Perry County Probate Records Search
Perry County Probate Court Records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Perryville. Files cover wills, estates, small estate affidavits, guardianships, and conservatorships. You can search Perry County Probate Court Records on the free state CourtConnect portal, walk in at the courthouse, or mail a written request. This page walks through the clerk office address, fee chart, online tools, and steps to get a plain or certified copy of any probate file open to the public in Arkansas.
Perry County Probate Court Records Overview
Perry County Probate Court Records Office
The Perry County Circuit Clerk holds the probate file room. The office serves as clerk to the probate division of the Twentieth 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 Perry County courthouse is at 310 W. Main Street, Perryville, AR 72126. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (501) 889-5126 for probate or guardianship matters. Staff can pull a case file and quote copy fees. Plan to bring a photo ID when you ask for copies.
Perry County was formed in 1840. Probate records go back to that period. For a list of county offices, see the Association of Arkansas Counties Perry County page. The Arkansas Judiciary runs arcourts.gov for statewide court forms and rules.
Search Perry County Probate Court Records Online
Arkansas CourtConnect is the free state case search. The portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers the Twentieth Circuit, which includes Perry County. Search by 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. Many filings have PDF links, but older files may stay in paper form at the clerk. For the full copy of a will or inventory, you may still need to mail or visit.
Note: Perry County Probate Court Records on CourtConnect show docket data; wills, inventories, and accountings are often still on paper at the clerk.
Perry County Probate Court Records Record Types
The probate division hears a wide mix of matters. A typical Perry County probate 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 attesting 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.
Common case types in Perry County Probate Court Records:
- Full estate administration
- Intestate estates under § 28-9-203
- Small estate affidavits under § 28-41-101
- Guardianship of minors or adults
- Conservatorships
- Trust filings
- Adoption and name change
Guardianships follow § 28-65-101 and § 28-65-207 for the 20-day notice before each hearing. The guardian files a yearly report with the court on finances and care.
Perry County Probate Court Records Fees
The probate filing fee in Perry County is $165 per case. A small estate affidavit runs $25 to $30. Small estate is capped at $100,000 in value, not counting the homestead or statutory allowances. You must wait 45 days after 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 property. Each extra set costs only a few dollars. The clerk takes cards for in-person payment. Mail orders should include a check payable to the Perry County Circuit Clerk.
Request Perry County Probate Court Records
There are three ways to get a probate file from Perry County.
Walk in: go to 310 W. Main Street in Perryville during office hours. Bring a photo ID. Give staff the case number or the decedent's full name and the year of death. They pull the file and make copies while you wait.
By mail: send a letter with case info, a return envelope, and a check for copy fees. The clerk mails the copies back within a week or two. Include a phone number in case staff need to call back.
Online: use CourtConnect to find the case number. Follow up with the clerk for full copies. For self-help forms, see arcourts.gov.
Historic Perry County Records
Perry County was formed in 1840. Old probate books at the courthouse go back to the mid-1800s. 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 Perry County probate records; see the Perry County research wiki for reels and online indexes.
Public Access to Perry County Probate Records
Perry 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 send a FOIA request. Adoption files are sealed under state law. Bank numbers, social security numbers, and minor children's full names are redacted.
For help with a simple estate or guardianship, Legal Aid of Arkansas offers free service to low-income residents across 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.
Perry County Probate Court Records Deadlines
Time rules shape every probate file in Perry 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 Perry County Clerk follows the same deadlines as every other Arkansas county.
Cities in Perry County
Perry County towns include Perryville, Bigelow, Casa, Houston, and Perry. All probate cases file at the Circuit Court in Perryville. No town in the county is large enough for its own page.