Arkansas probate costs
How much probate actually costs, and how long it takes
Probate fees in Arkansas follow a statutory percentage schedule under Ark. Code Ann. 28-48-108, starting at 5 percent of the first $5,000 of the estate and stepping down from there, and an uncontested administration commonly takes six months to a year. This guide breaks down each cost with the state's own fee schedule and typical local figures: personal representative and attorney fees, the roughly $600 appraisal, required notice costs, and realistic timelines for a small estate versus a full administration. It does not cover the filing mechanics themselves, which our guide on selling an inherited house in Arkansas already walks through.
By Tara Helgestad Updated Published 4 min read
6 to 12 months
a typical uncontested administration
If you inherited a house in Arkansas, one of the first real questions is what probate is going to cost and how long you will be waiting. Arkansas does not leave attorney and personal representative pay open ended. State law sets an actual percentage schedule for both, so the range is knowable before anyone starts the work.
This guide sticks to the numbers: what a personal representative and a probate attorney are typically paid under Arkansas law, what a required appraisal or legal notice usually costs, and how long each path through probate realistically takes. For the filing steps themselves, including the small estate affidavit and where a case gets opened, see our guide on selling an inherited house in Arkansas.
Every figure below is a typical range, not a quote. The actual bill depends on the size of the estate, whether real property needs to be appraised, and whether anyone contests anything along the way.
What probate costs and how long each stage takes
Arkansas breaks probate costs into a few clear pieces: required notice, appraisals, and personal representative and attorney fees. How long the whole thing takes depends on which path the estate takes.
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Required legal notice
Once a personal representative is appointed, Arkansas law requires notice of the appointment to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper with general circulation in the county. Arkansas probate attorneys report this required publication typically costs $170 to $250, though the newspaper sets its own price, and some estates pay as little as $50 or as much as $300. The cost is charged to the estate, not to the personal representative personally.
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Inventory and appraisals
The personal representative generally has to file an inventory of the estate within about two months of qualifying. If the estate includes a house or other real property, a certified appraisal is usually needed, and Arkansas appraisers typically charge around $600 to $675 per property. Household contents such as furniture, antiques, or jewelry are appraised separately, often billed by the hour starting around $150.
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Personal representative and attorney fees
Ark. Code Ann. section 28-48-108 sets a percentage-bracket fee schedule for both. A personal representative's fee runs 10 percent of the first $1,000 of personal property administered, 5 percent of the next $4,000, and 3 percent of the balance. Attorney fees follow a similar bracket schedule, starting at 5 percent of the first $5,000 and stepping down to 2 percent on anything above $1 million of the estate. A court can adjust either fee up or down if the scheduled amount does not match the actual work done.
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When fees are billed by the hour instead
Not every estate uses the percentage schedule. Arkansas probate attorneys who bill hourly typically charge $150 to $400 an hour, and the total depends on how much work the estate actually needs rather than a fixed formula.
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How long each path realistically takes
A small estate affidavit limited to personal property can realistically wrap up in a few weeks to about two months. If the affidavit also covers real property, plan on roughly four to six months because of the added notice step. A full, regular administration commonly takes six months to a year when nothing is contested, and one to three years or more when the estate is disputed or complicated.
Most of what probate costs in Arkansas comes from a percentage fee schedule set by state law, not an open negotiation, and most of what it takes is time rather than money. A simple estate can be done in a couple of months, while a full administration commonly runs six months to a year or longer.
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Questions this guide answers
How much does a probate attorney cost in Arkansas?
Arkansas sets a default percentage-bracket fee under Ark. Code Ann. section 28-48-108, starting at 5 percent of the first $5,000 of the estate and stepping down as the estate gets larger. Some attorneys bill by the hour instead, typically $150 to $400 an hour. A probate court can adjust the fee if the scheduled amount does not match the actual work involved.
Does the personal representative get paid?
Yes. Arkansas law sets a default fee of 10 percent of the first $1,000 of personal property the representative actually administers, 5 percent of the next $4,000, and 3 percent of the balance. A court can raise or lower that amount if it does not match the work involved, and additional pay is possible when the representative has to handle real property directly.
What does an appraisal cost during probate?
A certified appraisal for a house or other real property in an Arkansas probate typically runs about $600 to $675. Personal property such as furniture, antiques, or jewelry is appraised separately, often billed by the hour starting around $150.
How much does the required newspaper notice cost?
Arkansas law requires the personal representative's appointment to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a county newspaper. Attorneys who handle Arkansas probate report this typically costs $170 to $250, though the exact price depends on the newspaper and can run as low as $50 or as high as $300.
How long does probate actually take in Arkansas?
Commonly six months to a year for a full, uncontested administration. A small estate affidavit for personal property only can wrap up in a few weeks to about two months; add real property and plan on four to six months. Disputed or complex estates can run one to three years or longer.
This is general information about Arkansas law and typical costs, not legal, tax, or financial advice for your specific estate.
Sources
Where the figures and legal facts in this guide come from.
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