Find Deed Records in Howard County
Howard County deed records are filed with the Circuit Clerk's office in Nashville, Arkansas, where the office serves as the official recorder for all property documents within the county. If you need to search deed records, get copies of recorded instruments, or file a new deed or mortgage, the Nashville courthouse is where the process starts.
Howard County Deed Records
Deed Recording in Howard County
Howard County was formed in 1873 from parts of Polk, Pike, Sevier, and Hempstead counties. That matters for title research because deeds before 1873 are held in those older county courthouses, not in Nashville. Since the county's formation, the records have been kept intact and stored in fire-proof vaults. That means a chain of title search for most parcels in Howard County will find complete records from 1873 onward without gaps from courthouse fires or floods.
The Circuit Clerk serves as the ex-officio county recorder under Arkansas state law. That office records all deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, powers of attorney, and related instruments for property located in Howard County. 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 operates as a race-notice state. That means the first party to record without knowledge of a prior unrecorded transfer holds the stronger claim. Prompt recording at or just after closing protects that interest.
The Circuit Clerk's office is not able to give legal advice or conduct full title searches for the public. Staff can help you navigate the grantor-grantee index and locate specific documents by name or date. For a complete chain of title, consult a licensed title company or real estate attorney familiar with Howard County records.
Howard County Circuit Clerk Contact
The Howard County Circuit Clerk is Angie Lewis. The office is located at 421 North Main Street, Nashville, AR 71852. The main phone number is (870) 845-7500. Office hours follow the standard county schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on state and federal holidays.
When you visit the courthouse, bring the grantor or grantee names you are researching along with a date range if you have one. Staff will point you to the index books or electronic records for that period. If you need certified copies, plan to pay the per-page fee and any certification charge at the time of your visit. Checks made out to the Howard County Circuit Clerk are the standard payment method, though it is worth calling ahead to confirm accepted payment options.
For mail requests, write to the clerk at 421 North Main Street, Nashville, AR 71852. Include your request, the names involved, the document type you need, a date range if known, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Prepay estimated copy fees before the office processes the order.
The ARCountyData portal below is a free starting point for Howard County property research before you contact the clerk directly.
The ARCountyData Howard County page pulls property data from the county assessor's records and provides a free searchable index by owner name, parcel number, or property address.
Online Search Tools for Howard County Deed Records
The free ARCountyData portal is the main online tool for Howard County property research. It pulls data from the county assessor and gives you owner names, parcel numbers, and property addresses. The depth of recorded instrument data varies, but it is a useful first step to confirm ownership before visiting the courthouse or contacting the clerk.
For court cases that touch on property, the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search is free and covers circuit court proceedings statewide. This is the place to check for judgment liens, foreclosure actions, or probate proceedings that could affect title in Howard County. A judgment against a property owner can become a lien against any real estate that person owns in the county. That kind of encumbrance won't appear in the deed index but will show up here.
The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands maintains records on tax-delinquent property across all 75 Arkansas counties. If a parcel in Howard County has fallen behind on taxes, the COSL may have records or even list it for auction. The COSL auction site shows upcoming tax sales and post-auction listings.
Note: Howard County does not appear to offer a dedicated online deed image search portal. In-person or mail requests to the Circuit Clerk remain the primary way to obtain copies of recorded instruments.
Recording Fees and Document Requirements
Howard County follows the standard Arkansas recording fee schedule under Arkansas Code § 21-6-306. The base fee is $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. A two-sided sheet counts as two pages. When a single document references multiple instruments, an additional $15.00 may apply per instrument beyond the first, up to a cap of $300.00.
The Real Property Transfer Tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of actual consideration on transactions over $100. The clerk collects this tax at recording. Common exemptions include gifts between family members, transfers between spouses, transfers involving living trusts, and deed transfers related to a divorce. If you think an exemption applies to your transfer, ask the clerk to confirm before you submit the document.
All documents must be on 8.5 by 11 inch paper. The first page must have a 2.5-inch blank margin at the top right corner for the recorder's stamp. Side and bottom margins must be at least half an inch. The last page must also have a 2.5-inch margin at the bottom. Every deed must show the title of the document, the grantor's name, the grantee's name, and the name and address of the person who prepared it.
Deeds must be signed in front of two disinterested witnesses or acknowledged before a notary public under Arkansas Code § 18-12-104. If the property being conveyed is a homestead, both spouses must join in signing even if only one name is on the title. Starting August 5, 2025, Act 752 requires individuals filing deeds in person to present a valid photo ID. Licensed attorneys, real estate brokers, bank representatives, and government employees are exempt.
Historical Howard County Deed Records
FamilySearch holds digitized deed records from Howard County covering land records from 1873 to 1888, along with indexes covering 1873 to 1953. Original township plats and some early land ownership records for the territory that became Howard County in 1873 are also available. These collections are free to search and useful for genealogical research or tracing very old chains of title.
The Arkansas State Archives Digital Collections hold records that may supplement Howard County deed research. These include land donation applications, swamp land patents, forfeited deeds, and relinquishment papers from the state's early land programs. For records that predate Howard County's formation, you may need to check the archives or courthouse records for Polk, Pike, Sevier, or Hempstead counties, depending on where your parcel is located.
The Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives (SARA) covers counties in the southern and southwestern part of the state. Howard County falls within this region, so the SARA collection may have older land records, maps, and documents not yet digitized. Contact the Arkansas State Archives for availability and access procedures.
State and Federal Resources
The Arkansas State Land Surveyor's Office maintains General Land Office notes, corner certificates, and historical plats from the original government surveys of Arkansas. Their online plat retrieval tool at plat.arkansas.gov lets you search for survey documents by location. If a legal description in a Howard County deed references old government survey terminology like townships, ranges, or sections, the surveyor's site can help you interpret and verify those descriptions.
When an LLC, corporation, or trust appears as grantor or grantee in a Howard County deed, check the Arkansas Secretary of State Business Services portal to confirm the entity's current legal name and good standing. Title companies and closing attorneys routinely pull these certificates to verify that the entity signing the deed has legal authority to transfer the property.
For properties with potential tax issues, the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands is the right resource. When property taxes go unpaid for one year in Arkansas, the county tax collector can certify the property to the Land Commissioner. That process can eventually lead to a public tax auction. The COSL site shows parcel maps, past auction results, and current post-auction listings for Howard County parcels.