Probate Attorney
LOSING SOMEONE IS HARD. SETTLING THEIR ESTATE SHOULDN'T BE.
A GUIDE THROUGH PROBATE WHEN YOU NEED ONE MOST
When someone passes away, their estate can’t always go straight to the family. Accounts get frozen, the house can’t be sold, and a will—if there is one—still has to go through the court. Probate is that process: paying the person’s debts and passing what’s left to the right people. In Arkansas it runs through the circuit court, with strict rules and deadlines that can stall things for months.
You don’t have to navigate it alone. Charles Buchan has guided Arkansas families through probate since 1992—handling the filings, deadlines, and court while keeping you informed the whole way.
WHAT PROBATE INVOLVES, AND WHERE WE TAKE OVER
Every estate is a little different, but most Arkansas probate matters come down to these pieces. We handle each one for you.
FULL PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
For larger estates, the court appoints a representative, debts get paid, and assets are distributed under Arkansas law. We prepare every filing and hit every deadline so nothing slips.
SMALL ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
Modest estates often qualify for a faster, cheaper path that skips full probate. We'll tell you straight whether you qualify under the Arkansas small estate statute and handle the affidavit if you do.
WILLS & ESTATES WITHOUT A WILL
Whether your loved one left a valid will or nothing at all, we guide the estate through correctly. With no will, Arkansas's intestate succession laws decide who inherits—and we'll explain exactly what that means for your family.
HELP FOR EXECUTORS
Being named personal representative carries real legal duties—and real liability if it's done wrong. We make sure you understand your obligations, meet them, and stay protected.
Answering Commonly Asked Probate Questions
I'M THE EXECUTOR. WHERE DO I EVEN START?
It’s a bigger job than most people realize. You’ll file with the circuit court in the county where your loved one lived, let creditors know, take stock of the assets, pay the valid debts, and pass on what’s left. Each step has to be done right—get it wrong and you can be on the hook personally. That’s why most executors would rather not do it alone.
HOW LONG DOES PROBATE TAKE IN ARKANSAS?
For a straightforward estate, usually six months to a year. Arkansas requires creditors to be given notice and time to file claims, which sets the floor—there’s no rushing past it. A clean small estate moves faster; a contested one takes longer. Keeping things moving is most of what a good attorney does here.
THE ESTATE ISN'T BIG. CAN WE SKIP PROBATE?
Maybe. Arkansas has a small estate process that avoids full probate when the estate is modest and enough time has passed since the death. Some assets—joint accounts, anything with a named beneficiary—pass outside probate entirely. The first conversation is figuring out which path fits your situation.
THE BANK FROZE MY LOVED ONE'S ACCOUNT. HOW DO I ACCESS IT?
Not until someone has legal authority over the estate, which is one of the first things probate establishes. Once the court appoints a personal representative, that person can access accounts, pay the estate’s bills, and manage assets. Getting that authority in place quickly is often the urgent first step.
DO I NEED A LAWYER, OR CAN I DO THIS MYSELF?
You can try, but Arkansas probate has strict procedures, and mistakes cost time and money. Most people call because they’d rather not gamble with a court process while grieving. With a flat fee, you know the cost up front, and the parts that trip people up become someone else’s job.
34 years of probate experience
Probate is one of those processes where a small misstep—a missed deadline, a filing done wrong, a creditor notice skipped—can stall an estate for months and cost the family real money. Chuck has been guiding Arkansas families through it since 1992, so the parts that overwhelm a first-time executor are routine to him.
What you get is an attorney who’s done this hundreds of times and still treats your estate like it’s the only one that matters. He’ll tell you up front, in plain terms, exactly what your situation needs and what it’ll cost—a flat fee, not an open-ended hourly bill that climbs every time you call with a question.
And he stays with you. Chuck is reachable the whole way through, because in probate the questions that matter most tend to come up in the middle, not the beginning.
LET'S GET THIS ESTATE SETTLED
Whether you’ve just been named executor, you’re staring at a frozen account, or you simply don’t know where to start, you don’t have to carry it alone. Charles Buchan handles probate for families across Arkansas.
Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s talk about exactly what your family’s situation needs.