Phillips County Probate Court Records
Phillips County Probate Court Records are held by the Circuit Clerk in Helena-West Helena. The office files wills, estates, small estate affidavits, guardianships, and conservatorships for this Mississippi River county. You can search Phillips County Probate Court Records through the free state CourtConnect portal, walk in at the courthouse, or mail a copy request. This page walks through the clerk office, the online search tool, the fee chart, and the steps to order a plain or certified copy.
Phillips County Probate Court Records Overview
Phillips County Probate Court Records Office
The Phillips County Circuit Clerk runs the probate desk. The office serves as clerk to the probate division of the First Judicial Circuit. Under Arkansas Code § 28-1-106, the county clerk acts as clerk to the probate court, files papers, and swears witnesses. Arkansas Circuit Courts have probate jurisdiction under § 28-1-104.
The courthouse is at 620 Cherry Street, Helena, AR 72342. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (870) 338-5515 for probate or guardianship questions. Staff can pull a file and quote copy fees. Bring a photo ID if you plan to ask for copies.
Phillips County was formed in 1820. Probate records at the courthouse go back to that first year. Helena has long served as a river port, so estates from steamboat-era captains and cotton merchants often show up in older case books. For county contact info, see the Association of Arkansas Counties Phillips County page.
Search Phillips County Probate Court Records Online
Arkansas CourtConnect is the free state case search. Visit caseinfo.arcourts.gov and narrow to the First Circuit to find Phillips 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. Full images of many rural probate filings stay in paper form at the clerk. For a full copy, you may still need to mail or visit. The Arkansas Judiciary at arcourts.gov hosts free court forms and self-help resources.
Note: Phillips County Probate Court Records on CourtConnect show docket entries; wills, inventories, and accountings often need a clerk visit for full copies.
Phillips County Probate Court Records Record Types
The probate division hears a wide set of cases. A typical Phillips 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 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 under § 28-40-111.
Common case types in Phillips County Probate Court Records:
- Estates with a will
- Intestate estates under § 28-9-203
- Small estate affidavits under § 28-41-101
- Guardianships of minors and adults
- Conservatorships
- Trust proceedings
- Adoption and name change cases
Guardianships follow § 28-65-101 and § 28-65-207 for the 20-day notice before each hearing. Homestead allowance sits in § 28-39-101. Family allowance sits in § 28-39-201.
Phillips County Probate Court Records Fees
The probate filing fee in Phillips 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 from the date of death before filing.
Copy fees at the Phillips County Circuit Clerk:
- Plain copies: $0.25 per page
- Certified copies: $5 per document
- Letters testamentary: $5 per set
- Recording fee: $15 first page
If you plan to settle bank accounts or retitle property, order a few extra certified copies up front. 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 Phillips County Circuit Clerk.
Request Phillips County Probate Court Records
There are three ways to request a Phillips County probate file.
In person: walk in to 620 Cherry Street in Helena during office hours. Bring a photo ID. Give staff the case number or the decedent's full name and year of death. They 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.
Online: use CourtConnect to find the case number. Follow up with the clerk for full copies. The state court site at arcourts.gov has free forms for probate, guardianship, and small estate filings.
Historic Phillips County Records
Phillips County was one of the first counties in the state, formed in 1820. The courthouse holds probate books from that period. Some old volumes are fragile, so staff keep them under glass. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock hold microfilm for many older Phillips County wills, estates, and guardianships.
Visit arkansasheritage.com to plan a research visit. FamilySearch has digitized many Phillips County probate records; see the Phillips County research wiki for reels and online indexes.
Public Access to Phillips County Probate Records
Phillips County Probate Court Records are open to the public. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19 govern public access. Adoption files are sealed under state law. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children's full names are redacted.
For help with a simple estate or guardianship, reach out to Legal Aid of Arkansas. They serve low-income residents in the eastern part of the state, including Phillips 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.
Phillips County Probate Court Records Deadlines
Time rules shape every probate file in Phillips 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 Phillips County Clerk follows the same deadlines as every other Arkansas county.
Cities in Phillips County
Phillips County towns include Helena-West Helena, Marvell, Elaine, and Lexa. All probate cases file at the Circuit Clerk in Helena. No town in the county is large enough for its own page.