Quick answer: the deadline that shapes the whole schedule is the 6-month creditor bar from first publication under § 28-50-101. See the full Arkansas probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.
The core deadlines, in order
| Deadline | Arkansas rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory filed | Within 60 days of appointment | Ark. Code Title 28 |
| Notice to creditors published | Once a week for 2 consecutive weeks | § 28-40-111 |
| Known creditors mailed direct notice | Within 30 days of discovering the claim | § 28-50-104 |
| Creditor claim bar (standard) | 6 months from first publication | § 28-50-101 |
| Actual-notice creditor near deadline | Extra 30 days after the 6-month bar expires | § 28-50-101(g) |
| Known/ascertainable creditors barred regardless | 2 years from first publication | § 28-50-101(h) |
| Absolute outer bar, no administration/notice | 5 years from date of death | § 28-50-101(d) |
| Final distribution order | At least 60 days after final account filed | § 28-53-104 |
Three deadlines, three different loopholes closed
Worth understanding clearly: the 6-month bar under § 28-50-101(a) is the everyday rule. The 2-year bar under § 28-50-101(h) closes the loophole where a known or reasonably ascertainable creditor claims they never got actual notice — after 2 years from first publication, their claim is barred regardless. And the 5-year absolute bar under § 28-50-101(d) closes the loophole where no administration was ever opened or no notice was ever published at all — nothing survives past 5 years from the date of death either way.
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