Find Lee County Property Deed Records
Lee County deed records are filed with the Circuit Clerk's office in Marianna, which serves as the official recorder for all real property instruments in the county. The office maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related documents as public records, and in-person visits to the courthouse remain the primary way to access those records.
Lee County Deed Records
Deed Recording in Lee County
In Lee County, the Circuit Clerk is responsible for maintaining and organizing all property records. The database includes contracts, deeds, mortgages, construction and condominium liens, federal tax liens, and lis pendens filings. These records form the public record of property ownership and encumbrances for all land in Lee 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 is a race-notice recording state. The first party to record without knowledge of a prior competing unrecorded claim generally wins a title dispute. That rule applies in Lee County the same as everywhere else in the state. Buyers and lenders should record documents as soon as possible after closing to protect their interests against later competing claims.
No online platform is currently available for remote access to Lee County deed records. Individuals seeking copies are directed to visit the clerk's office at 15 East Chestnut Street, Room 2, Marianna, AR 72360. This is the primary access method for deed documents in this county. The office is open during standard county hours, typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Lee County deed records go back to 1873. FamilySearch holds digitized records including deeds and indexes from 1873 to 1939, along with maps showing original surveys from 1816 to 1854, a plat book from 1850, and a record of field notes from 1816 to 1877. These historical records cover more than a century of land ownership in this part of eastern Arkansas and are free to search online.
Lee County Circuit Clerk Contact
The Lee County Circuit Clerk is Rhonda Sullivan. The office is at 15 East Chestnut Street, Room 2, Marianna, AR 72360-2326. The phone number is (870) 295-7700. A secondary number listed for the office is (870) 295-7714. The fax is (870) 295-7712. Standard office hours are Monday through Friday. Call ahead to confirm current hours and any specific procedures before making the trip to Marianna.
When visiting in person, bring the grantor or grantee names you need and a date range if you have one. Staff will point you to the index and records for that period. Copies are available for a per-page fee. Certified copies carry an additional certification charge. Payment is typically by check made out to the Lee County Circuit Clerk.
For mail requests, write to the Lee County Circuit Clerk, 15 East Chestnut Street, Room 2, Marianna, AR 72360. Include your contact information, the document type and parties involved, an approximate date range, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Prepay estimated copy fees to avoid delays. Because no online access is currently available for Lee County deed records, mail requests are the remote alternative to an in-person visit.
The state land records tools shown below provide broader context for property research even when county-specific online access is limited.
The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands website provides parcel maps, tax delinquency records, and auction listings for Lee County and all 75 Arkansas counties.
Online Research Tools for Lee County Property
Lee County does not currently offer an online portal for deed record searches. That means the main options for researching Lee County property are an in-person visit to the courthouse in Marianna or a mail request to the Circuit Clerk. For basic ownership information and parcel data, the free ARCountyData platform draws from assessor records and can give you owner names and parcel details without a courthouse visit.
The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search covers statewide circuit court records including Lee County. This free tool is important for checking judgment liens, foreclosure actions, and probate proceedings that may encumber property. These records don't appear in the deed index but can affect title just as directly as a recorded deed or mortgage. The case search is a free and useful supplement to any Lee County deed research.
The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search covers Lee County circuit court records and is a free tool for finding judgment liens, foreclosures, and other court actions that may affect property title in the county.
For tax-delinquent properties, the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands tracks certified parcels and auction history. The COSL auction platform posts upcoming and post-auction properties with parcel maps. This is an important resource for Lee County given the relatively high rate of tax delinquency in some parts of the Arkansas Delta.
Recording Fees and Requirements in Lee County
Lee County follows the standard Arkansas fee schedule under 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. Multiple instruments in one document may each trigger an additional $15.00 per instrument beyond the first, up to a cap. The Real Property Transfer Tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration on transactions over $100. The clerk collects this at recording.
Common exemptions from the transfer tax include gifts between family members, transfers between spouses, transfers involving living trusts, and divorce-related conveyances. If you think an exemption applies, confirm with the clerk before submitting your deed.
Documents must be on 8.5 by 11 inch paper. The first page needs 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 must have a 2.5-inch margin at the bottom. The first page must clearly show the document title, grantor name, grantee name, and the preparer's name and address. All signatures must be original. Deeds require either two disinterested witnesses or a notary acknowledgment. Homestead transfers require both spouses to sign. Beginning August 5, 2025, Act 752 requires in-person filers to show a valid photo ID.
Historical Lee County Land Records
Lee County has a notable historical record collection. FamilySearch holds digitized Lee County deeds and indexes dating from 1873 to 1939 and 1873 to 1906. Original survey maps from 1816 to 1854 and a plat book from 1850 are also in that collection, along with field notes from 1816 to 1877. This spans from the earliest federal surveys of the area through more than a century of land transactions. These records are free to search at FamilySearch.org.
The Arkansas State Archives Digital Collections hold swamp land patents, land donation applications, and forfeited deed records that supplement early Lee County title research. Delta counties like Lee have a particular history of swamp land grants and drainage district projects that affected property ownership in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Arkansas State Archives can provide access to those records for researchers who need to trace older chains of title.
The Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives (NEARA) covers a 16-county region in northeastern Arkansas that includes Lee County. Older records not yet digitized may be available through that archive. Contact the Arkansas State Archives for access and availability information.
State Resources for Lee County Property Research
The Arkansas State Land Surveyor maintains General Land Office notes, corner certificates, and historical plats for Arkansas counties including Lee County. The online plat retrieval tool at plat.arkansas.gov provides free access to original government survey data. This is useful when a legal description references early survey terminology or when a boundary dispute involves an older Lee County parcel.
When a business entity such as an LLC or corporation appears in a Lee County deed, verify its legal name and standing through the Arkansas Secretary of State Business Services portal. A certificate of good standing is often needed in closing packages when an entity is transferring Arkansas real property. The Arkansas recording statutes at Title 14, Chapter 15 cover all formatting, fee, and filing rules that apply to Lee County deed filings.