Clark County Deed Records Search
Clark County deed records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office at the Arkadelphia courthouse. The Circuit Clerk is the ex-officio county recorder responsible for recording all deeds, mortgages, liens, and related real property instruments. Clark County has a detailed set of recording requirements posted on its website and accepts electronic recording through all four major Arkansas e-recording vendors.
Clark County Deed Records
Clark County Deed Records and the Circuit Clerk
The Clark County Circuit Clerk is Brian Daniel. The office is at 401 Clay Street, Second Floor, Arkadelphia, AR 71923. Phone is (870) 246-4281. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff members who handle real estate recording include Kendra Nash, Sandra Peterson, Misty Ward, and Anna Brazeal. For real estate recording questions specifically, Sandra Peterson can be reached at sandra.peterson@clarkcircuit.com.
The Circuit Clerk functions as the clerk of both circuit court and juvenile court, and as the ex-officio county recorder responsible for deeds, mortgages, and liens. All court proceedings records are kept here along with the deed and mortgage index. The office prepares dockets, summons, warrants, orders, and judgments in addition to recording land instruments. Juvenile records are confidential and not available for public inspection. Judicial foreclosures are handled by this office, while non-judicial foreclosure notices are posted on the first floor of the courthouse in a glass case.
Under Arkansas Code § 14-15-404, recording a deed in Clark County gives constructive notice to all future buyers and lenders from the moment it is filed. Arkansas is a race-notice state, so the first party to record without knowledge of a prior competing claim wins a title dispute. This makes same-day recording at closing the standard practice for real estate attorneys and title companies working in Clark County.
Clark County Real Estate Recording Requirements
Clark County publishes its recording requirements on the county website. To submit a deed for recording, the document must be an original instrument on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with a 2.5-inch margin at the top right of the first page. The document title must appear on the first page along with the grantor's name, grantee's name, and the name and address of the person who prepared it. All signatures must be notarized. The document must be legible when scanned. A "I certify" statement must be included with the preparer's signature and address. Revenue stamps must be affixed on warranty deeds where money changed hands. A self-addressed stamped envelope is required if sending by mail for return of the recorded document.
For surveys and plat filings, the requirements are slightly different. You must submit the original instrument along with two copies of the plat. Each instrument needs a signature. If the plat is larger than 18 x 24 inches, submit a reduced copy as well. Color plats are accepted only if accompanied by a black and white copy.
The Clark County Circuit Clerk website has the full official list of recording requirements and is worth reviewing before submitting any document for recording.
The Clark County official website covers all county offices including the Circuit Clerk's recording services, fee schedules, and document requirements for real property filings.
Recording Fees in Clark County
Clark County recording fees are set by Arkansas Code § 21-6-306. The standard fee is $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. This applies to deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, release deeds, powers of attorney, plats, survey plats, lis pendens, medical liens, mechanic's and materialman's liens, and federal tax liens. Notary bonds cost $20.00. Foreign judgments within Arkansas carry the standard $15.00 first-page rate.
For releases and assignments, the rate is $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. When releasing or assigning multiple instruments in a single document, there is no extra fee for the first referenced instrument. Each additional referenced instrument beyond the first costs $15.00, but the total cannot exceed $300.00 for any single document. Notice of Default and Intent to Sell documents carry an extra $140.00 court cost fee on top of the recording fee.
Copy fees are $0.25 per page for copies made by the customer or $0.50 per page for copies made by the Circuit Clerk's office. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. The Real Property Transfer Tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration on transactions over $100. Exemptions include transfers between spouses, gifts to close family members, and divorce-related property settlements. The clerk collects the transfer tax at the time of recording.
Note: Under Act 752 effective August 5, 2025, individuals filing deeds in person must present a valid government-issued photo ID. Attorneys, real estate brokers, mortgage company representatives, title insurance agents, bank representatives, and government employees acting in an official capacity are exempt. Documents filed electronically are not subject to this ID requirement.
Electronic Recording in Clark County
Clark County accepts e-recording through all four major Arkansas vendors. Corporation Service Company (CSC) operates at 866-652-0111 and erecording@cscglobal.com. Simplifile is available at 800-460-5657. The eRecording Partners Network (ePN) handles submissions at 888-325-3365. Indecomm Global Services can be reached at 877-272-5250. The county has published a list of advantages of electronic recording that includes reduced labor and postage costs, shorter time to recordation, fewer document errors, better tracking, and improved security when transmitting sensitive documents.
Electronic filing does not change any content requirements. The deed must still meet all formatting rules, have original signatures before notarization, and include all required information on the first page. Once a Clark County clerk accepts an e-filed document, it is considered officially filed of record the same as a paper original. For title companies and attorneys doing high volume work in Clark County, e-recording is the most efficient method.
The Clark County Circuit Clerk page has links to the recording requirements and the electronic recording vendor information.
The Clark County Circuit Clerk page provides direct links to real estate recording requirements, e-recording vendor information, and the full fee schedule for deed filings in Arkadelphia.
Online Search Tools and State Resources
The ARCountyData Clark County page offers free property searches pulled from county assessor records. It is a fast way to look up current ownership and parcel data before requesting specific recorded instruments from the clerk. The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search is useful for checking judgment liens, foreclosure filings, and probate actions that may affect Clark County property title. These court matters affect title but do not appear in the deed index, so running both searches is the standard approach for a thorough title review.
The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands handles tax-delinquent properties across all Arkansas counties. Clark County parcels certified to the COSL for nonpayment of taxes may appear on the COSL online auction site. Buyers at these sales receive a limited warranty deed and should conduct independent title research before bidding. The COSL parcel maps and past auction results are also useful research tools when investigating whether a property has a tax history. The Arkansas Secretary of State provides entity records when a company, LLC, or trust appears as a grantor or grantee in a Clark County deed transaction.