Petition for Letters of Administration - Arkansas

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT A COURT-ISSUED FORM

Confirm current statewide and local filing requirements with the circuit clerk before
using this template. Official probate materials are available at
https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms/probate-division/forms.

PETITION FOR LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, ARKANSAS
PROBATE DIVISION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption and Case Information
2. Petitioner Information
3. Decedent Information
4. Basis for Jurisdiction
5. Heirs at Law
6. Grounds for Administration
7. Prayer for Relief
8. Verification
9. Certificate of Service

1. CAPTION AND CASE INFORMATION

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF:

[DECEDENT FULL LEGAL NAME], Deceased.

Case No.: [____________________________________]

2. PETITIONER INFORMATION

Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]
Address: [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], Arkansas [ZIP CODE]
County of Residence: [COUNTY]
Relationship to Decedent: [RELATIONSHIP]
Age: [____] years

3. DECEDENT INFORMATION

4. BASIS FOR JURISDICTION

a. The Decedent resided in [COUNTY] County, Arkansas at the time of death, establishing venue under Ark. Code § 28-40-102(a)(1).

b. The Decedent died on [__/__/____].

c. The Decedent died intestate (without a valid Last Will and Testament).

d. ☐ After diligent search and inquiry, Petitioner is unaware of any will or codicil executed by the Decedent.

e. ☐ No prior petition for letters testamentary or administration has been filed.

f. ☐ Petitioner's application is within the priority time period established by Ark. Code § 28-48-101.

5. HEIRS AT LAW

The heirs at law under Arkansas intestate succession (Ark. Code § 28-9-204 et seq.):

6. GROUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATION

a. The Decedent died possessed of property requiring administration in Arkansas.

b. Estimated value of the estate:

c. Petitioner is entitled to appointment under Ark. Code § 28-48-101 as [STATE PRIORITY BASIS].

d. Petitioner is not disqualified from serving as administrator; Petitioner is not a convicted and unpardoned felon and is not a corporation unauthorized to act as a fiduciary.

e. Petitioner is willing to post bond as required by Ark. Code § 28-48-201 et seq.

7. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully prays:

a. This Court accept and file this Petition;

b. After appointment, the personal representative publish and serve the notices required by Ark. Code § 28-40-111(a);

c. The Court determine that the Decedent died intestate;

d. The Court determine the heirs at law;

e. Petitioner be appointed Administrator and Letters of Administration be issued upon qualification;

f. Bond be fixed in an appropriate amount;

g. Such other relief as the Court deems proper.

8. VERIFICATION

STATE OF ARKANSAS
COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

I, [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME], being duly sworn, state that the facts set forth in this Petition are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Petitioner Signature: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [____________], [________].

Notary Public Signature: ______________________________________
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on [__/__/____], a true copy of this Petition was served upon all known heirs and interested persons by:

☐ Personal Service
☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested
☐ First Class U.S. Mail
☐ Other method authorized by current law or court order: [________________________________]

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PETITIONER / ATTORNEY NAME]
Arkansas Bar No.: [________________] (if applicable)
Address: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

This certificate concerns service of this Petition only. It is not a substitute for the separate post-appointment publication and service required by Ark. Code § 28-40-111(a).

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST:

☐ Certified copy of Death Certificate
☐ Administrator's Bond (Ark. Code § 28-48-201)
☐ Written consents of heirs (if applicable)
☐ Proposed Order Granting Letters of Administration
☐ Filing fee payment

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Solanki v. Solanki, 2026 Ark. App. 266 (official Arkansas Judiciary opinion quoting Ark. Code § 28-40-102(a)(1)-(2))
• In re Estate of Shockley, 2021 Ark. App. 326 (official Arkansas Judiciary opinion applying Ark. Code § 28-40-111(a)(1)(A) and (a)(4)(A))