Search Chicot County Deed Records
Chicot County deed records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Lake Village, Arkansas. The Circuit Clerk serves as the county's ex-officio recorder for all real property instruments, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats. Online property search access is available through ARCountyData and the CountyService portal, and in-person access is available at the Chicot County Courthouse on Main Street.
Chicot County Deed Records
Chicot County Deed Records and the Recorder's Office
The Chicot County Circuit Clerk is Josephine Griffin. The office is at 108 Main Street, Lake Village, AR 71653. Phone is (870) 265-8010 and fax is (870) 265-8012. Email is jgriffinchicotcc@att.net. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Clerk maintains all land records as the county's ex-officio recorder under state law.
The recorder's office in Chicot County keeps a full set of real property instruments. Documents maintained here include deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, releases, liens, UCC filings, military discharges, easements, rights-of-way, and plat maps. Each document is indexed by grantor and grantee name. Under Arkansas Code § 14-15-402, the clerk must maintain these records and make them available for public inspection. Anyone can review the deed index and instrument books during business hours.
Chicot County sits along the Mississippi River in southeast Arkansas. Much of the land in the county is agricultural, with a mix of farmland, timber, and rural parcels. Title searches for Chicot County land may involve tracing ownership through multiple generations of family deeds going back to early statehood. The older deed records in the county are particularly detailed because of the county's early settlement history. Some historical plat records from as far back as the 1870s are available through FamilySearch.
Circuit Clerk and County Offices Contact Details
The main circuit clerk contact is Josephine Griffin at (870) 265-8010. The County Clerk is Pam Donaldson, reachable at (870) 265-8000 with email chicotclerk@arkansasclerks.com. The County Assessor is Faye Tate at (870) 265-8025 with email joedanyeechicotassessor@yahoo.com. The County Collector is Gail Seamans at (870) 265-8030 with email collector@chicotcounty.org. All offices are at the Chicot County Courthouse in Lake Village. Each has a separate role in property records: the Circuit Clerk records instruments, the Assessor tracks ownership for tax purposes, and the Collector handles tax payment.
For deed record requests, contact the Circuit Clerk at (870) 265-8010 or jgriffinchicotcc@att.net. Mail requests should go to 108 Main Street, Lake Village, AR 71653. Include the names of the parties, the approximate date range of the instrument, and prepayment for any copies. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the copies returned by mail. Allow additional time for mail requests compared to in-person visits.
Currently, Chicot County deed records primarily require in-person visits or written requests rather than online access. The clerk's office can tell you what current digital access options may be available. For an initial property lookup, ARCountyData and the CountyService portal are useful free online alternatives.
Online Search Tools for Chicot County
The ARCountyData Chicot County page is the primary free online tool for property data in this county. It pulls from county assessor records and lets you search by owner name, parcel number, or property address at no charge. While it does not show recorded deed images, it gives you a starting point for confirming current ownership before contacting the Circuit Clerk for specific documents.
The CountyService portal for Chicot County provides additional online access to county records including property records. This platform covers several Arkansas counties and may have searchable deed or property information for Chicot County. Check current coverage and available search tools before relying on it for title research, as access options can change.
The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search is the right supplemental resource when you need to check for judgment liens, foreclosure actions, or probate cases that might affect Chicot County property. These records show up in court case files rather than the deed index. Using both the deed index and the case search together gives a more complete title history.
Note: Historical Chicot County deed records on FamilySearch include plat maps from around 1870, deed records from 1823 to 1886 with indexes through 1969, and surveyor's records from 1887 to 1901. These free digitized collections are valuable when researching the chain of title on older parcels.
Fees and Document Requirements
Chicot County recording fees follow the standard Arkansas schedule. The fee is $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page under Arkansas Code § 21-6-306. The Real Property Transfer Tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration on sales over $100. Both are due at the time of recording. Certified copies carry their own fee; contact the clerk's office for current copy rates in this county.
Documents submitted for recording must be on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with original signatures. The first page requires a 2.5-inch blank margin at the top right for the recorder's stamp. Side and bottom margins throughout the document must be at least half an inch. The last page must have a 2.5-inch blank bottom margin. Documents must be notarized or signed before two disinterested witnesses per Arkansas Code § 18-12-104. Homestead deeds require both spouses to sign.
The first page must list the document title, grantor's name, grantee's name, and the preparer's name and address. The grantee's mailing address for future tax statements is required under Arkansas Code § 26-26-709. Under Act 752 effective August 5, 2025, individuals filing deeds in person must show a valid photo ID. Licensed attorneys, real estate brokers, bank representatives, and government employees are exempt from this requirement.
ARCountyData and State Resources
The ARCountyData portal for Chicot County is a useful free starting point for any property search in the county before contacting the Circuit Clerk directly.
The ARCountyData Chicot County page lets you search for property data by owner name, parcel number, or address using county assessor records at no charge.
The CountyService portal gives another way to look up Chicot County information online.
The Chicot County CountyService portal provides online access to county records including property-related information. Check current availability before using for title research.
For tax-delinquent property, the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands manages the sale and disposition of Chicot County parcels certified for nonpayment of taxes. Their auction site shows upcoming and post-auction listings. Buyers receive a limited warranty deed and should conduct independent research before bidding. For older historical Chicot County deed records, the Arkansas Digital Archives and the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives (SARA) may hold collections relevant to this area.