Arkansas Administrator & Executor Bond
Probate Bonds From $100 – All 75 AR Counties
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An Arkansas executor bond or Arkansas administrator bond — together known as a probate bond or personal representative bond — is required when an Arkansas Circuit Court orders one to protect the estate. Arkansas rewrote its bond statute in 2023: under the amended Ark. Code Ann. § 28-48-201, bond is no longer automatic, but the court may require a corporate-surety bond before letters of administration issue — or at any time during the case — and must respond to any claimant's or interested person's written demand for one. Premiums start at $100 and are paid from estate funds.
Arkansas Probate Bond Pricing
Premiums are a small percentage of the required bond amount and are paid from estate funds. Sample pricing for qualified applicants:
| Bond Amount | Premium |
|---|---|
| $10,000 | $100 |
| $25,000 | $135 |
| $50,000 | $260 |
| $100,000 | $460 |
| $200,000 | $860 |
| $500,000 | $1,610 |
Executor, Administrator, or Trustee — Which Arkansas Probate Bond You Need
All three cover a fiduciary who manages estate or trust assets. Arkansas uses “personal representative” for executors and administrators, appointed through the probate division of the Circuit Court. Which bond applies depends on how you were appointed:
| Bond Type | When It Applies |
|---|---|
| Administrator Bond | An Arkansas administrator bond covers a personal representative appointed when there is no will, or the named executor cannot serve, who receives letters of administration. Intestate estates with multiple heirs or creditors are where Circuit Courts most often exercise their discretion to order bond — and where claimant demands are most likely. Failure to give a court-required bond within the time fixed results in another person's appointment and revocation of letters (§ 28-48-202). This is the most common Arkansas probate bond. |
| Executor Bond | An Arkansas executor bond covers a personal representative named in the will, who receives letters testamentary. Under the current statute the court weighs whether bond is needed for the benefit of interested parties — and can require one even mid-administration. When required, the bond follows the statutory form of § 28-48-204, and the surety may review the will to understand the estate's complexity. |
| Trustee Bond | Required when a will establishes a trust for a beneficiary and the court requires the trustee to post security before managing trust assets. The surety reviews the trust to assess the trustee's responsibilities. |
When Does the Arkansas Circuit Court Require a Bond?
Probate in Arkansas is heard in the probate division of the Circuit Court in each of the state's 75 counties, with filings through the circuit clerk. Arkansas modernized its bond law with Act 326 of 2023: under the rewritten § 28-48-201, the court may require a bond from the personal representative — with a corporate surety authorized to do business in Arkansas — prior to the issuance of letters or at any time during the case, whenever it finds one appropriate for the benefit of interested parties. On the written demand of any claimant or interested person, the court must require or increase bond, or hold a hearing on the question.
When ordered, the mechanics are precise: the bond runs to the State of Arkansas for the benefit of all interested persons, with sureties jointly and severally liable (§ 28-48-207); it isn't sufficient until examined and approved by the court with approval endorsed on it (§ 28-48-205); and a joint-control agreement under § 28-48-209 — depositing estate funds so withdrawals require the surety's written consent or a court order — can reduce the exposure. The court may increase, decrease, or dispense with the bond for good cause at any time (§ 28-48-206). If the representative causes a loss, valid claims are paid from the bond, and the representative must reimburse the surety. The bond protects the estate, not the representative.
How the Court Sets Your Bond Amount
Under the current statute the Circuit Court sets the amount it deems appropriate for the benefit of interested parties — Arkansas's old formula (personal property value with corporate surety, double with personal sureties) was repealed in 2023, though courts still commonly key the figure to the value of property passing through the representative's hands. Wait for the court's order before purchasing.
The figure stays flexible: on review of the file or the request of an interested party, the court may increase, decrease, or dispense with the bond for good cause (§ 28-48-206), and a joint-control deposit arrangement with the surety can bring both the risk and the premium down. Small estates — personal property of $100,000 or less net of encumbrances — can bypass administration entirely by affidavit, with no bond at all.
Which Arkansas Court Handles Your Probate
Probate belongs to the probate division of the Circuit Court in each of Arkansas's 75 counties, with filings through the circuit clerk (a combined circuit/county clerk office in some counties, and ten counties maintain two county seats). The directory below lists every county with its official page, clerk phone, and courthouse mailing address.
How To Get Your Arkansas Probate Bond
- Get appointed and confirm whether bond is ordered. Under § 28-48-201 the Circuit Court decides whether a corporate-surety bond is needed for the benefit of interested parties, and sets the amount. Wait for the court's determination before purchasing — many Arkansas representatives under the current statute serve without bond.
- Request your quote. Apply online or call with your court documentation. For most standard estates we can quote from the bond amount alone; larger or more complex estates may involve a review of the will and the applicant's credit.
- Complete the short application. Provide the personal representative's information and the estate details.
- File your bond and receive your letters. We execute the bond on the statutory form with the surety's Power of Attorney attached so you can file it for the court's approval. The court then issues your letters testamentary or letters of administration, and you can begin settling the estate.
Bond Details at a Glance
- Bond Name: Arkansas Executor Bond / Arkansas Administrator Bond (Personal Representative Bond)
- Also Known As: Probate bond, fiduciary bond, estate bond; statutory form under § 28-48-204
- Bond Amount: Set by the Circuit Court as appropriate for the benefit of interested parties; adjustable — or dispensable — for good cause at any time (§§ 28-48-201, 28-48-206)
- Starting Premium: $100 for a $10,000 bond; paid from estate funds
- Obligee: The State of Arkansas, for the benefit of all interested persons; sureties jointly and severally liable (§ 28-48-207)
- Governing Law: Ark. Code Ann. § 28-48-201 as rewritten by Act 326 of 2023 (when bond is required), § 28-48-205 (approval), § 28-48-206 (adjustment), § 28-48-209 (joint control)
- Waiver: Bond is no longer the default — required only when the court orders it; any claimant or interested person can force the question by written demand
- Court: Probate division of the Circuit Court in each of Arkansas's 75 counties, through the circuit clerk
- Attorney Required: No
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Arkansas administrator or executor bond?
A probate bond ordered by an Arkansas Circuit Court under § 28-48-201 when the court finds one appropriate for the benefit of interested parties. It runs to the State of Arkansas with a corporate surety and guarantees faithful administration of the estate.
Can the bond be waived?
Arkansas flipped its rule in 2023: bond is no longer automatic, so most representatives serve without one unless the court orders it. The court can also increase, decrease, or dispense with an existing bond for good cause at any time.
Do administrators need a bond in Arkansas?
When the court says so — and intestate estates with multiple heirs or active creditors are where courts most often order one. Any claimant or interested person can force the issue by written demand, and failing to give a required bond in time forfeits the appointment.
How much does an Arkansas probate bond cost?
Premiums start at $100 for a $10,000 bond and scale with the court-set amount — $135 at $25,000, $260 at $50,000, $460 at $100,000, and up. The premium is paid from estate funds.
How is the bond amount determined?
The court sets the amount it deems appropriate for the benefit of interested parties — the old statutory formula was repealed in 2023, though courts still commonly key the figure to the value of property passing through the representative's hands.
Can the amount be reduced?
Yes. The court may decrease or dispense with the bond for good cause on review of the file or an interested party's request, and a joint-control agreement — estate funds withdrawable only with the surety's consent or a court order — reduces the covered risk.
Which Arkansas court handles probate?
The probate division of the Circuit Court in the county where the decedent resided — one in each of the 75 counties — through the circuit clerk's office.
What happens if a claim is filed against the bond?
The surety pays valid claims — from mismanagement, fraud, or failure to follow the will or Arkansas law — up to the bond amount, with sureties jointly and severally liable, and the representative must reimburse the surety in full. The bond protects the estate, not the representative.
Arkansas Probate Court Directory
Probate in Arkansas is handled by the probate division of the Circuit Court in each of the state's 75 counties. Find your county below for the official page, circuit clerk phone, and courthouse address.
| County | Court | Phone | Mailing Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas County | Circuit Court | 870-659-2099 | Circuit Clerk, 101 Court Square, DeWitt, AR 72042 |
| Ashley County | Circuit Court | 870-853-2030 | Circuit Clerk, 205 E. Jefferson St. #6, Hamburg, AR 71646 |
| Baxter County | Circuit Court | 870-425-3475 | Circuit Clerk, 1 East 7th St., Suite 103, Mountain Home, AR 72653 |
| Benton County | Circuit Court | 479-271-1015 | Circuit Clerk, 102 NE A St., Bentonville, AR 72712 |
| Boone County | Circuit Court | 870-741-5560 | Circuit Clerk, 100 N. Main St., Suite 200, Harrison, AR 72601 |
| Bradley County | Circuit Court | 870-226-2272 | Circuit Clerk, 101 E. Cedar St., Warren, AR 71671 |
| Calhoun County | Circuit Court | 870-798-2517 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 1175, Hampton, AR 71744 |
| Carroll County | Circuit Court | 870-423-2422 | Circuit Clerk, 210 W. Church Ave., Berryville, AR 72616 |
| Chicot County | Circuit Court | 870-265-8010 | Circuit Clerk, 108 Main St., Lake Village, AR 71653 |
| Clark County | Circuit Court | 870-246-4281 | Circuit Clerk, 401 Clay St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923 |
| Clay County | Circuit Court | 870-598-2524 | Circuit Clerk, 151 S. Second St., Piggott, AR 72454 |
| Cleburne County | Circuit Court | 501-362-8149 | Circuit Clerk, 301 W. Main St., Heber Springs, AR 72543 |
| Cleveland County | Circuit Court | 870-325-6521 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 368, Rison, AR 71665 |
| Columbia County | Circuit Court | 870-235-3700 | Circuit Clerk, 1 Court Square, Magnolia, AR 71753 |
| Conway County | Circuit Court | 501-354-9617 | Circuit Clerk, 115 S. Moose St., Morrilton, AR 72110 |
| Craighead County | Circuit Court | 870-933-4530 | Circuit Clerk, 511 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR 72401 |
| Crawford County | Circuit Court | 479-474-1821 | Circuit Clerk, 317 Main St., Van Buren, AR 72956 |
| Crittenden County | Circuit Court | 870-739-3248 | Circuit Clerk, 100 Court Square, Marion, AR 72364 |
| Cross County | Circuit Court | 870-238-5720 | Circuit Clerk, 705 East Union Ave., Wynne, AR 72396 |
| Dallas County | Circuit Court | 870-352-2307 | Circuit Clerk, Third and Oak Streets, Fordyce, AR 71742 |
| Desha County | Circuit Court | 870-222-0930 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 309, Arkansas City, AR 71630 |
| Drew County | Circuit Court | 870-460-6250 | Circuit Clerk, 210 S. Main St., Monticello, AR 71655 |
| Faulkner County | Circuit Court | 501-450-4911 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 9, Conway, AR 72034 |
| Franklin County | Circuit Court | 479-965-7332 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 1112, Ozark, AR 72949 |
| Fulton County | Circuit Court | 870-895-3310 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 219, Salem, AR 72576 |
| Garland County | Circuit Court | 501-622-3630 | Circuit Clerk, 501 Ouachita Ave., Suite 207, Hot Springs, AR 71901 |
| Grant County | Circuit Court | 870-942-2631 | Circuit Clerk, 103 W. Center St., Room 106, Sheridan, AR 72150 |
| Greene County | Circuit Court | 870-239-6330 | Circuit Clerk, 320 W. Court St., Paragould, AR 72450 |
| Hempstead County | Circuit Court | 870-777-2384 | Circuit Clerk, 200 E. 3rd St., Hope, AR 71801 |
| Hot Spring County | Circuit Court | 501-332-2281 | Circuit Clerk, 210 Locust St., Malvern, AR 72104 |
| Howard County | Circuit Court | 870-845-7500 | Circuit Clerk, 421 N. Main St., Nashville, AR 71852 |
| Independence County | Circuit Court | 870-793-8833 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 2155, Batesville, AR 72501 |
| Izard County | Circuit Court | 870-368-4316 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 95, Melbourne, AR 72556 |
| Jackson County | Circuit Court | 870-523-7423 | Circuit Clerk, 208 Main St., Newport, AR 72112 |
| Jefferson County | Circuit Court | 870-541-5306 | Circuit Clerk, 101 E. Barraque St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601 |
| Johnson County | Circuit Court | 479-754-2977 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 189, Clarksville, AR 72830 |
| Lafayette County | Circuit Court | 870-921-4878 | Circuit Clerk, Third and Spruce Streets, Lewisville, AR 71845 |
| Lawrence County | Circuit Court | 870-886-1112 | Circuit Clerk, 315 W. Main St., Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 |
| Lee County | Circuit Court | 870-295-7710 | Circuit Clerk, 15 E. Chestnut St., Room 2, Marianna, AR 72360 |
| Lincoln County | Circuit Court | 870-628-3154 | Circuit Clerk, 300 S. Drew St., Star City, AR 71667 |
| Little River County | Circuit Court | 870-898-7280 | Circuit Clerk, 351 N. Second St., Ashdown, AR 71822 |
| Logan County | Circuit Court | 479-963-2164 | Circuit Clerk, 25 W. Walnut St., Paris, AR 72855 |
| Lonoke County | Circuit Court | 501-676-2316 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 870, Lonoke, AR 72086 |
| Madison County | Circuit Court | 479-738-2215 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 626, Huntsville, AR 72740 |
| Marion County | Circuit Court | 870-449-6226 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 385, Yellville, AR 72687 |
| Miller County | Circuit Court | 870-774-4501 | Circuit Clerk, 400 Laurel St., Room 109, Texarkana, AR 71854 |
| Mississippi County | Circuit Court | 870-762-2332 | Circuit Clerk, 206 N. 2nd St., P.O. Box 1498, Blytheville, AR 72315 |
| Monroe County | Circuit Court | 870-747-3615 | Circuit Clerk, 123 Madison St., Clarendon, AR 72029 |
| Montgomery County | Circuit Court | 870-867-3521 | Circuit Clerk, 105 Highway 270 East #10, Mount Ida, AR 71957 |
| Nevada County | Circuit Court | 870-887-2511 | Circuit Clerk, 215 E. 2nd St. South, Prescott, AR 71857 |
| Newton County | Circuit Court | 870-446-5125 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 410, Jasper, AR 72641 |
| Ouachita County | Circuit Court | 870-837-2230 | Circuit Clerk, 145 Jefferson St., Camden, AR 71701 |
| Perry County | Circuit Court | 501-889-5126 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 358, Perryville, AR 72126 |
| Phillips County | Circuit Court | 870-338-5515 | Circuit Clerk, 620 Cherry St., Helena, AR 72342 |
| Pike County | Circuit Court | 870-285-2231 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 219, Murfreesboro, AR 71958 |
| Poinsett County | Circuit Court | 870-578-4420 | Circuit Clerk, 401 Market St., Harrisburg, AR 72432 |
| Polk County | Circuit Court | 479-394-8100 | Circuit Clerk, 507 Church Ave., Mena, AR 71953 |
| Pope County | Circuit Court | 479-968-7499 | Circuit Clerk, 100 W. Main St., Russellville, AR 72801 |
| Prairie County | Circuit Court | 870-256-4434 | Circuit Clerk, 200 Courthouse Square, Suite 104, Des Arc, AR 72040 |
| Pulaski County | Circuit Court | 501-340-8500 | Circuit/County Clerk, 401 W. Markham St., Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201 |
| Randolph County | Circuit Court | 870-892-5522 | Circuit Clerk, 107 W. Broadway St., Pocahontas, AR 72455 |
| St. Francis County | Circuit Court | 870-261-1715 | Circuit Clerk, 313 S. Izard St., Forrest City, AR 72335 |
| Saline County | Circuit Court | 501-303-5615 | Circuit Clerk, 200 N. Main St., Benton, AR 72015 |
| Scott County | Circuit Court | 479-637-2642 | Circuit Clerk, 190 W. First St., Box 10, Waldron, AR 72958 |
| Searcy County | Circuit Court | 870-448-3807 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 998, Marshall, AR 72650 |
| Sebastian County | Circuit Court | 479-782-1046 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 1179, Fort Smith, AR 72901 |
| Sevier County | Circuit Court | 870-584-3055 | Circuit Clerk, 115 N. 3rd St., De Queen, AR 71832 |
| Sharp County | Circuit Court | 870-994-7361 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 307, Ash Flat, AR 72513 |
| Stone County | Circuit Court | 870-269-3271 | Circuit Clerk, 107 W. Main St., Suite D, Mountain View, AR 72560 |
| Union County | Circuit Court | 870-864-1940 | Circuit Clerk, 101 N. Washington Ave., Suite 201, El Dorado, AR 71730 |
| Van Buren County | Circuit Court | 501-745-4140 | Circuit Clerk, 273 Main St., Suite 2, Clinton, AR 72031 |
| Washington County | Circuit Court | 479-444-1538 | Circuit Clerk, 280 N. College Ave., Suite 302, Fayetteville, AR 72701 |
| White County | Circuit Court | 501-279-6203 | Circuit Clerk, 300 N. Spruce St., Searcy, AR 72143 |
| Woodruff County | Circuit Court | 870-347-2391 | Circuit Clerk, 500 N. Third St., Augusta, AR 72006 |
| Yell County | Circuit Court | 479-495-4850 | Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 219, Danville, AR 72833 |