Find Deed Records in Cleburne County
Cleburne County deed records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Heber Springs, who acts as the ex-officio recorder for all real property instruments filed in the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related documents are stored in that office and are part of the public record under Arkansas law.
Cleburne County Deed Records
Access Cleburne County Deed Records
The Circuit Clerk's office in Heber Springs is the primary place to access Cleburne County deed records. The office is located at 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Phone is (501) 362-8149, and the fax number is (501) 362-4622. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also reach the clerk by email at dguffey@shuddenlinkmail.com for general inquiries, though certified record requests typically need to come in writing or in person.
The clerk's office maintains an index of all recorded instruments. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, instrument type, recording date, or book and page number. In-person searches during business hours are available to the public at no charge. Copies of documents are available for a per-page fee once you locate the instrument you need.
Cleburne County deed records on the ARCountyData portal give you a quick overview of property data without making a trip to the courthouse.
The ARCountyData Cleburne County page pulls property assessment data that can help you confirm parcel ownership or a legal description before you request certified copies from the clerk.
For a broader view of county services, the Cleburne County website also provides information on local government offices.
The Cleburne County website at cleburnecountyar.com lists contact information for the Circuit Clerk and other county offices relevant to property record research.
Recording Fees and Document Standards
Cleburne County applies the standard Arkansas recording fee schedule. The first page of any recorded instrument costs $15. Each additional page is $5. A two-sided document counts as two pages for fee calculation purposes. When a single instrument contains multiple documents, each additional instrument after the first may carry its own $15 base fee, not to exceed $300 total for that submission.
The Real Property Transfer Tax applies to most Cleburne County deed recordings. The rate is $3.30 per $1,000 of stated consideration on any transaction above $100. The clerk collects this tax at the time of recording before the deed is stamped and returned. Common exemptions include transfers between spouses, gifts to family members, transfers to or from a revocable trust where the grantor is the same person as the beneficiary, and certain divorce-related property transfers.
Documents must meet formatting rules under Arkansas Code ยง 14-15-403. Standard 8.5 by 11 inch paper is required. The top right of the first page needs a 2.5-inch blank margin for the recorder's stamp. Side and bottom margins on all pages must be at least half an inch. The last page needs a 2.5-inch bottom margin. Deeds that do not meet these standards may be returned unfiled.
The grantee's mailing address must be clearly shown on the deed so that tax statements can go to the new owner after recording. The preparer's name and address must also appear on the first page. Any deed involving homestead property requires the signature of both spouses, regardless of whose name is on the title.
Note: Starting August 5, 2025, individuals filing deeds must present a valid photo ID under Act 752. Attorneys, brokers, lenders, and government employees acting in official capacities are exempt.
Historical Cleburne County Deed Records
Cleburne County has a solid set of historical deed records available through FamilySearch. The collection includes deed records dating from 1859 to 1889, along with deed and mortgage indexes covering 1842 to 1937. Surveyors records and plats from 1911 to 1949 are also part of that collection. These digitized records are especially useful for researchers tracing property ownership through the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The Arkansas State Archives Digital Collection holds additional historical land documents including swamp land patents and land donation applications that cover early settlement in the Arkansas River valley region. Cleburne County was formed in 1883, so land records before that date fall under the predecessor county records kept at the state level or in adjacent counties.
Federal land patents issued by the General Land Office for original homestead and public land entries in the Cleburne County area are searchable through the BLM GLO Records portal. These patents represent the first private transfer of land from the federal government to individual owners and form the foundation of any full chain of title research in the county.
Online Tools and State Resources
Beyond the county clerk's office, several online tools can help with Cleburne County deed research. The ARCountyData portal provides assessor-based property data for the county. This tool is free for basic searches and can confirm current ownership and parcel information quickly.
The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search is a separate but important resource. It covers circuit court cases across the state and lets you check for active judgment liens, foreclosure actions, or probate proceedings that might affect title to Cleburne County property. A clean deed index search is not enough if there is an outstanding court judgment that became a lien on the property.
The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands manages tax-delinquent properties across all 75 counties. If a Cleburne County property has unpaid taxes, the COSL may have records of the delinquency, any prior auction results, and the current tax status. The COSL auction site lists properties currently available through state tax sales, including those in Cleburne County.
For electronic filing, most Arkansas counties accept e-recorded documents through vendors like Simplifile and CSC eRecording Solutions. Contact the Cleburne County Circuit Clerk at (501) 362-8149 to confirm which e-recording vendors are currently active for that office.
The full text of Arkansas recording statutes at Arkansas Title 14, Chapter 15 covers the race-notice recording rule, formatting requirements, the clerk's duties, and all related recording provisions that apply in Cleburne County.