Arkansas County Deed Records
Arkansas County deed records are filed and kept by the Circuit Clerk's office, which operates two separate district offices in DeWitt and Stuttgart. If you need to search deed records, request copies, or record a new instrument, the correct district depends on where the property sits within the county. Both offices maintain public indexes going back decades and can help with most deed-related requests.
Arkansas County Deed Records
How Deed Recording Works in Arkansas County
Arkansas County is one of two Arkansas counties that operates under a dual county seat arrangement. The county is split into two judicial districts. The Eastern District courthouse is in DeWitt, and the Western District courthouse is in Stuttgart. When you record a deed or mortgage, you must file it in the district where the property is located. Filing in the wrong district does not give valid constructive notice, which can create title problems later. This is a detail that first-time filers sometimes miss.
The Circuit Clerk serves as the ex-officio county recorder under state law. That office assigns a book and page number or instrument number to each document filed. Under Arkansas Code § 14-15-404, recording a deed gives constructive notice to all future buyers and lenders from the moment it is filed. Arkansas is a race-notice state, so whoever records first without knowledge of a prior competing claim generally wins a title dispute. Recording the same day you close is always the safe move.
The Circuit Clerk does not conduct title searches for the public, though staff can help you navigate the index. All records are open to public inspection during office hours. Copies are available for a fee. No legal advice is given at the counter. If you need help tracing a chain of title, a licensed title company or attorney is your best resource.
Arkansas County Circuit Clerk Contact Information
The Arkansas County Circuit Clerk is Sarah Merchant. There are two physical locations. The Eastern District office is at 101 Court Square, DeWitt, AR 72042, and can be reached at (870) 946-4211. The Western District office is at 302 South College Street, Stuttgart, AR 72160, and can be reached at (870) 673-2056. The mailing address for written requests is PO Box 728, DeWitt, AR 72042. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The general email for the office is accoclerkmelissa@centurytel.net.
When contacting the office by mail, include the document type you need, the grantor or grantee names, the approximate date range, the legal description if you have it, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Prepay for copies before the office processes your request. Allow extra time for mail requests compared to in-person visits.
The ARCountyData portal shown below provides a free starting point for property lookups before you contact the clerk's office directly.
The ARCountyData Arkansas County page provides searchable property and deed data linked to county assessor records.
ARCountyData pulls property data from the county assessor's records. It is a useful free tool for initial deed record research before contacting the clerk's office.
Online Search Tools for Arkansas County Deed Records
The best online tool for Arkansas County deed records is the clerk's own document search portal. This system covers recorded instruments from 1995 to the present. Document images are available starting in 2005. The index is updated every 30 minutes throughout the business day, so recently filed documents typically appear quickly.
Access through the clerk's portal is handled via Titlesearcher.com. You have two pricing options. The unlimited monthly subscription runs $70.00 and gives full access to all indexes and images. The pay-per-copy option charges $3.00 per viewed image plus $0.25 per name searched. For occasional use, pay-per-copy is more cost effective. For title companies or attorneys doing frequent searches, the monthly plan saves money fast. Call 1-866-604-3673 for account setup questions.
The free ARCountyData portal draws from county assessor data and lets you search by owner name, parcel number, or property address. While it does not replace the clerk's index for recorded instruments, it is a quick way to confirm ownership and parcel details. Use both tools together when doing thorough research.
Note: For cases involving judicial foreclosures or judgment liens that affect title, also check the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search to find court proceedings tied to the property.
Recording Fees and Document Requirements
Arkansas County follows the standard fee schedule set by Arkansas Code § 21-6-306. The fee is $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. A two-sided document counts as two pages. A single instrument that references multiple documents may carry an additional $15.00 per referenced instrument beyond the first. Documents on legal-size paper (8.5 x 14 inches) incur a $25.00 non-compliance fee instead of the standard rate. Using 8.5 x 11 inch paper avoids that extra charge.
The Real Property Transfer Tax applies to most sales. The rate is $3.30 per $1,000 of actual consideration on any transaction over $100. This tax covers mineral rights transfers as well as standard real estate. The clerk collects it at the time of recording. Common exemptions include gifts between family members, transfers between spouses, and divorce-related transfers. Bring a check made out to the Circuit Clerk or ask about accepted payment methods before visiting.
Document formatting rules matter here. Arkansas County requires original documents or certified copies only. Xerox copies are not accepted for filing. All signatures must be original. The first page must have a 2.5-inch blank margin at the top right for the recorder's stamp. Side and bottom margins must be at least half an inch. The last page needs a 2.5-inch blank margin at the bottom. Documents that fail these standards may be returned unfiled or charged a non-compliance fee.
Beginning August 5, 2025, Act 752 requires any individual filing a deed in person to present a valid government-issued photo ID. Licensed attorneys, real estate brokers, bank representatives, and government employees are exempt from this requirement.
Arkansas County Circuit Clerk Office and Records
The Arkansas County Circuit Clerk website covers both district offices, explains the dual-district structure, and provides guidance on which documents go to which courthouse.
The official Circuit Clerk website at arcocircuitclerk.com provides office contact information, links to the online document search portal, and details about the two-district filing system in Arkansas County.
Turn-around time for recorded documents is typically one business day. That means a document submitted Monday morning is usually indexed and returned by Tuesday. Mail-in filings take longer due to delivery time on both ends. If your closing has a tight deadline, e-recording or in-person filing are the faster options.
The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands maintains records on tax-delinquent property in Arkansas County. If you are researching a parcel that may have a tax issue or if you are considering buying at a COSL auction, the COSL site at auction.cosl.org shows upcoming sales and post-auction listings. Winning bidders at those sales receive a limited warranty deed from the state, not a full warranty deed from a private seller.
State Resources for Arkansas County Deed Research
Several state agencies provide tools that supplement local deed records. The Arkansas State Archives Digital Collections hold digitized land records including older conveyances, swamp land patents, and forfeited deed documents. For research on property going back to territorial times, this is the right starting point. The Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives (SARA) may also hold older records for this area.
The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search is critical when a thorough title check requires looking at foreclosure actions, judgment liens, or probate proceedings tied to a parcel. These court records directly affect title but don't appear in the clerk's deed index. Using both the deed index and the case search together gives a more complete picture of a property's title history.
For property with survey questions, the Arkansas State Land Surveyor's Office maintains historical plats and corner certificates. You can access their plat retrieval tool online to check original government survey records for any parcel. This helps when a legal description is unclear or when a property boundary dispute is involved. The Arkansas Secretary of State handles entity records needed when a company or trust appears in a deed.
Note: The transfer tax exemption for mineral rights deeds does not apply in Arkansas County. The $3.30 per $1,000 rate covers mineral deed transfers the same as standard property conveyances.