Quick answer: Arkansas has two statutory fee scales — the executor's 10/5/3% cap on personal property (28-48-108(a)) and a separate 6-tier attorney schedule on the total value (28-48-108(d)) — plus a flat $165 court fee, and no death tax. Get your own figure with the Arkansas probate cost calculator.
1. Executor fee — on personal property (a cap)
Under § 28-48-108(a), the ordinary executor fee is capped on the personal property passing through the personal representative's hands:
| Portion of the personal property | Rate |
|---|---|
| First $1,000 | 10% |
| Next $4,000 (to $5,000) | 5% |
| Balance over $5,000 | 3% |
Worked examples: $50,000 personal property → $1,650; $100,000 → $3,150; $200,000 → $6,150. For substantial work on real property, the court can allow additional compensation (§ 28-48-108(b)). It's a maximum; family executors often waive it.
2. Attorney fee — the 6-tier schedule (total value)
§ 28-48-108(d)(2): on the total market value of the real and personal property — 5% of the first $5,000, 4% of the next $20,000, 3% of the next $75,000, 2.75% of the next $300,000, 2.5% of the next $600,000, and 2% above $1,000,000. The court can adjust it if excessive or insufficient.
| Total estate value | Attorney fee |
|---|---|
| $100,000 | $3,300 |
| $300,000 | $8,800 |
| $500,000 | $14,050 |
| $1,000,000 | $26,550 |
3. Court cost & the tax picture
Court: a flat $165 to open ($150 base + $15 tech fee), the same for any size estate; publication ~$100–$200. No death tax: Arkansas has no estate or inheritance tax — only federal, above the federal exemption.
Worked total examples
Executor on personal property + attorney on total value + $165 filing + ~$150 publication:
| Estate (PP / total) | Executor | Attorney | Court + pub. | Approx. total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50k PP / $150k total | $1,650 | $4,675 | $315 | ≈ $6,640 |
| $100k PP / $300k total | $3,150 | $8,800 | $315 | ≈ $12,265 |
| $200k PP / $500k total | $6,150 | $14,050 | $315 | ≈ $20,515 |
Both fees are statutory maximums — the court can allow less, and family executors often waive theirs. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
How to reduce Arkansas probate costs
- Use the small estate affidavit — total property up to $100,000 net, just $25 to file (§ 28-41-101).
- Executor waives the fee if a family member and beneficiary.
- Ask the court for less than the cap on a simple estate — the schedule is a maximum.
- Beneficiary deeds, POD/TOD, joint title and a living trust keep assets out of probate.