The Arkansas Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate, filed on the Arkansas Judiciary’s Form 17: Inventory of Decedent’s Estate, is the sworn document a personal representative files in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court to list every asset the deceased person owned at death and the fair market value of each one. Arkansas law in Ark. Code § 28-49-110 requires you to file it within two months after the court appoints you, and you must sign an affidavit swearing the list is complete and correct.
Getting this form right matters because the values you enter set the size of your bond, guide creditors and heirs, and follow you for the rest of the estate. A single missed bank account or a guessed-at home value can trigger a supplemental filing, a court hearing, or even your removal as personal representative. Many filers feel overwhelmed, since they are grieving while trying to act like an officer of the court at the same time.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What Form 17 is, who must file it, and the exact two-month deadline that governs it
- 🗂️ Every document and number you need to gather before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of each part of the inventory, with sample entries you can copy
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out examples that follow real Arkansas families through the form
- ⚖️ The mistakes that get inventories rejected and how to avoid each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Arkansas Inventory of Decedent’s Estate is a court filing that does double duty. It lists property, and it records the personal representative’s own appraisement of value, which is why people call it the “inventory and appraisement.” The Arkansas Judiciary publishes the standard version as Form 17, and a separate Form 19: Appraisal is used when a court-appointed appraiser values harder assets. You should confirm you have the current revision printed at the bottom of the form before you start, because clerks reject outdated versions.
The person who must file is the personal representative. That is the executor named in a will or the administrator the court appoints when there is no will. Under § 28-49-110, the duty falls on whoever the court has formally qualified, meaning the court has issued you Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The form goes to the Probate Division of the Circuit Court in the county where the deceased lived. The Arkansas Bar Association handbook explains that if the person died as an out-of-state resident, you file in the Arkansas county where they held property. The form connects to the larger probate case: it sets your bond amount, it tells creditors what they may claim against, and it gives heirs a clear picture of what they will inherit.
You can skip the inventory only in narrow cases. Under § 28-49-110(c), filing is not required if every competent distributee and the guardians of any incompetent ones sign a written waiver, and the court sees no need for it. Even then, if a creditor or heir demands the inventory in writing, you must file it.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gathering everything first saves you from filing an incomplete inventory and then scrambling to correct it. The Arkansas Bar handbook stresses that you, not the attorney, are responsible for an accurate accounting of every item. Pull these together before you open Form 17.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. This proves you have authority to act, and the two-month clock starts the day the court qualifies you. Without it, you cannot file.
- The death certificate. It fixes the date of death, which is the exact date all values must reflect. A wrong date throws off every appraisal.
- Deeds and legal descriptions for all real estate. You must describe each tract in detail, so copy the legal description straight from the deed. A street address alone is not enough.
- Mortgage and lien statements. You list encumbrances against each property, and missing a lien overstates the estate’s net worth.
- Bank and credit union statements as of the date of death. You report the exact balance on the death date, not today’s balance. Guessing invites a correction.
- Brokerage and stock records. You need certificate numbers, issuers, share classes, and share counts. Vague entries get flagged.
- Vehicle titles and current valuations. Cars, trucks, boats, and farm equipment each need a fair market value. A title with no value is incomplete.
- Life insurance and retirement beneficiary designations. These help you separate probate assets from non-probate assets, which keeps the form accurate.
- Appraisals for jewelry, art, collectibles, and business interests. Hard-to-value items often need a professional appraisal or Form 19. A made-up number can understate the estate.
- A list of debts owed to the deceased. Notes receivable and accounts receivable are estate assets, and forgetting them shorts the heirs.
If any item is missing, note it and keep digging, because the affidavit you sign swears the inventory is complete to the best of your knowledge.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official inventory form lives on the Arkansas Judiciary website. You download Form 17: Inventory of Decedent’s Estate from the probate division forms page, where you will also find Form 19: Appraisal and Form 20: Accounting. The file is a PDF you can print and fill in by hand or complete on a computer.
Many Arkansas counties prefer or require their own version through a local case management system. Larger counties such as Pulaski, Benton, and Washington often route probate filings through an electronic portal, so check with the Circuit Clerk in your county before you assume the state PDF is enough. A quick call to the clerk’s office saves a rejected filing.
If you work with an attorney, the Arkansas Bar handbook notes that the lawyer usually prepares the actual inventory document for the court. Even so, the responsibility to make the list accurate stays with you. You give the attorney the raw data, and the attorney drafts the form in the format your judge expects.
Always grab the newest version of the form. Arkansas revises its court forms over time, and the revision date is printed on the document. Filing an old version is one of the simplest ways to get bounced by a careful clerk.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Arkansas Inventory of Decedent’s Estate Line by Line
The form follows the asset categories set out in § 28-49-110 and the Arkansas Bar handbook. Work through each part in order, and remember every value reflects fair market value as of the date of death. Sample entries below are shown in italics so you can tell them apart from the instructions.
The Caption: Court, County, and Estate Name
The caption is the heading block at the very top of Form 17. It asks for the court (“In the Circuit Court of ___ County, Arkansas, Probate Division”), the name of the deceased, and the probate case number.
To fill it in, copy the county and case number exactly from your Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary. Write the deceased’s name in the standard form “In the Matter of the Estate of [Name], Deceased.”
For example, Maria Lopez, serving as administrator for her late father, writes In the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas, Probate Division — In the Matter of the Estate of Carlos Lopez, Deceased — Case No. 60PR-26-1234.
A common edge case is a person who used more than one name. If the deceased was known as both Carlos Lopez and Carlos R. Lopez, write the legal name and add “a/k/a” with the other name so the file matches all their assets.
The most common mistake here is using the wrong case number, which causes the clerk to file your inventory in the wrong case or reject it. That delay can push you past the two-month deadline.
A frequent misconception is that the caption is just a formality. In truth, the case number is how the court ties your inventory to the bond and the rest of the estate, so an error here ripples through the whole file.
Part I, Item A: Real Property
This part asks you to list all real estate in which the deceased held any interest, including the homestead. The form wants a legal description, the amount of any liens or encumbrances, and the fair market value of each tract.
To answer it, copy the legal description word for word from the recorded deed, then state the lien balance and the date-of-death market value on separate lines. Use a recent appraisal, a tax-assessor value adjusted to market, or a realtor’s comparative market analysis to set the value.
For example, Maria Lopez enters Lot 12, Block 4, Sunny Acres Subdivision, Pulaski County, Arkansas; mortgage balance $84,000; fair market value $215,000.
An important edge case is jointly owned property. If the home was held as joint tenancy with right of survivorship, it passes outside probate and does not belong on the inventory, but property held as tenants in common does, at the decedent’s fractional share.
A common mistake is listing only the street address with no legal description, which makes the entry legally useless and forces a supplemental inventory. The court cannot identify the tract from “123 Main Street” alone.
People often wrongly believe they should list the equity (value minus mortgage) as the value. You list the full fair market value and the lien separately, because the court needs both numbers to set bond and protect creditors.
Part I, Item B: Household Goods and Personal Effects
This section covers furniture, household and yard equipment, clothing, jewelry, and similar belongings. The form asks for a description of each item or group and its market value.
To answer it, group ordinary items into reasonable categories and assign a realistic resale value, not the price paid when new. List valuable single items, like a diamond ring, on their own line.
For example, Maria Lopez enters Household furniture and appliances (lump), $3,500 and on a separate line 14k gold wedding ring set, $1,200.
An edge case is a high-value collection, such as antique firearms or fine art. Those need their own appraisal, and you may attach Form 19: Appraisal rather than guessing.
A common mistake is using insurance-replacement value instead of fair market resale value, which overstates the estate and can inflate your bond. Used furniture is worth far less than the cost to replace it.
A widespread misconception is that small personal items are too minor to list. The affidavit swears the inventory is complete, so a blanket “household goods” entry with a fair value is the correct way to honor that without itemizing every spoon.
Part I, Item C: Other Tangible Personal Property
This part captures vehicles, farm equipment, livestock, agricultural products, merchandise inventory, and any operating business interest. Each item gets a description and a market value.
To answer it, list each vehicle by year, make, model, and VIN, then enter its value from a guide such as a dealer trade-in estimate. List farm and business assets with enough detail to identify them.
For example, Maria Lopez enters 2018 Toyota Camry, VIN 4T1B11HK5JU123456, fair market value $14,500.
An edge case is a vehicle with a loan still owed. List the full value of the car as the asset and show the loan balance as a separate encumbrance, the same way you handle real estate.
A common mistake is omitting the VIN, which makes title transfer to an heir harder later and can prompt the clerk to ask for a corrected entry. The VIN is how the asset is tracked.
A common misconception is that a financed car has “no value” because money is owed. The car is still a full estate asset; the loan is a separate claim, and mixing them understates the estate.
Part I, Item D: Intangible Personal Property
This is the most detailed part. It covers cash on hand, bank deposits, bonds, corporate stock, notes receivable, accounts receivable, and other intangibles, each with specific identifying details required by the Arkansas Bar handbook.
To answer it, list each account and security separately. For bank deposits, give the depository name, address, and date-of-death balance. For stocks, give the issuer, class, share count, and certificate numbers. For notes receivable, give the maker’s name, date, amount, interest rate, and balance due.
For example, Maria Lopez enters Checking account, First Security Bank, 314 Main St., Little Rock, AR, balance as of date of death $6,742.18 and on another line 500 shares Walmart Inc. common stock, certificate no. WM-00987, fair market value $48,300.
An edge case is a payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) account. Those pass directly to the named beneficiary outside probate and should not appear on the inventory, though many filers list them in error.
A common mistake is reporting today’s account balance instead of the balance on the date of death, which makes every dollar figure wrong. Pull the statement that covers the death date.
A frequent misconception is that retirement accounts and life insurance with named beneficiaries belong on the inventory. They usually do not, because they pass by beneficiary designation, not through the estate.
The Recap or Total Line
Near the end, the form totals the appraised value of all property listed. This number drives the size of your bond and signals the estate’s value to the court.
To answer it, add the values from Items A through D and enter the grand total. Double-check the arithmetic, because the judge and clerk rely on this figure.
For example, Maria Lopez totals her father’s assets at $289,242.18.
An edge case is an estate where debts owed by the deceased exceed assets. You still report the gross asset total here; debts the decedent owed are handled later through the claims process, not subtracted on the inventory.
A common mistake is subtracting mortgages and car loans before totaling, which understates the estate and can leave creditors under-protected. The total is gross asset value.
People often believe the total equals what heirs will receive. It does not, because administration costs, taxes, and approved creditor claims come out first.
The Affidavit and Signature Block
Section 28-49-110(a)(2) requires you to append an affidavit swearing the inventory is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge, and that you owed the deceased nothing except as stated. This is the legal heart of the form.
To answer it, sign in front of a notary, who completes the notarial certificate with the date and seal. Print your name and your title, “Personal Representative,” below the signature.
For example, Maria Lopez signs, and the notary writes Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of July, 2026.
An edge case is co-personal representatives. When two people serve together, both must sign and both must swear the affidavit before the notary.
A common mistake is signing without a notary, which voids the affidavit and gets the whole filing rejected. An unsworn inventory does not satisfy the statute.
A dangerous misconception is that the affidavit is routine paperwork. You are swearing under oath; a knowingly false inventory can expose you to personal liability and removal as personal representative.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three scenarios show how different Arkansas estates flow through Form 17 from caption to signature. Each follows one named personal representative.
Scenario 1 — Maria Lopez, a simple estate with a house, a car, and a bank account. Maria’s father died with a will naming her executor in Pulaski County.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | In re Estate of Carlos Lopez, Pulaski County, Case No. 60PR-26-1234 |
| Item A: Real Property | Lot 12, Block 4, Sunny Acres; mortgage $84,000; value $215,000 |
| Item B: Household Goods | Furniture and appliances (lump), $3,500; gold ring set, $1,200 |
| Item C: Tangible Property | 2018 Toyota Camry, VIN …123456, $14,500 |
| Item D: Intangibles | Checking, First Security Bank, $6,742.18 |
| Item D: Stocks | 500 shares Walmart Inc., cert. WM-00987, $48,300 |
| Total Line | $289,242.18 |
| Affidavit | Signed and sworn before notary, July 14, 2026 |
Scenario 2 — Marcus Greene, an intestate estate with debts owed to the deceased. Marcus’s brother died without a will in Benton County, and the court appointed Marcus administrator.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | In re Estate of David Greene, Benton County, Case No. 04PR-26-880 |
| Item A: Real Property | None (decedent rented) |
| Item B: Household Goods | Household furnishings (lump), $2,100 |
| Item C: Tangible Property | 2012 Ford F-150, VIN …778899, $9,800 |
| Item D: Bank Deposits | Savings, Arvest Bank, $11,430.55 |
| Item D: Notes Receivable | Note from J. Smith, dated 03/01/2024, balance due $5,000, 6% interest |
| Item D: Cash on Hand | Cash in residence, $300 |
| Total Line | $28,630.55 |
| Affidavit | Signed and sworn before notary, August 2, 2026 |
Scenario 3 — Janet Carter, a larger estate with a business interest and out-of-state property. Janet’s mother died with a will in Washington County, leaving a company share and a vacation lot in Missouri.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | In re Estate of Ruth Carter, Washington County, Case No. 72PR-26-455 |
| Item A: Arkansas Real Property | Lot 7, Oak Ridge Add.; no liens; value $340,000 |
| Item A: Out-of-State Note | Missouri lot handled by ancillary probate; noted for reference |
| Item B: Household Goods | Furniture, art, and effects (appraised), $22,000 |
| Item C: Business Interest | 40% member interest, Carter Crafts LLC, appraised $180,000 |
| Item D: Brokerage | Edward Jones account, $254,900 |
| Item D: Bank Deposits | Checking, Simmons Bank, $18,210 |
| Total Line | $815,110 |
| Affidavit | Signed and sworn before notary, September 9, 2026 |
Notice that Janet flags the Missouri lot but does not value it on the Arkansas inventory, because out-of-state real estate is handled through ancillary probate in that state. Aisha, a different filer in a separate Saline County estate, learned the same lesson when her late uncle’s Oklahoma mineral rights had to be probated there, not in Arkansas.
How to File the Completed Form
Arkansas probate filings go to the Circuit Clerk in the county where the estate is open, and the channels vary by county. Below is how each path works so you can pick the one your court accepts.
- In person. Take the signed, notarized inventory to the Circuit Clerk’s office in your county courthouse. There is generally no separate fee to file an inventory once the case is open, since fees are paid at the start of probate. Ask the clerk to file-stamp your copy as proof of filing.
- By mail. Mail the original to the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse address for your county, which you can confirm through the Arkansas Judiciary court directory. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a copy you want returned with a file stamp.
- Electronic filing. Many counties require attorneys, and sometimes pro se filers, to e-file through the state’s case management portal. Confirm with your clerk whether the Arkansas Judiciary e-filing system applies to your case, and keep the electronic confirmation receipt.
- Through your attorney. If a lawyer represents the estate, the attorney files the inventory for you, usually electronically, and sends you the stamped confirmation.
Whatever channel you use, accepted payment for any related copy or certification fee is typically cash, check, or money order in person, and card online. Processing is usually immediate for filing, though it can take the clerk a day or two to enter a mailed document. Always keep a file-stamped copy, because that stamp is your proof you met the two-month deadline in § 28-49-110.
What Happens After You File
Once the inventory is on file, the court and interested parties use it as the official baseline for the estate. The judge may use the total to confirm or adjust your bond, since the bond protects the estate’s value. Heirs and creditors can review it to see what assets exist.
If you later find an asset you missed or a value that was wrong, § 28-49-110(b) lets you fix it with a supplemental inventory, at your next accounting, or as the court directs. This is normal and far better than leaving an error in place. Correcting promptly protects you from a claim that you breached your duty.
The inventory also sets up the next steps in administration. You will publish notice to creditors, handle claims during the three-month claim window described in the Arkansas Bar handbook, pay valid debts and taxes, and eventually file an accounting on Form 20 before distributing what remains.
Keep in mind the inventory is evidence but not the final word. Under § 28-49-110(d), it can be introduced in court but is not conclusive, and other evidence may vary its effect. That means an honest, well-supported inventory protects you, while a sloppy one invites challenge.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has tripped up real Arkansas filers, and each carries a direct consequence.
- Missing the two-month deadline. Filing late can prompt the court to compel the inventory or remove you as personal representative.
- Using today’s balances instead of date-of-death values. Every figure becomes inaccurate, which can force a full supplemental inventory.
- Listing only a street address for real estate. Without the legal description, the entry is useless and the court will demand a correction.
- Subtracting mortgages before listing value. This understates the estate and leaves creditors under-protected.
- Including non-probate assets like POD accounts or beneficiary life insurance. It misstates the estate and confuses heirs about what passes through probate.
- Omitting notes or accounts receivable. Debts owed to the deceased are assets, and skipping them shorts the heirs.
- Forgetting VINs on vehicles. This makes later title transfer to an heir difficult and can draw a clerk’s objection.
- Signing without a notary. An unsworn affidavit voids the filing and violates § 28-49-110(a)(2).
- Guessing at the value of jewelry, art, or a business. A made-up number can understate the estate and expose you to a breach claim.
- Filing an outdated version of the form. A careful clerk will reject the wrong revision and cost you days.
- Leaving out jointly held tenant-in-common property. The decedent’s fractional share is a probate asset and must appear.
- Failing to keep a file-stamped copy. Without proof of filing, you cannot easily show you met the deadline.
Do’s and Don’ts
These quick rules keep your inventory clean and defensible.
- Do use fair market value as of the date of death, because that is the exact standard the statute sets.
- Do copy legal descriptions straight from recorded deeds, since the court must identify each tract precisely.
- Do list each bank account and security separately, because the handbook requires specific identifying details.
- Do sign before a notary, since the affidavit is what makes the filing valid.
- Do keep a file-stamped copy, because it proves you met the two-month deadline.
- Do correct errors with a supplemental inventory, as the statute expressly allows it.
- Don’t include POD, TOD, joint-survivorship, or beneficiary assets, because they pass outside probate.
- Don’t subtract debts before stating value, since the court needs gross value and liens shown separately.
- Don’t guess at hard-to-value items, because an unsupported number can expose you to liability.
- Don’t miss the deadline, since lateness can lead to your removal.
- Don’t use an outdated form version, because the clerk may reject it.
- Don’t treat the affidavit casually, since you are swearing under oath.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With an Attorney
Many Arkansas personal representatives wonder whether to handle the inventory alone or hire counsel. The table weighs both paths.
| Filing Pro Se (On Your Own) | Filing With an Attorney |
|---|---|
| Saves attorney fees, which are a real expense of the estate, so more value reaches heirs | Costs a fee, usually a percentage of estate value, reducing what heirs receive |
| Gives you full control over timing and detail, since you know the assets best | Provides expert drafting in the exact format your judge expects, reducing rejections |
| Works well for small, simple estates with a house, a car, and a few accounts | Handles complex estates with business interests or out-of-state property far better |
| Forces you to learn the rules, which helps with later filings like the accounting | Shields you from honest but costly mistakes that the handbook warns can create personal liability |
| Avoids waiting on a busy lawyer’s schedule, so you can meet the deadline yourself | Manages the whole case, including notice to creditors and the final accounting |
The cons of going pro se are real: a missed lien, a non-probate asset, or a botched affidavit can cost more than the fee you saved. The con of hiring help is mainly cost, though for a large or contested estate that cost often pays for itself.
Form 17 vs. Form 19: Which Document Do You Use?
Filers often confuse the inventory with the appraisal, so this table draws the line.
| Form 17: Inventory of Decedent’s Estate | Form 19: Appraisal |
|---|---|
| Lists all assets and the personal representative’s own value | Records a court-appointed appraiser’s value of specific assets |
| Required within two months under § 28-49-110 | Used when assets need professional valuation |
| Signed and sworn by the personal representative | Completed and signed by the appraiser |
| Covers the entire estate | Often covers only hard-to-value items like art or a business |
FAQs
Do I have to file an inventory if all the heirs agree to skip it?
No. Under § 28-49-110(c), you may skip it only if every competent distributee and any guardians sign a written waiver and the court sees no need, but a creditor’s demand revives the duty.
Do I report the home’s value or just the equity?
No, you do not report only equity. You list the full fair market value and show the mortgage as a separate encumbrance, because the court needs both figures.
Do I include my mother’s life insurance with a named beneficiary?
No. Life insurance paid to a named beneficiary passes outside probate, so it does not belong on the inventory, though the estate-payable kind sometimes does.
Do I list the car’s value if there is still a loan on it?
Yes. Enter the car’s full fair market value as an asset and show the loan balance separately as an encumbrance, the same way you handle real estate.
Do I have to use the legal description for real estate in Item A?
Yes. A street address is not enough; copy the legal description from the deed so the court can identify the exact tract, or the entry is useless.
Do POD and TOD bank accounts go on the inventory?
No. Payable-on-death and transfer-on-death accounts pass directly to the beneficiary outside probate, so listing them in Item D is a common error.
Do I use the balance on the date of death or today’s balance?
Yes, use the date-of-death balance. Every value on the inventory reflects fair market value as of the day the decedent died, not the current figure.
Do co-personal representatives both have to sign?
Yes. When two people serve together, both must sign the inventory and both must swear the affidavit before a notary for the filing to be valid.
Do I have to get the inventory notarized?
Yes. Section 28-49-110(a)(2) requires a sworn affidavit, so you must sign before a notary, or the filing is rejected as unsworn.
Do I subtract debts the deceased owed before totaling?
No. You report gross asset value on the total line; debts the decedent owed are handled later through the claims process, not subtracted here.
Do out-of-state houses go on the Arkansas inventory?
No. Real estate in another state is handled through ancillary probate there, so you note it for reference but do not value it on the Arkansas form.
Do I have to file Form 19 along with the inventory?
No, not always. You use Form 19 only when assets need a professional appraiser’s value, such as art or a business interest, rather than your own estimate.
Do I get more time than two months if the estate is complex?
No, not automatically. The deadline is two months after qualification under § 28-49-110, though the court may direct a different time, so ask the judge if you need it.
Do small personal items like furniture have to be listed?
Yes, but you may group them. List ordinary household goods as a lump category with a fair resale value, since the affidavit swears the inventory is complete.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Arkansas Final Account and Petition for Distribution + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Arkansas Petition for Probate of Will (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Arkansas Small Estate Affidavit (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Indiana Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Louisiana Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate (Sworn Detailed Descriptive List) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Oklahoma Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate (+ FAQs)