Pike County Arkansas Deed Records
Pike County deed records are filed with the Circuit Clerk at the Murfreesboro courthouse. The clerk maintains warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property instruments for all land in Pike County. This page covers how to search Pike County deed records, where online tools are available, and what fees and formatting rules apply to recordings in this county.
Pike County Deed Records Overview
Searching Pike County Property Deed Records
The Pike County Circuit Clerk's office is the official keeper of deed records for all land in Pike County. Circuit Clerk Sabrina Williams can be reached at 1 Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 219, Murfreesboro, AR 71952. The phone number is (870) 285-2231. Records are indexed by grantor and grantee name, so you can search the chain of title from any known owner. In-person research is available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
The ARCountyData Pike County portal provides online access to property and assessment records at no charge. You can search by owner name, parcel number, or address. This tool is sponsored by the county assessor and is a good first step before visiting the courthouse. The screenshot below shows the ARCountyData interface for Pike County.
The ARCountyData Pike County portal lets you search assessment and property records for Pike County, Arkansas, at no cost. Look up parcels by owner name, ID, or address from this free online tool.
Pike County Circuit Clerk Office
Circuit Clerk Sabrina Williams handles deed recording at the Pike County Courthouse in Murfreesboro. The office address is 1 Courthouse Square, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 219, Murfreesboro, AR 71952. The phone is (870) 285-2231. The clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and all other instruments that affect title to property in Pike County. As the ex-officio county recorder, the clerk maintains the official deed index for this county.
Remote document requests are accepted by the Pike County Circuit Clerk's office. Contact the office to find out the preferred method, whether by mail, fax, or phone. When requesting copies by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for the copy fees. Certified copies cost $5.00. Plain copies run $0.25 to $0.50 per page depending on the document.
Pike County has deed records going back to its formation in 1833. The county is located in the Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas. Land ownership records in this area often involve timber rights, mineral rights, and parcels that have changed hands many times over nearly two centuries. When doing a title search, plan to check back through multiple deed books. The clerk can help direct you to the right volumes for the time period you are researching.
One notable feature of Pike County is the Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only public diamond mine in the world, located near Murfreesboro. Deed records for parcels in and around the park area may carry special notations or easements related to mineral rights. Anyone buying property near the park should check the deed history carefully for any reserved mineral or gem rights.
Pike County Deed Recording Fees
Recording fees in Pike County follow the state schedule under Arkansas Code ยง 21-6-306. The base recording fee is $15 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Two-sided pages each count as a separate page. The Real Property Transfer Tax of $3.30 per $1,000 of sale price applies to most transactions over $100. The clerk collects this tax at the time of recording.
Transfer tax exemptions cover certain categories of transfers. Gifts between close family members are typically exempt. Transfers between spouses, conveyances to or from living trusts, and certain divorce-related property transfers also do not require the tax. If you are unsure whether your transaction qualifies, check with the clerk's office or an attorney before filing.
All deeds filed in Pike County must meet Arkansas formatting standards. The document must be on 8.5 by 11 inch paper. The top right of the first page needs a 2.5-inch blank margin for the clerk's stamp. Side margins are at least half an inch. The last page needs a 2.5-inch blank margin at the bottom. The first page must include the document title, grantor name, grantee name, and the preparer's name and address. Deeds must be signed before a notary public or two disinterested witnesses.
Under Arkansas Act 752, effective August 5, 2025, anyone filing a deed in Pike County must show a valid photo ID. Licensed attorneys, real estate brokers, bank employees, and government workers acting in official roles are exempt.
Types of Instruments Recorded in Pike County
The Pike County Circuit Clerk records a full range of property instruments. Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and special warranty deeds transfer ownership from seller to buyer. Mortgages and deeds of trust secure loans against real property. Release deeds and satisfactions show when those debts are paid off. Powers of attorney allow agents to act on behalf of property owners. Mechanic's liens, federal tax liens, and other encumbrances can also be filed and must be checked in any title search.
Plat maps and survey plats are recorded by the Circuit Clerk when new subdivisions are created. The legal description in any deed for a lot in a subdivision refers back to the recorded plat. Without checking the plat, you cannot fully verify the boundaries of a parcel. Pike County courthouse holds the original plat books along with the deed volumes.
For older records in Pike County, some instruments may be recorded in both deed books and separate mortgage books or lien books. Modern recording systems often use a single index for all instruments, but older clerk systems separated them. If a title search shows a gap, it is worth checking the separate mortgage or lien indexes for that time period.
State Resources for Pike County Deed Research
The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands holds records on tax-delinquent properties across Arkansas, including Pike County. If a parcel has unpaid property taxes, the COSL may have records and auction listings for it. You can view parcel maps and past auction results through the COSL auction site. Buyers at these auctions receive a limited warranty deed from the Commissioner.
The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search covers court cases in Pike County that can affect property title. Foreclosure actions, judgment liens, and probate proceedings all appear in the circuit court docket. Checking this alongside the deed index gives a more complete picture of any outstanding claims on a parcel.
Historical deed records for Pike County are available through the Arkansas Digital Archives. Some older deed books from Pike County are available through FamilySearch, including records going back to the mid-1800s. For highway right-of-way records and survey plats, the Arkansas State Land Surveyor's Office maintains an online plat retrieval tool at plat.arkansas.gov.
Nearby Arkansas Counties
Pike County is in the Ouachita Mountain region of southwest Arkansas. Deed records for nearby counties are held by those counties' Circuit Clerks.