Arkansas Adult Guardianship Petition Packet

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ARKANSAS ADULT GUARDIANSHIP PETITION PACKET

Filed in the Circuit Court of the State of Arkansas — Probate Division

PART 1 — PRE-PETITION CHECKLIST

A. Standing (Ark. Code § 28-65-205(a))

☐ Petitioner is a "qualified person" filing on his/her own behalf or on behalf of another qualified person
☐ Petitioner is 18 years of age or older
☐ Petitioner is not disqualified under § 28-65-203

B. Less Restrictive Alternatives Considered

☐ Durable Power of Attorney (financial) — Ark. Code § 28-68-201 et seq.
☐ Health Care Proxy / Living Will — Ark. Code § 20-17-201 et seq.
☐ Representative Payee (SSA / VA)
☐ Supported Decision-Making Agreement — Ark. Code § 28-66-101 et seq.
☐ Trust (revocable / special needs)
☐ Joint accounts with safeguards
☐ Adult Maltreatment Custodian (APS) — Ark. Code § 12-12-1701 et seq.
☐ Case management / community-based services

C. Required Information for Petition (Ark. Code § 28-65-205(b))

☐ Name, age, residence, post office address of incapacitated person
☐ Nature of incapacity and purpose of guardianship (per § 28-65-104 classifications)
☐ Approximate value and description of incapacitated person's property
☐ Whether there is, in any state, a guardian of person or estate
☐ Residence and post office address of person whom petitioner asks to be appointed
☐ Names/addresses of persons most closely related by blood or marriage
☐ Name/address of person or institution having care/custody
☐ Names/addresses of wards for whom proposed guardian is already guardian
☐ Reasons for the appointment and petitioner's interest
☐ Statement of respondent's alleged disability
☐ Recommendation as to type, scope, duration of guardianship
☐ Statement that any facility/agency providing services has been notified
☐ Names/addresses of others having knowledge about the disability

D. Pre-Filing Documentation

☐ Professional evaluation under § 28-65-210 (or to be ordered by court)
☐ Bond information (§ 28-65-215)
☐ Filing fee or application to defer
☐ Notice to facility/agency providing services (§ 28-65-205(b)(12))

PART 2 — VERIFIED PETITION

Court Caption

Field	Entry
Court	IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [____________________] COUNTY, ARKANSAS
Division	PROBATE DIVISION
In the Matter of the Guardianship of	[FULL LEGAL NAME OF RESPONDENT], an Alleged Incapacitated Person
Case No.	[________________________________]

VERIFIED PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON AND/OR ESTATE

COMES NOW [PETITIONER NAME], pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §§ 28-65-201 et seq., and respectfully petitions this Honorable Court for the appointment of a guardian for the above-named respondent, and states:

1. Petitioner

Field	Entry
Name	[________________________________]
Address	[________________________________]
Telephone	[________________________________]
Relationship to Respondent	[________________________________]
Interest in Appointment	[________________________________]

2. Respondent (Alleged Incapacitated Person) — § 28-65-205(b)(1)

Field	Entry
Name	[________________________________]
Date of Birth	[__/__/____]
Age	[____]
Residence (street address)	[________________________________]
Post Office Address	[________________________________]
County	[____________________]
Marital Status	☐ Single ☐ Married ☐ Divorced ☐ Widowed
Current Location (if different)	[________________________________]

3. Jurisdiction and Venue

Respondent resides in [____________________] County, Arkansas. This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under Ark. Code Ann. § 28-65-201 and venue is proper under § 28-65-202.

4. Nature of Incapacity (§ 28-65-205(b)(2); § 28-65-104)

Classification (check applicable)
☐ Mental incapacity (developmental, intellectual, cognitive)
☐ Physical illness or disability
☐ Chronic use of drugs or alcohol
☐ Other condition causing inability to manage personal or financial affairs

Description of incapacity:

[________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________]

Purpose of guardianship sought:

[____________________________________________________________]

5. Estate Description (§ 28-65-205(b)(3))

Asset	Description	Approx. Value
Real Property	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Bank Accounts	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Investments	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Retirement / Pension	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Social Security / SSI	[________________________________]	$[____________]
VA / Other Benefits	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Insurance / Annuities	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Vehicles	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Tangible Personal Property	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Other	[________________________________]	$[____________]
TOTAL ESTIMATED VALUE		$[____________]

6. Existing Guardianship in Any State (§ 28-65-205(b)(4))

☐ None known
☐ Existing guardianship — describe: [________________________________]

7. Proposed Guardian (§ 28-65-205(b)(5))

Field	Entry
Name	[________________________________]
Address	[________________________________]
Post Office Address	[________________________________]
Telephone	[________________________________]
Date of Birth	[__/__/____]
Relationship to Respondent	[________________________________]
Occupation	[________________________________]
Arkansas Resident?	☐ Yes ☐ No
Disqualifying Convictions?	☐ None ☐ Disclosure attached

8. Closest Relatives by Blood or Marriage (§ 28-65-205(b)(6))

Relationship	Name	Address
Spouse	[________________________________]	[________________________________]
Adult Child	[________________________________]	[________________________________]
Adult Child	[________________________________]	[________________________________]
Parent	[________________________________]	[________________________________]
Sibling	[________________________________]	[________________________________]
Sibling	[________________________________]	[________________________________]

9. Person/Institution Having Care and Custody (§ 28-65-205(b)(7))

Field	Entry
Name	[________________________________]
Address	[________________________________]
Telephone	[________________________________]
Type	☐ Family Home ☐ Assisted Living ☐ Nursing Facility ☐ Hospital ☐ Other

10. Existing Wards of Proposed Guardian (§ 28-65-205(b)(8))

☐ None
☐ List: [________________________________]

11. Reasons for Appointment and Petitioner's Interest (§ 28-65-205(b)(9))

[________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________]

12. Recommendation as to Type, Scope, and Duration (§ 28-65-205(b)(11))

☐ Guardianship of the Person
☐ Guardianship of the Estate
☐ Guardianship of the Person and Estate
☐ Plenary Guardianship
☐ Limited Guardianship (specify limitations)

Specific powers requested:

☐ Determine residence
☐ Consent to medical treatment
☐ Manage personal mail and communications
☐ Apply for public assistance
☐ Manage real property
☐ Manage personal property
☐ Manage income and expenses
☐ Institute / defend legal actions
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Duration: ☐ Permanent ☐ Limited Period: [________________________________]

13. Notice to Facility/Agency Providing Services (§ 28-65-205(b)(12))

☐ Notice provided to: [________________________________] on [__/__/____]
☐ No services provided by any facility/agency

14. Others with Knowledge about Disability (§ 28-65-205(b)(13))

Name	Address	Relationship/Role
[________________________________]	[________________________________]	[________________________________]
[________________________________]	[________________________________]	[________________________________]

15. Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully prays this Honorable Court:

a. Appoint an attorney ad litem under Ark. Code § 28-65-205, § 28-65-211, and § 28-65-212(c) to represent the Respondent;
b. Order a professional evaluation under § 28-65-210 (or accept attached evaluation);
c. Set the matter for hearing under § 28-65-207;
d. Conduct hearing under § 28-65-209 and find by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent is an incapacitated person;
e. Appoint [PROPOSED GUARDIAN NAME] as guardian of the ☐ person ☐ estate ☐ person and estate, with the powers requested above;
f. Set bond under § 28-65-215;
g. Direct issuance of Letters of Guardianship under § 28-65-216;
h. Order initial inventory and annual accounting/report (§ 28-65-321);
i. Grant such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.

VERIFICATION

STATE OF ARKANSAS )
COUNTY OF [____________________] ) ss.

I, [PETITIONER NAME], being first duly sworn upon oath, depose and state that I am the Petitioner herein; I have read the foregoing Petition; and the statements therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Field	Entry
Signature of Petitioner	[________________________________]
Printed Name	[________________________________]
Date	[__/__/____]

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this [____] day of [____________________], [____].

Notary	Entry
Notary Signature	[________________________________]
Notary Public, State of Arkansas	(Seal)
Commission Expires	[__/__/____]

PART 3 — NOTICE TO RESPONDENT (Ark. Code § 28-65-207)

NOTICE OF HEARING — RESPONDENT

TO: [RESPONDENT NAME], at [RESPONDENT ADDRESS]

A PETITION HAS BEEN FILED IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [____________________] COUNTY, ARKANSAS, SEEKING THE APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN OVER YOUR PERSON AND/OR ESTATE. IF A GUARDIAN IS APPOINTED, YOU MAY LOSE IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS.

Your Rights Under Arkansas Law

Right	Statutory Basis
Right to be represented by an attorney (an attorney ad litem will be appointed)	Ark. Code § 28-65-205, § 28-65-212(c)
Right to attend the hearing	Ark. Code § 28-65-207
Right to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses	Ark. Code § 28-65-209
Right to a hearing on the petition	Ark. Code § 28-65-207, § 28-65-209
Right to an independent professional evaluation	Ark. Code § 28-65-210
Right to least restrictive guardianship	Ark. Code § 28-65-104

Hearing Information

Field	Entry
Date	[__/__/____]
Time	[____] ☐ AM ☐ PM
Location	[________________________________]
Judge	[________________________________]

Service: Personal service required at least 14 days before the hearing (Ark. Code § 28-65-207).

PART 4 — NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES

NOTICE OF HEARING — ALL INTERESTED PERSONS

TO: All persons identified in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Verified Petition, and to ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Petition for Appointment of Guardian has been filed concerning [RESPONDENT NAME]. A hearing will be conducted on [__/__/____] at [____] [☐ AM ☐ PM] before the Honorable [________________________________], Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of [____________________] County, Arkansas, Probate Division, located at [________________________________].

You may appear and be heard. Objections must be filed with the Clerk before the hearing.

Certificate of Service	Entry
Method	☐ Personal Service ☐ Certified Mail, RRR ☐ Other
Date Served	[__/__/____]
Signature	[________________________________]

PART 5 — PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION (Ark. Code § 28-65-210)

PHYSICIAN'S / PSYCHOLOGIST'S EVALUATION REPORT

Mandatory: A signed report from a licensed physician or psychologist who has personally examined the respondent.

A. Examiner

Field	Entry
Name	[________________________________]
Arkansas License No.	[________________________________]
Profession	☐ Physician (M.D./D.O.) ☐ Psychologist ☐ Other qualified professional
Specialty	[________________________________]
Address	[________________________________]
Telephone	[________________________________]

B. Examination

Field	Entry
Date of Personal Examination	[__/__/____]
Location	[________________________________]
Records Reviewed	[________________________________]
Collateral Sources	[________________________________]

C. Diagnosis

Primary: [________________________________]

Secondary: [________________________________]

ICD-10 / DSM-5 Codes: [________________________________]

D. Capacity Assessment

Domain	Capable	Partial	Incapable
Receive/evaluate information	☐	☐	☐
Communicate decisions	☐	☐	☐
Meet essential requirements for health and safety	☐	☐	☐
Manage estate / finances	☐	☐	☐
Make medical decisions	☐	☐	☐
Determine residence	☐	☐	☐

E. Opinion

In my professional opinion, the respondent ☐ IS / ☐ IS NOT an incapacitated person under Ark. Code § 28-65-101. The need for guardianship is: ☐ Person ☐ Estate ☐ Both ☐ None.

Least restrictive alternative recommendation: [________________________________]

F. Prognosis

[________________________________]

Examiner Signature	[________________________________]
Date	[__/__/____]

PART 6 — APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY AD LITEM (Ark. Code § 28-65-211 / § 28-65-212(c))

ORDER APPOINTING ATTORNEY AD LITEM

The Court, having received the Verified Petition, hereby appoints [ATTORNEY NAME], a member in good standing of the Arkansas Bar, as Attorney Ad Litem for [RESPONDENT NAME] in this proceeding under Ark. Code § 28-65-211 and § 28-65-212(c). The Attorney Ad Litem shall:

☐ Meet personally with the Respondent
☐ Explain the petition, hearing, and rights
☐ Investigate the allegations of the petition
☐ Determine the Respondent's wishes
☐ Advocate for the Respondent's expressed preferences
☐ Examine the professional evaluation
☐ Present evidence and cross-examine witnesses at the hearing
☐ File a written report with the Court if directed

Compensation	$[____________]
Source of Payment	☐ Estate ☐ Petitioner ☐ County (indigent)

Signed by Judge	[________________________________]
Date	[__/__/____]

PART 7 — LESS RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS

LRA STATEMENT

Alternative	Considered?	Result
Durable Power of Attorney	☐ Yes ☐ N/A	[________________________________]
Health Care Proxy / Living Will	☐ Yes ☐ N/A	[________________________________]
Representative Payee	☐ Yes ☐ N/A	[________________________________]
Supported Decision-Making (Ark. Code § 28-66)	☐ Yes ☐ N/A	[________________________________]
Trust (revocable / special needs)	☐ Yes ☐ N/A	[________________________________]
APS / Community Services	☐ Yes ☐ N/A	[________________________________]
Limited (vs. plenary) guardianship	☐ Yes ☐ N/A	[________________________________]

Conclusion: A ☐ limited ☐ plenary guardianship is necessary because: [________________________________]

PART 8 — BOND (Ark. Code § 28-65-215)

BOND DETERMINATION

Field	Entry
Type of Guardianship	☐ Person only ☐ Estate ☐ Person and Estate
Estimated Estate Value	$[____________]
Estimated Annual Income	$[____________]
Proposed Bond Amount	$[____________]
Surety Company	[________________________________]
Surety Bond Number	[________________________________]

§ 28-65-215 Notes:

If guardianship is of the person only, bond amount is generally a nominal amount sufficient to secure faithful performance.
If guardianship is of the estate, bond shall be in an amount not less than the value of the personal estate plus probable annual income.
The Court may waive bond for corporate fiduciaries authorized to act in Arkansas or where statutorily authorized.
The Court may require a restricted account (bond substitute) for safekeeping of liquid assets.

PART 9 — NOTICE OF HEARING (§ 28-65-207)

NOTICE OF HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a hearing on the Verified Petition for Appointment of Guardian will be conducted:

Detail	Entry
Date	[__/__/____]
Time	[____] ☐ AM ☐ PM
Court	Circuit Court of [____________________] County, Probate Division
Address	[________________________________]
Judge	[________________________________]
Format	☐ In-person ☐ Remote ☐ Hybrid

At the hearing the Court will receive evidence on whether the Respondent is an incapacitated person, whether the proposed guardian is qualified, and whether the type/scope of guardianship requested is appropriate.

PART 10 — PROPOSED ORDER (Ark. Code § 28-65-212)

ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN

The Court, having conducted a hearing pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 28-65-209, the Respondent having been represented by Attorney Ad Litem under § 28-65-212(c), and the Court having considered the Verified Petition, the professional evaluation under § 28-65-210, the testimony of witnesses, and argument of counsel, hereby FINDS:

The Court has jurisdiction under Ark. Code Ann. § 28-65-201 and venue is proper under § 28-65-202.
Due notice has been provided to the Respondent (§ 28-65-207) and to interested persons.
The Respondent has been represented by Attorney Ad Litem [ATTORNEY NAME].
By CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE the Respondent is an incapacitated person within the meaning of Ark. Code § 28-65-101 in that the Respondent is unable to receive and evaluate information or communicate decisions to such an extent that the Respondent is unable to meet the essential requirements for the Respondent's health or safety or to manage the Respondent's estate.
The appointment of a guardian is necessary as a means of providing for the continuing care and supervision of the Respondent.
Less restrictive alternatives have been considered and are inadequate.
[PROPOSED GUARDIAN NAME] is qualified to serve under Ark. Code § 28-65-203.
Bond shall be set at $[____________] under § 28-65-215.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED:

a. [GUARDIAN NAME] is appointed Guardian of the ☐ Person ☐ Estate ☐ Person and Estate of [RESPONDENT NAME];
b. The Guardian's powers shall be: [________________________________]
c. ☐ Plenary Guardianship ☐ Limited Guardianship (limitations stated above);
d. Letters of Guardianship shall issue upon qualification and posting of bond (§ 28-65-216);
e. Initial Inventory due within 90 days;
f. Annual Accounting and Report required (§ 28-65-321);
g. The Respondent retains all rights not specifically removed by this Order.

Signed by Circuit Judge	[________________________________]
Date	[__/__/____]

PART 11 — LETTERS OF GUARDIANSHIP (Ark. Code § 28-65-216)

LETTERS OF GUARDIANSHIP

THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [____________________] COUNTY, ARKANSAS, hereby certifies that [GUARDIAN NAME] has been duly appointed and qualified as Guardian of the ☐ Person ☐ Estate ☐ Person and Estate of [WARD NAME], by Order entered [__/__/____], with the powers set forth in such Order.

These Letters are in full force and effect until revoked or until the appointment terminates by operation of law.

Issued by Clerk of Court	[________________________________]
Court Seal	[________________________________]
Date Issued	[__/__/____]

PART 12 — INITIAL INVENTORY

INITIAL VERIFIED INVENTORY

DUE: Within 90 days of appointment.

Asset Category	Description	Fair Market Value
Real Property	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Cash and Bank Accounts	[________________________________]	$[____________]
CDs / Money Market	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Retirement Accounts (IRA, 401(k))	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Pensions / Annuities	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Life Insurance (cash value)	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Vehicles	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Tangible Personal Property	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Business Interests	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Notes / Receivables	[________________________________]	$[____________]
Other	[________________________________]	$[____________]
TOTAL		$[____________]

Income Sources (Monthly)

Source	Amount
Social Security / SSI	$[____________]
Pension	$[____________]
VA Benefits	$[____________]
Investment Income	$[____________]
Other	$[____________]
TOTAL MONTHLY	$[____________]

Debts and Liabilities

Creditor	Description	Amount
[________________________________]	[________________________________]	$[____________]
[________________________________]	[________________________________]	$[____________]

VERIFICATION: I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and complete.

Signature	[________________________________]
Date	[__/__/____]

PART 13 — ANNUAL ACCOUNTING AND REPORT (Ark. Code § 28-65-321)

ANNUAL REPORT OF GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON

Reporting Period: [__/__/____] to [__/__/____]

Section	Required Content
1. Current residence and living arrangements	[________________________________]
2. Physical and mental condition	[________________________________]
3. Medical care, treatments, hospitalizations	[________________________________]
4. Major decisions made	[________________________________]
5. Frequency and nature of Guardian's contact	[________________________________]
6. Recommendation regarding continued need	[________________________________]
7. Plan for coming year	[________________________________]

ANNUAL ACCOUNTING — GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE

Item	Beginning Balance	Receipts	Disbursements	Ending Balance
Cash	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]
Investments	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]
Real Property	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]
TOTAL	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]	$[____________]

Schedules attached: ☐ Receipts ☐ Disbursements ☐ Investments ☐ Vouchers ☐ Bond Renewal Certificate

VERIFICATION:

Guardian Signature	[________________________________]
Date	[__/__/____]

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

Arkansas Code Title 28, Chapter 65 (Guardians Generally): https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-28/subtitle-5/chapter-65/
Ark. Code § 28-65-205 (Petition Filing): https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-28-wills-estates-and-fiduciary-relationships/ar-code-sect-28-65-205/
Arkansas Act 713 of 2025 (HB 1838): Probate and Guardianship Amendments
Arkansas Judiciary Probate Forms: https://www.arcourts.gov
Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure
Arkansas Supreme Court — Office of Court Programs

END OF ARKANSAS ADULT GUARDIANSHIP PETITION PACKET

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Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.

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Last updated: May 2026

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