1933 ACT FILE NO.:
1940 ACT FILE NO.: 811-21056
CIK NO.: 1537902

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-6

FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2

A. Exact name of trust: ADVISORS DISCIPLINED TRUST 861

B. Name of depositor: ADVISORS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.

C. Complete address of depositor's principal executive offices:

18925 Base Camp Road
Monument, Colorado 80132

D. Name and complete address of agent for service:

 WITH A COPY TO:

 SCOTT COLYER SCOTT R. ANDERSON
 Advisors Asset Management, Inc. Chapman and Cutler LLP
 18925 Base Camp Road 111 West Monroe Street
 Monument, Colorado 80132 Chicago, Illinois 60603-4080

E. Title of securities being registered: Units of undivided beneficial
 interest in the trust

F. Approximate date of proposed public offering:

AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

[ ] Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective
on ____________, 2012 at _____ pursuant to Rule 487.

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a) may determine.

Preliminary Prospectus Dated March 15, 2012
ADVISORS DISCIPLINED TRUST 861
NEW JERSEY MUNICIPAL CLOSED-END PORTFOLIO, SERIES 2012-1

The attached final prospectus as supplemented for a prior Advisors Disciplined Trust series is hereby used as a preliminary prospectus for the above stated series. The narrative information and structure of the attached final prospectus will be substantially the same as that of the final prospectus for this series. Information with respect to pricing, the number of units, dates and summary information regarding the characteristics of securities to be deposited in this series is not now available and will be different since each series has a unique portfolio. Accordingly the information contained herein with regard to the previous series should be considered as being included for informational purposes only.

A registration statement relating to the units of this series has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. Such units may not be sold nor may an offer to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the units in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

(Incorporated herein by reference is the final prospectus from Advisors Disciplined Trust 810 (Registration No. 333-177412) as filed on October 26, 2011 and as supplemented on February 9, 2012 which shall be used as a preliminary prospectus for the current series of the fund.)

CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

This Registration Statement comprises the following papers and documents:
The facing sheet
The prospectus
The signatures
The consents of the initial evaluator, independent public accountants and legal counsel

The following exhibits:

1.1 Trust Agreement (to be filed by amendment).

1.1.1 Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust (to be filed by amendment).

1.2 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation and Certificate
 of Merger of Advisors Asset Management, Inc. Reference is made to
 Exhibit 1.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 for Advisors
 Disciplined Trust 647 (File No. 333-171079) as filed on January 6, 2011.

1.3 Bylaws of Advisors Asset Management, Inc. Reference is made to
 Exhibit 1.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 for Advisors
 Disciplined Trust 647 (File No. 333-171079) as filed on January 6, 2011.

1.5 Form of Dealer Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 1.5 to the
 Registration Statement of Form S-6 for Advisors Disciplined Trust 262
 (File No. 333-150575) as filed of June 17, 2008.

2.2 Form of Code of Ethics. Reference is made to Exhibit 2.2 to the
 Registration Statement on Form S-6 for Advisor's Disciplined Trust 73
 (File No. 333-131959) as filed on March 16, 2006.

3.1 Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered (to be
 filed by amendment).

3.3 Opinion of counsel as to the Trustee and the Trust. (to be filed by
 amendment).

4.1 Consent of evaluator (to be filed by amendment).

4.2 Consent of independent auditors (to be filed by amendment).

6.1 Directors and Officers of Advisors Asset Management, Inc. Reference is
 made to Exhibit 6.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 for
 Advisors Disciplined Trust 736 (File No. 333-174382) as filed on
 August 18, 2011.

7.1 Power of Attorney. Reference is made to Exhibit 7.1 to the Registration
 Statement on Form S-6 for Advisor's Disciplined Trust 213 (File No. 333-
 148484) as filed on January 4, 2008.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant, Advisors Disciplined Trust 861 has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Wichita and State of Kansas on the 15th day of March, 2012.

ADVISORS DISCIPLINED TRUST 861

By ADVISORS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC., DEPOSITOR

By /s/ ALEX R MEITZNER
 -----------------------------
 Alex R. Meitzner
 Senior Vice President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below on March 15, 2012 by the following persons in the capacities indicated:

 SIGNATURE TITLE

Scott I. Colyer Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

Lisa A. Colyer Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

James R. Costas Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

Christopher T. Genovese Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

Randy J. Pegg Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

R. Scott Roberg Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

Jack Simkin Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

Andrew Williams Director of Advisors Asset )
 Management, Inc. )

By /s/ ALEX R MEITZNER
 -----------------------------
 Alex R. Meitzner
 Attorney-in-Fact*