The Arkansas executor checklist
Everything a personal representative has to handle, in the order it actually comes up — from the first two weeks through final discharge. No email required. Print it, work it, check things off.
Legal disclaimer
This information is general educational content only and is not legal advice.
Probate laws vary by county and individual circumstances. The process outlined above is a general overview of how probate typically works in Arkansas, Arkansas — but every estate is different. Property ownership, debts, taxes, family situations, and court procedures can all affect your specific timeline and requirements.
You should always consult with a licensed Arkansas probate attorney before making decisions about selling an inherited property or managing an estate. An attorney can review your specific situation, advise you on your rights and obligations, and ensure all paperwork is filed correctly with Arkansas Probate Court.
Titan Property Investors is a real estate investment company, not a law firm. We buy houses, but we cannot provide legal advice. We work alongside your attorney — we don't replace them.
If you need a probate attorney referral, contact the Arkansas Bar Association or ask your current attorney for recommendations.
First two weeks
Protect the estate before anything else
- Order 5–10 certified copies of the death certificate.
- Secure the house: change locks, remove valuables, take dated photos of every room.
- Call the insurance agent, report the home as unoccupied, and confirm coverage in writing.
- Notify the mortgage servicer of the death and request their successor-in-interest packet.
- Keep utilities on for the property's protection — heat in winter, water off if pipes are a risk.
- Locate the original will, deeds, titles, insurance policies, and recent tax statements.
- Forward the mail so bills and claims stop piling up at an empty house.
- Do not distribute or sell belongings yet, no matter who asks.
Opening the estate
Weeks 2–6
- Consult a probate attorney about full administration versus a small estate affidavit.
- File the petition with the circuit clerk in the county where your loved one lived.
- Get appointed and obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration.
- Open an estate bank account using the estate's tax ID — never mix with personal funds.
- Publish notice to creditors as your attorney directs, which starts the claim period.
- Notify heirs and beneficiaries as required.
- Notify Social Security, pensions, and any benefit providers.
Inventory and valuation
Months 1–3
- Inventory real estate, vehicles, accounts, and personal property.
- Get the house valued — an appraisal or a written offer range gives you a defensible number.
- Pull the exact legal description from the recorded deed, not the tax bill.
- Request payoff statements for every mortgage, HELOC, and lien.
- Check the county collector for delinquent property taxes.
- File the inventory with the court if required.
Claim period and decisions
Months 3–6+
- Track every creditor claim filed and its deadline.
- Keep paying necessary carrying costs and document every advance made by an heir.
- Decide with the heirs whether to sell, rent, or buy out — in writing.
- Confirm your authority to sell: from the will, or by court order.
- Give the title company the estate paperwork early so closing is not delayed.
- File final income tax returns for the deceased, and estate returns if required.
Selling the property
Whenever authority is in place
- Compare a listed sale net of repairs, commission, and carrying cost against an as-is cash offer.
- Get the offer in writing with a firm closing date.
- Deposit all proceeds into the estate account — never into a personal account.
- Pay off liens and delinquent taxes through closing.
- Keep the settlement statement with your estate records.
Closing the estate
Final step
- Pay approved claims, taxes, and administration expenses in the proper order.
- Prepare the final accounting for the court and the beneficiaries.
- Distribute what remains according to the will or Arkansas intestacy rules.
- Obtain the order discharging you as personal representative.
- Keep every record for years — questions surface long after discharge.
Common questions
What should an executor do first?+
Secure the house and the paperwork. Lock it up, confirm insurance is in force on a now-vacant property, notify the mortgage servicer, and order several certified death certificates. Then get the estate opened so you actually have authority to act.
How long does an Arkansas executor's job last?+
Commonly six months to a year or more, driven largely by the statutory creditor claim period after notice is published. Estates with disputes, missing heirs, or property in multiple counties run longer.
Does an executor get paid?+
A personal representative may be entitled to reasonable compensation from the estate, subject to court approval. Many family members waive it. Either way, never pay yourself before claims and expenses are handled — that is one of the fastest ways to get into trouble.
What records do I need to keep?+
Everything. Every deposit into the estate account, every expense paid, every asset valuation, every distribution. You may have to account to the court and to the beneficiaries, and reconstructing a year of receipts from memory is miserable.
Related Arkansas probate guides
Arkansas probate court by county
Which courthouse handles your estate, and what the clerk will ask for.
Read the guideWhat can an executor sell?
Where an executor's authority comes from, and when court approval is required.
Read the guideHow long does probate take in Arkansas?
Month-by-month timeline and the five things that drag an estate out.
Read the guideArkansas small estate affidavit
The 45-day wait, the $100,000 limit, and how to skip full probate.
Read the guideNeed the house valued for the inventory?
Send the address and we'll return a written, no-obligation offer range within one business day. Executors use it as a defensible number for the file, whether or not they ever sell to us.