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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Susie Hassett - email

LOCATIONS

Sebastian County
Courts Building

901 South B Street, Rm 205
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Mon - Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm

Phone: 479-782-1046
Fax: 479-784-1580

Records Office
Parker Annex
40 South 4th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Mon - Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm

Phone: 479-784-1581

Greenwood Courthouse
301 E. Center, Room 103
Greenwood, AR 72936
Mon - Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm
Phone: 479-996-4175
Fax: 479-996-6885

For questions in a specific area, call 479.441.1310 and use extensions below:

Civil: #2965 or # 2951
Criminal: #2955, #2953 or #2961
Domestic Relations: #2964, #2950 or #2956
Juvenile: #2952 or # 2960
Probate: #2957 or #2951
Website Usage: #2950 or #2951

Probate Information

The Circuit Clerks Office is the Probate Clerk and maintains the records for all probate proceedings. Such proceedings include:

Types of Adoptions:

  • Step-Parent Adoption;
  • New Baby Adoption;
  • Guardianship Adoption with Consent to Adopt;
  • Juvenile Cases Transferred to Probate to Proceed as Adoption.


The filing fee for an adoption is $165.00, except cases transferred from juvenile to probate (there is no fee for this adoption).

Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate

Forms are available from the Circuit Clerks Office or online.

The Small Estate may be used to access a bank account for a deceased person to where there was not another name listed on the account, to have gas or mineral royalties changed to another's name, or, if real estate is involved, for publication of the full legal description in a newspaper for a certain amount of time to give creditors up to six months to file claims.

Criteria for Small Estate:
  • state is valued at something less than $100,000.00
  • More than 45 days have lapsed from date of death

Filing Fee is $25.00.  Additional $5.00 fee per Certified copy of Affidavit.

General Probate

The object of a general estate is to carry out the decedents intent where a Will is admitted to probate and to comply with the Statutory requirements, including but not limited to:

  • Determine heirship
  • Determine Will contests
  • Determine and classify or allow/disallow claims against estates
  • Approve management of an estate
  • Approve sale of decedents property, real and personal


Filing Fee is $165.00.

Types of Guardianships 

  • Guardianship of the Person
  • Guardianship of the Estate


Filing Fee is $165.00

Guardianships are necessary when (1) a person cannot make competent decisions because of age or mental limitations; (2) when access to an individual’s assests is required to pay for care or basic necessities; or, (3) healthcare and living decisions must be made.

Wills for Safe Keeping

Original Wills for safe keeping may be filed at the Circuit Clerks Office for a fee of $5.00. It is necessary two people be listed who are eligible to pick up the Will upon death.

 

 

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES


Fort Smith Court House
35 South 6 St.
Fort Smith, AR

Justice Building
901 South B St.
Fort Smith, AR

Greenwood Courthouse
11 Town Square
Greenwood, AR 72936

Sheriff Department
800 South A Street
Fort Smith, AR  72901

 

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