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No, in Arkansas, you do not need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, Arkansas allows you to make your will "self-proving" and you'll need to go to a notary if you want to do that. A self-proving will speeds up probate because the court can accept the will without contacting the witnesses who signed it.

Non-probate assets might include a life insurance policy, retirement account, or other asset that has a listed beneficiary. Any property placed in a trust will also skip the probate process.

Things that are not a part of the probate estate include property owned jointly by the spouses, beneficiary deeds, transfer upon death accounts, pensions, life insurance benefits, etc. In Arkansas, boats and other vehicles are not considered part of the property that passes through probate.

When Does Arkansas Require an Estate to Go Through Probate? The need for probate typically hinges on the types of assets left behind and their value. For example, beneficiary designations do not require probate, but bequeathing the ownership of a car or home does.

In Arkansas, whether or not you have a will when you die, your spouse will inherit property from you under a doctrine called "dower and curtesy." Briefly, this is how it works: If you have children or other descendants. Your spouse has the right to use, for life, 1/3 of your real estate.

Listed below are some of the assets that will not have to go through probate and instead go directly to the beneficiaries. Any property in a living trust. Life insurance policies. 401(k)s, IRAs, other retirement accounts. Securities in transfer-on-death accounts. Pay-on-death bank accounts.

The probate process begins when the decedent passes away. A petition is filed with the proper court to have probate opened. The next step is to identify the executor or personal representative of the decedent's estate. If there is a Will, an executor will likely be named in it.

The threshold for small estates varies, but it is currently $100,000. If the value of the deceased person's assets falls below this threshold, the process of probate can be simplified by using a small estate administration.

There are no laws in Arkansas that require a lawyer for probate, but neglecting legal representation in complicated matters like estate law can be a mistake. Whether you're facing probate with or without a will, a probate attorney can help guide you through the entire process and make it as easy as possible for you.