Union County Deed Records
Union County deed records are filed with the Circuit Clerk's office at 101 North Washington, Suite 201, in El Dorado, Arkansas. The county holds deed records from 2006 to the present through online digital access, with earlier records available through in-person research at the El Dorado courthouse. ActDataScout provides the primary online search portal for Union County property and deed records, and ARCountyData offers supplemental tax and assessment data.
Union County Deed Records
Union County Deed Recording System
The Union County Circuit Clerk at 101 North Washington, Suite 201, El Dorado, AR 71730 serves as the official recorder for all real property instruments in the county. Every deed, mortgage, lien, plat, and related document affecting property in Union County must go through this office. Under Arkansas Code § 14-15-404, recording gives constructive notice to all future buyers and lenders from the date the instrument is filed. Arkansas is a race-notice state, meaning the party who records first without knowledge of a prior unrecorded transfer holds the stronger title claim. Prompt recording at or just after closing is the right practice.
Union County has approximately 42,922 parcels, making it a mid-sized county by Arkansas standards. Online digital deed records and mortgage records are available from 2006 to the present. For instruments recorded before 2006, in-person research at the El Dorado courthouse is required. That pre-2006 gap is not unusual in Arkansas counties that adopted digital recording systems in the mid-2000s. Older instruments are in the physical index books and deed books held at the courthouse.
The clerk's office handles a range of recorded instruments beyond standard deeds. Those include deeds of trust, mortgages, release deeds, powers of attorney, plats, survey plats, federal and state tax liens, mechanic's and materialman's liens, medical liens, judgment liens, and lis pendens filings. The office indexes all instruments by grantor and grantee name. When you search, you can trace ownership forward or backward from any point in the index.
The ActDataScout Union County page provides online access to property assessment records and land records for Union County, including searchable data from the assessor and circuit clerk offices.
Union County Circuit Clerk Contact
The Union County Circuit Clerk's office is at 101 North Washington, Suite 201, El Dorado, AR 71730. The main phone number is (870) 864-1940. The county website at unioncountyar.com has current contact details and information about the circuit clerk's services. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on state and federal holidays.
When visiting in person, bring the grantor or grantee names and a date range for your search. For records from 2006 onward, the digital system may give you faster results than the physical index. For older records, staff will direct you to the paper index books. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies. Authenticated copies cost $15.00. Call ahead to confirm accepted payment methods.
Mail requests should go to the 101 North Washington address. Include the document type, the names involved, a date range, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Pay estimated copy fees in advance. Allow several business days for processing.
Online Search Tools for Union County Deed Records
The ActDataScout Union County portal is the main online resource for Union County property and land records. ActDataScout provides searchable access to real property records from the assessor and deed records from the circuit clerk. You can search by name, property ID, physical address, or mailing address. The platform gives 24-hour access from any device. Coverage focuses on records from 2006 forward, which aligns with when Union County's digital records begin.
The ARCountyData portal offers supplemental tax and assessment data for Union County parcels. It is a useful companion tool for checking property values, ownership status, and tax information alongside the deed records available through ActDataScout. Both tools are worth checking when doing property research in Union County before you contact the courthouse for certified copies.
The Union County official website provides access to county departments including the circuit clerk, with contact information, fee schedules, and links to online resources for property research in El Dorado.
For court cases affecting property title, the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search is a free statewide tool. It covers judgment liens, foreclosure actions, and probate proceedings in Union County. Judgment liens attach to all real estate the debtor owns in the county and won't appear in the deed index. Check both sources for a thorough title review.
Tax-delinquent property in Union County is tracked by the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. The COSL manages parcels with unpaid taxes and oversees public auctions. The COSL auction portal shows current Union County listings updated daily. If a parcel you are researching has a history of tax issues, the COSL site is a key part of your due diligence.
Recording Fees and Requirements
Union County has a detailed recording fee schedule. The base rate is $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page under Arkansas Code § 21-6-306. A two-sided document counts as two pages. Recording mortgage assignments and releases carries an additional $15.00 per instrument, up to a maximum of $300.00. Filing a certificate of assessment costs $8.00. Documents that do not meet formatting requirements are subject to a $25.00 non-compliance fee. Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 and authenticated copies cost $15.00.
The Real Property Transfer Tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of actual consideration on transactions over $100. The clerk collects this at recording. Common exemptions cover gifts between close family members, spousal transfers, living trust transfers, and deed transfers tied to a divorce. Confirm the exemption applies and have supporting documentation before submitting.
For court fees, new cases cost $165.00. Reopening a case is $50.00. Summons and subpoenas are $2.50 each. Writs and executions are $20.00. Judgments and lis pendens filings are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. These court filing fees are separate from deed recording fees but are worth knowing when you are also dealing with title issues that require court filings.
All 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, with half-inch margins on sides and bottom, and a 2.5-inch bottom margin on the last page. Every deed must include the grantor and grantee names, the preparer's name and address, and the grantee's mailing address. Deeds must be signed before a notary or two witnesses under Arkansas Code § 18-12-104. Homestead property requires both spouses to sign. Act 752, effective August 5, 2025, requires photo ID for individuals filing deeds in person.
Historical Records and State Resources
Union County deed records that predate the 2006 digital cutoff are held in physical books at the El Dorado courthouse. Those older records require in-person research. For very old title chains, the Arkansas State Archives Digital Collections hold records from early state land programs including donation applications, swamp land patents, and forfeited deeds. The Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives (SARA) serves 12 counties in the southern part of the state and may have supplemental records for Union County parcels that predate courthouse digital systems.
The Arkansas State Land Surveyor's Office maintains General Land Office notes and corner certificates. Their plat retrieval tool at plat.arkansas.gov helps when a Union County deed references old government survey township, range, or section language. For entities holding title to Union County property, the Arkansas Secretary of State Business Services portal confirms legal name and good standing. That is a standard step in any commercial or trust-held property closing.
Electronic recording is available statewide through vendors including Simplifile (1-800-460-5657) and CSC eRecording Solutions (1-855-200-1150). E-recording lets title companies and attorneys submit documents without driving to El Dorado. Confirm with the Union County Circuit Clerk which vendors are accepted before submitting electronically for the first time.