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Arkansas County
Franklin County, Arkansas
Ozark's Arkansas River locks and the Boston Mountains gateway - from Ozark Lock and Dam (one of the Arkansas River Navigation System's 18 locks and dams - the Ozark Lock and Dam enables commercial barge traffic through the Arkansas River Valley, and the river's impoundment creates Lake Ozark, a popular recreation area adjacent to the city) to Franklin County's position at the gateway to the Boston Mountains (the dramatic escarpment of the Boston Mountains rises immediately north of the Arkansas River Valley in Franklin County, providing spectacular scenery and access to Ozark National Forest trails) and the county's poultry and fruit farming economy.
County SeatOzark
Population17,000
Founded1837
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Office: Franklin County Office of Emergency Management
Address: 211 W Commercial St, Ozark, AR 72949
Phone: (479) 667-3607
Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Contact county OEM; Ozark and Charleston community facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: Northwest Arkansas River valley county; two county seats (Ozark and Charleston); Arkansas River runs through the county (flooding risk); tornado corridor; Ozark mountains north of the river; wine country (Altus – significant Arkansas wine heritage); I-40 corridor; Fort Smith metro adjacent
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Franklin County Road Department – (479) 667-3607
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response; rural county
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: I-40 runs through Ozark; US-64 along the river; mountain terrain north of Arkansas River; two county seats require maintaining separate administrative facilities; Altus area winery roads attract wine tourism; Fort Smith metro accessible
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Franklin County – (479) 667-3607
Services: Basic building permits; Ozark and Charleston have separate permits
Notes: I-40 commercial development in Ozark; wine tourism facilities in Altus; moderate rural county growth; two county seat coordination
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Franklin County Veterans Service Office – (479) 667-3607
VA Medical: Fort Smith VA Clinic; Fayetteville VAMC – (479) 443-4301
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: Fort Smith VA clinic is the nearest outpatient facility; relatively accessible for a rural county
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Franklin County Library – Ozark: (479) 667-2438; Charleston: (479) 965-2215
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs
Notes: Two-branch system for two county seats; wine heritage materials in Altus area accessible through county libraries
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Altus – Arkansas Wine Country (Post Familie Winery, Wiederkehr Wine Cellars – Wiederkehr Village; Arkansas’s oldest and most celebrated winery founded by Swiss immigrant Johann Wiederkehr in 1880; Altus has been producing wine continuously since 1880; Post Familie also historic); Lake Dardanelle (Arkansas River reservoir – excellent fishing; Fort Smith/Lake Dardanelle State Park); Ozark National Forest access; Mount Magazine (adjacent – Logan County) accessible from Franklin County; Mulberry River float access
Notes: Altus is the heart of Arkansas wine country – a remarkable legacy of Swiss and German immigrant viticulture dating to 1880; Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in the US and a National Historic Place; Post Familie Winery is equally storied; the wine festivals in Altus attract visitors from across the region; Lake Dardanelle provides excellent bass fishing and water recreation; the Arkansas River valley between the Ozark mountains and the Boston Mountains creates exceptional scenery
Notes: Rural county; state GIS primary; Lake Dardanelle mapping through Army Corps; Ozark National Forest mapping through USFS
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Franklin County Animal Control – (479) 667-3607
Services: Basic animal control; two county seat coordination
Notes: Rural county with limited resources
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Franklin County – (479) 667-3607; Ozark and Charleston manage separately
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; Arkansas River (Army Corps – Lake Dardanelle); Ozark National Forest; Altus viticulture and winery waste management; I-40 corridor
Notes: Altus winery operations require appropriate waste water management for wine production; Arkansas River and Lake Dardanelle water quality monitoring by Army Corps; Ozark National Forest watershed management; I-40 corridor stormwater management; the wine tourism economy creates incentives for maintaining the Altus landscape’s agricultural and scenic quality
About Franklin County
Franklin County is northwest Arkansas River Valley’s Boston Mountains gateway county – Ozark Lock and Dam and the dramatic mountain escarpment rising north of the valley define a scenic Arkansas River community.
Ozark (the county seat, population ~3,600) is named for the Ozark Mountains visible from the valley floor – the Boston Mountains’ escarpment rises dramatically to the north, providing spectacular scenery accessible from the Ozark National Forest.
Charleston (population ~2,600) is the county’s second community, serving the valley’s agricultural interests.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
DHS offices: Ozark and/or Charleston (confirm via dhs.arkansas.gov)
Recommended
Search Franklin County public records for Ozark, Charleston, and Franklin County residents.
Courts & Legal
Franklin County Circuit Clerk at 211 W. Commercial Street, Ozark, AR 72949, phone 479-667-4059, handles probate.
Senior Services
Area Agency on Aging: Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD) — Area Agency on Aging
Meals on Wheels, transportation, senior centers
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
211 W. Commercial St., Ozark, AR 72949
(479) 667-3607
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
211 W. Commercial St., Ozark, AR 72949
(479) 667-3607
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Franklin County Circuit/County Clerk, both districts (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Franklin County Historical Association, 1102 W. School Street, Ozark, AR 72949
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Franklin County has two districts, each with its own courthouse – file in whichever is more convenient.
Ozark District – 211 W. Commercial Street, Ozark, AR 72949. (479) 667-3607 (Probate/County Clerk); (479) 667-3818 (Circuit Clerk, other case types). Charleston District – Circuit Clerk (479) 965-7332; Probate/County Clerk (479) 965-2129. Hours (both): Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Arkansas has one of the more generous small-estate thresholds in the country, so check this first.
Small Estate Affidavit – for estates where total property value (after debts, excluding the homestead and statutory spousal/minor-child allowances) is $100,000 or less. Available 45 days after the death. Filed using Form 23 (Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate by Distributee) under Ark. Code § 28-41-101 – no personal representative is appointed, and no full administration is needed.
Independent Administration – available when the will authorizes it, or when all heirs agree to it. The personal representative acts with minimal court oversight at each step.
Supervised Administration – the traditional, more heavily court-involved track; used for contested estates or when independent administration isn’t available or agreed to.
Administration with Will Annexed – used when a valid will doesn’t name an executor, or the named executor can’t or won’t serve.
If using the small estate affidavit
Wait at least 45 days after the death.
Confirm the estate’s total value (after debts, excluding homestead and statutory allowances) is $100,000 or less and there are no unresolved claims against the estate.
Complete Form 23, the Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate by Distributee, listing the property and heirs.
File it with the Probate Clerk, or present it with a certified death certificate directly to banks or other institutions holding the property.
If filing for independent or supervised administration
Gather the original will (if any), a certified death certificate, a list of assets/debts, and names of heirs.
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative (Form 3, if there’s a will) or a Petition for Appointment of Administrator/Administratrix (Form 2, if there isn’t) with the Probate Division. Filing fee is $165.
If there’s a will, the court formally admits it to probate; the court then issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative must file an inventory of estate assets within 2 months of appointment.
Creditor notice must be published in a local newspaper, plus direct notice to known creditors; creditors then have 6 months from the date of first publication to file claims.
If independent administration applies, the personal representative can act on most matters without seeking court approval at each step.
After debts are resolved, the personal representative files a final settlement with the court; once approved, the estate closes.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no separate court filing fee (a nominal recording fee may apply depending on what’s being transferred).
Formal probate filing fee: $165 (may vary somewhat by county).
Personal representative and attorney compensation: no fixed statutory rate – courts typically look to roughly 2–5% of the estate’s value as a reasonable baseline, subject to court approval as “just and reasonable.”
No state estate tax or inheritance tax in Arkansas.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
Ozark, AR 72949
(479) 667-4127
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(479) 667-3607
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Franklin County Health Unit – Ozark: (479) 667-3727; Charleston: (479) 965-7117
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Hospital: Mercy Hospital Ozark – (479) 667-4138; limited services; primarily uses Fort Smith hospitals
Notes: Two health units for two county seats; small hospital in Ozark; Fort Smith healthcare most accessible for county residents
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Ozark
Population: 17,000
Area: 608 sq mi
Established: 1837
Tier: 3
Public Records
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