Arkansas Probate Costs
Statutory fees under Ark. Code Section 28-48-108
Arkansas Probate Overview
Arkansas uses a statutory fee schedule for probate, meaning attorney and executor compensation is set by law rather than negotiated. The fee structure is defined under Ark. Code Section 28-48-108, and fees are calculated based on the gross value of the estate. This provides predictability -- you can calculate the exact cost before the process begins.
The statutory fee schedule starts at 10% for the first $5,000 of the estate, with rates decreasing for higher amounts. The court filing fee in Arkansas is $165, as set by AR circuit court probate filing fee schedule. Additional costs include surety bond premiums and newspaper publication fees for required legal notices.
The probate process in Arkansas typically takes 6 to 12 months from filing to final distribution. For smaller estates valued at $100,000 or less, Arkansas offers a small estate affidavit that can bypass the full probate process (Ark. Code Section 28-41-101).