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Arkansas Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Does a person have to pay taxes on property for 7 years before they can petition the court for a quiet title
Skye Martin
Skye Martin
answered on Jan 27, 2018

No, you’re thinking of adverse possession. I suggest consulting an attorney because title issues can be complicated.

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Real Estate Law for Arkansas on
Q: Title company is saying that the Quickclaim Deeds that myself and my cousin signed aren't good after 17 years.

We signed the deeds over to my sister, the lawyer prepared the deeds and filed them, the accessors office shows that my sister is the owner. How can she not own the home?

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 8, 2017

If what you signed is indeed a 'quick' claim deed, they are saying it is wrong because that thing does not exist.

Quit claim deeds (which do exist) can also have issues, such as a typo in the legal description, or a missing term. WHY is the title company claiming the deeds...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: A family member died recently & owns a lot in Arkansas but is behind on his taxes. Do I need to try to recover the lot?

The lot is worth $2000 and he owes around $220 in back taxes. We are NOT probating his estate because he does not have enough assets to warrant a full probate. Can the lot be sold? Is it worth the time and money to try to recover or sell the lot? Do I just allow the property to revert to the... View More

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Nov 9, 2017

In my opinion, your decision should be based on economics, not legal factors. As you already recognize, it may not be worth the expense to do anything. In order to sell the lot, you would have to file the paperwork to administer his estate in order to get legal authority to sign the sale deed, and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Arkansas on
Q: my mother died in may she had no will i want to know what to do to get her home and car and land in my name

my mother died in may she owned a house and some land in ulm ar prairie county, but the home she owned her sister lives in and the truck my mother owned her sister has, The house my mother lived in is in her sister name and the car my mother drove is in her sister name my mother's home and... View More

Don Spears
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answered on Oct 10, 2017

You should see an attorney right away to first find out if the value of your mother's estate is such that an Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate could be filed instead of a full probate matter. Once that is determined, the attorney can assist you in filing the correct documents. If you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Can a Power of Attorney be obtained without the individuals signature who is terminal and incoherent 90% of the time?

This concerns my wife's brother. She currently has a Power of Attorney for medical. Doctors have given him 30-90 days to live and is heavily sedated. There is no will that the family is aware of.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Sep 30, 2017

If a person is incoherent he can't sign a PoA. If he IS aware and able to understand 10% of the time and HE wants to grant a PoA or do a will or whatever, then HE can direct that be done. But he not only needs to be coherent when he asks for this but again when the documents are presented for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Arkansas on
Q: I was asked to sign an entry of appearance, waiver of notice and accountings. Is this standard for an estate in probate?
Don Spears
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answered on Sep 27, 2017

As long as you do not contest the appointment of the proposed person to be the administrator of the estate and you trust them to distribute the assets of the estate according to the wishes of the deceased or according to state law if there is no will, it is certainly a standard practice for you to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: My husbands mother died in Arkansas in 2012 & we live in texas. How do we get named executor to get the life insurance

To take care of distribution among her other children? Is probate necessary?

Terry Lynn Garrett
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Terry Lynn Garrett
answered on Aug 8, 2017

If the life insurance policy named a beneficiary, that beneficiary may only need a death certificate. If it named no beneficiary or named the estate, contact a probate lawyer in the county where she died or held real property and apply to probate her estate.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: If I'm an only child and no spouse, does my mom need a will?

Father pasted two years ago and mom never remarried and I'm an only child. Does she need a will if I'm on everything but the house that still has a mortgage? She only has a retirement acct, bank acct, car paid off, jewelry and the house. She has already paid everything to be laided by... View More

Skye Martin
Skye Martin
answered on Sep 3, 2017

She will need to create a beneficiary deed and/or a trust to avoid probate, even if you will be her only surviving heir.I would suggest that she meet with an estate planning attorney to go over all of her options for avoiding probate.

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Arkansas on
Q: What is the time limit to probate a will in arkansas? Who can probate the will

Father passed away 2/23/2017. His will was changed in 2014 and he had already been diagnosed with dimintia. He was put in assisted living that was not qualified to care for him and he made the decision that led to his death in the hospital when he didnt even know who i was. My brother the primary... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 31, 2017

Use the Find a Lawyer tab to consult a probate attorney in Arkansas in the location where your father lived. You will need to find the original signed will. Any family member, a creditor, or the person named as executor can usually open the probate case. Check with an Arkansas attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Is an unwitnessed handwritten will valid in Arkansas?
Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Jun 8, 2017

Yes, if it fits the requirements of a holographic Will.

28-25-104. Holographic wills generally.

When the entire body of the will and the signature shall be written in the proper handwriting of the testator, the will may be established by the evidence of at least three (3) credible...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Arkansas on
Q: What happens when a will is not probated within 5 years of $100,100.
Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on May 25, 2017

The will cannot be probated if it is 5 years after the date of death of the decedent. Depending on what type of assets they are - land, bank account, cars - you can use different documents to transfer the interest. You should contact a lawyer to assist you.

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Real Estate Law for Arkansas on
Q: my mothers estate has been filed in Probate. we have sold the house now who handles the money and pays bills

we were under the impression the closing lawyer would handle paying the estate bills. We need to know what the legal process is now that house is sold to disburse the money to pay all debts before dividing the remaining.. My sister and I are co executors

Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on May 22, 2017

The person in charge of the estate. Was someone appointed as personal representative (executor or administrator)?

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Can someone in no way related to a deceased persons estate move into the home while it goes through probate in Arkansas?

There is no will and this person is in no way someone that inherits anything based on Arkansas's state law. And the heirs that will be a part of the probate process do not want this person in the home or on the property.

Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Apr 3, 2017

Do they inherit under the will? They most likely should pay rent, but a court would look to see if it is best for the estate for the person to live there.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Can a heirship affidavit be used right after a death, or does a certain amount of time have to pass?

My father passed away without a will. He has two adult children and is not married. His estate is under 100,000. Is it better to use a small estate affidavit or heirship? We know that the small estate affidavit requires a 45 day wait period, but can not find anything regarding a timeframe for... View More

Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Apr 3, 2017

Yes, if you the children are getting along. If the people are not getting along the affidavit can cause some problems. Also, you must read the affidavit and make sure the estate qualifies - there is more to it than the estate being less than $100,000. No, you can not use it right away - 45 days as... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Arkansas on
Q: My dad inherited 12 acres from his mom. He put deed in his and wife's name. He never spent any money on it. He died. No

Will can. She dies can her kids get money from his land when s old

Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Mar 14, 2017

Yes, she will inherit the land from him. It will go wherever she says, she can sell it, she can give it to her kids.

1 Answer | Asked in Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Defense and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: what to do when someone steals your half of life insurance policy

Cousin had my legal guardian (my aunt/adoptive mom) change her life insurance beneficiary to herself about three months before she passed from cancer then stole all of my insurance money and I lost everything because my mom had just died basically. My cousin lies and swears she didn't get ANY... View More

Ben F Meek III
Ben F Meek III
answered on Feb 15, 2017

Contact some lawyers and hire the one you like best. Many offer free initial consultations. Good luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Step-mom filed probate and I, as my father's only child, has not been notified. What are my options?
Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Mar 14, 2017

You can object to her being appointed as the personal representative, ask for her removal, demand an inventory, and demand an accounting.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Family Law, Appeals / Appellate Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Can a grandparent granted temporary legal guardianship file for full legal guardianship with no contact of the mother

They did file numerous motions culminating in a legal guardianship being granted to the grandparents and without the court ever one time in the whole procedure seeing the mother in court and has send all paperwork to the wrong address knowingly so the mother would not be informed of the proceedings... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Apr 19, 2017

The guardianship laws in Arkansas have changed in the last few years. Terminating a guardianship is a lot easier now. Contact an Arkansas attorney to discuss. The law is now on the side of a parent who is fit to care for the child. If that parent consented to the guardianship, it helps also.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Arkansas on
Q: If someone has not yet died, should the things listed in his will be distributed?
Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Mar 14, 2017

The Property should only be distributed if that is what the person wants. You can do a probate while the person is alive - if that is something you want to do.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: My father passed away last month. He has both a will and a family trust. My mom becomes the exectrix of the

will and is trustor of the trust. Do we need to file anything with the state?

Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Mar 14, 2017

You might. It will depend on what your father owned and how it was titled. If he owned it in his name and his name alone with no beneficiary designation, then you may need to open a probate.

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