Quick answer: Opening an estate in Arkansas costs a flat $165 in circuit court — a $150 statutory base plus a $15 court technology fee — uniform statewide, the same for a $50,000 or a $5,000,000 estate. The small estate affidavit is just $25. Publication and bond are extra. See the full picture in the Arkansas probate cost calculator.
Court fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate filing fee ($150 base + $15 tech) | $165 |
| Small estate affidavit | $25 |
| Certified copy | ~$5 each |
Flat, not scaled: the $165 fee is set by statute (Ark. Code § 21-6-403 base + § 21-6-416 tech fee) and is uniform statewide — counties may not add unauthorized filing fees, and no portion is refunded once filed. A big estate and a small estate pay the same to open.
Other administration costs
- Publication to creditors — newspaper notice for two consecutive weeks (~$100–$200); the 6-month claim period runs from first publication.
- Bond — may be required unless waived; roughly 0.5–1% of estate value per year.
- Appraisal — $300–$800 per property if real estate or a business must be valued.
- Executor & attorney fees — the real variables, set by statute (§ 28-48-108).
Not the big cost: the flat $165 is small next to the executor fee (10/5/3% on personal property) and the attorney fee (6-tier schedule on total value). Arkansas has no estate or inheritance tax, so there's no death-tax layer.
Ways to keep court costs down
- Small estate affidavit — total property up to $100,000 net, only $25 to file, no personal representative (§ 28-41-101).
- Independent administration — minimal court oversight, fewer filings.
- Ask the clerk for the current fee schedule so you budget the exact amount.