Arkansas Circuit Courts Judges’ Benchbook Probate Division The Administrative Office of the Courts Justice Building, Suite 1100 625 Marshall Street Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-9400 https://courts.arkansas.gov/ Updated June 2018 You Must Use Google Chrome in order for the Public Links in Fastcase to Work. Table of Contents I. Wills ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Administration ...................................................................................................................... 1 Venue & Jurisdiction ......................................................................................................... 1 Statute of Limitations ....................................................................................................... 2 No Will Effectual Until Probated ...................................................................................... 2 Attested Wills .................................................................................................................... 2 Will Subsequently Presented for Probate ......................................................................... 3 Notice of Hearing ............................................................................................................... 4 Validity of a Will ................................................................................................................... 5 Age ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Sanity ................................................................................................................................. 5 Witnesses ........................................................................................................................... 5 Execution ........................................................................................................................... 6 Foreign Execution.............................................................................................................. 7 Revocation.......................................................................................................................... 8 Revival ............................................................................................................................... 9 Affidavit of Attesting Witness ..........................................................................................10 Incorporation by Reference ..............................................................................................10 Construction .........................................................................................................................12 Jurisdiction to Construe ...................................................................................................12 Intention of Testator ........................................................................................................12 After-Acquired Property ...................................................................................................12 Failure of a Testamentary Provision & Lapse .................................................................13 Partial Intestacy ...............................................................................................................14 Ademption.........................................................................................................................15 Inter Vivos Gifts ...............................................................................................................15 Holographic Wills .................................................................................................................16 Definition ..........................................................................................................................16 Lost or Destroyed Wills ........................................................................................................18 Jurisdiction .......................................................................................................................18 i Record of Decree ...............................................................................................................19 Restraint of Administrator ...............................................................................................20 Petition for Probate ..............................................................................................................20 Who May Petition .............................................................................................................20 Content of Petition ...........................................................................................................21 Notice & Service ...............................................................................................................21 Waiver of Notice ...............................................................................................................23 Requests for Notice ...........................................................................................................24 Hearing on Petition Without Notice ................................................................................24 Taking Against a Will ..........................................................................................................25 Surviving Spouse ..............................................................................................................25 Children Taking Against a Will .......................................................................................27 Claims Against the Estate ...................................................................................................29 Allowance of Claims .........................................................................................................29 Classification ....................................................................................................................29 Time for Filing Claims .....................................................................................................30 Distribution & Discharge .....................................................................................................30 Conclusiveness of Final Order .........................................................................................30 Exoneration of Encumbered Property ..............................................................................30 More thn one representative ............................................................................................31 Discharge of Personal Representative .............................................................................31 Reopening Administration ...............................................................................................31 Devise of Property ................................................................................................................32 Devise of Encumbered Property .......................................................................................32 Contracts Affecting the Devise of Property .....................................................................32 Contesting a Will .................................................................................................................34 Generally ..........................................................................................................................34 Notice of Contest ..............................................................................................................35 Grounds for Contest .........................................................................................................35 Rights of Persons Acquiring Interest Prior to a filed Objection ......................................37 Family Settlement Agreements .......................................................................................37 Executors & Administrators ................................................................................................38 ii Authority ..........................................................................................................................38 Duties ................................................................................................................................38 Removal ............................................................................................................................39 II. Intestate Succession ...................................................................................................... 42 Definitions ............................................................................................................................42 In General ............................................................................................................................42 Distribution ..........................................................................................................................43 Interests Transmissible by Inheritance ..............................................................................43 Heirs as Tenants in Common ..............................................................................................44 No Gender Preference ..........................................................................................................44