§ 28-40-102 - Venue. - Arkansas Statutes

28-40-102. Venue.

(a) The venue for the probate of a will and for administration shall be:

(1) In the county in this state where the decedent resided at the time of his or her death;

(2) If the decedent did not reside in this state, then in the county wherein is situated the greater part, in value, of the property of the decedent located in this state;

(3) If the decedent had no residence or property in this state, but died in this state, then in the county in which he or she died; and

(4) If the decedent had no residence or property in this state and died outside of this state, then in any county in which a cause of action may be maintained by his or her personal representative.

(b) The proceedings shall be deemed commenced by the filing of a petition, the issuance of letters, and the qualification of a personal representative. The proceeding first legally commenced is extended to all of the property in this state.

(c) (1) If proceedings are commenced in more than one (1) county, they shall be stayed except in the county where first commenced until final determination of venue by the circuit court of the county where first commenced.

(2) If the proper venue is finally determined to be in another county, the court, after making and retaining a true copy of the entire file, shall transmit the original to the proper county.

(d) (1) If it appears to the court at any time before the order of final distribution that the proceeding was commenced in the wrong county or that it would be for the best interest of the estate, then the court, in its discretion, may order the proceeding with all papers, files, and a certified copy of all orders therein transferred to another circuit court, which need not be a court of proper venue under other provisions of this section. The other court shall thereupon proceed to complete the administration proceeding as if originally commenced therein.

(2) The bond, if any, of the personal representative filed in the court from which the proceeding is transferred shall remain in effect unless and until replaced by a new bond ordered and approved by the court to which the proceeding is transferred.