Hot Springs Estate Administration Lawyers Protect Decedents’ Wishes
Arkansas attorneys help families manage and distribute assets to heirs
Administering an estate through the probate process can be challenging, especially when the person had complex assets or survivors are in conflict. Our Hot Springs estate administration lawyers assist individuals tasked with managing this process by providing highly experienced legal guidance through every step. Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh, established in Arkansas in 1875, has practiced in estate and probate law since our founding.
Steps involved in the Arkansas estate administration process
Probate is the legal process of administering a decedent’s estate, but not all assets go through probate. Assets held in trust or that have payable-on-death designations do not. When a person passes away, their will is filed with the Arkansas probate court. The probate court validates the will and resolves challenges to its authenticity, if any exist. Once the will is determined to be valid, assets are inventoried, debts and taxes identified and paid and remaining assets transferred to beneficiaries. If you are tasked with administering a will through probate, a Hot Springs estate planning and administration lawyer can answer your questions about beginning and navigating the process.
Responsibilities of executors and estate administrators
An executor is assigned the legal responsibility of executing a will within the document. Typically, the court will appoint the executor to serve as personal representative for the estate. If no valid will exists, or the named executor cannot fulfill their estate administration duties, the court designate someone else to serve in that fiduciary role. Without a valid will, the estate administrator must distribute assets according to Arkansas intestacy law. Primary duties of executors and administrators include:
- Inventorying and protecting assets
- Paying debts
- Notifying heirs
- Distributing property to heirs
A mistake or breach of this fiduciary duty can result in legal consequences. We assist executors and administrators throughout the process to ensure proper estate settlement and closure.
Identifying and valuing estate assets
At the beginning of the probate process, all assets belonging to the deceased person must be located and inventoried. Assets include real estate, bank accounts, investments and personal property. The value of some assets is more straightforward, such as a bank savings account. However, other assets must be valued, which can be a time-consuming process, especially for large and complex estates. We work with property appraisers and accountants in preparing valuations for probate.
Handling debts, taxes and creditor claims
When a person’s estate enters probate, their debts, including taxes, must be paid. Known creditors can be notified and paid directly. Under Arkansas probate law, it is also required that a notice to creditors be posted in a local publication that gives the decedent’s name, date of death, contract information for the administrator, and a deadline for filing claims, which is generally six months from publication date. Any federal or state income taxes of the deceased and other outstanding taxes are paid before distribution. Arkansas doesn’t have an estate tax, but very large estates (over $15 million for an individual in 2026) may owe federal estate taxes.
Distributing assets to beneficiaries and heirs
Once all debts and taxes are paid, the process of transferring property titles, financial accounts and personal properties to beneficiaries and heirs takes place. Assets are distributed to beneficiaries as specified by the decedent in their will. If the person died without a will, assets pass in a hierarchical order based on the person’s relationship to the deceased, with surviving spouses and children first in line. Only property that is subject to probate is affected by intestacy law.
Contact our Hot Springs attorneys for help with administering an estate
The estate administration lawyers at Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh in Hot Springs guide executors and administrators through the Arkansas probate process. To set up a consultation, call 501-762-0887 or contact us online.