's full names 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 in this part of the state.
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.
Ouachita County Probate Court Records Deadlines
Time rules shape every probate file in Ouachita 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 Ouachita County Clerk follows the same deadlines as every other Arkansas county.
Cities in Ouachita County
Ouachita County towns include Camden, East Camden, Bearden, Chidester, and Stephens. All probate cases file at the Circuit Clerk in Camden. No town in the county is large enough for its own page.