Clark County Property Records
How To Search Property Records in Clark County in 2026
ClarkCountyRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to property records in Clark County, Arkansas. Members of the public may find ownership history, assessed values, recorded deeds, tax information, liens, and encumbrance data. Available record categories include real estate deeds, mortgage documents, property tax assessments, lien filings, plat maps, and transfer histories. Access and completeness of records may vary depending on the record type and the time period involved.
Property records in Clark County may be searched through several official channels, including online portals maintained by county offices, in-person visits to the courthouse, written mail requests, and through licensed professionals such as title companies and real estate attorneys. The primary official resources are:
- Clark County Assessor — property valuations, ownership data, and assessment records
- Clark County Collector — property tax bills, payment history, and delinquency information
- Clark County Circuit Clerk — recorded real estate documents including deeds, mortgages, and liens
- Clark County Arkansas – Official County Government Website — centralized access to all county services
- Arkansas Property Tax Center — statewide property tax payment and lookup portal
1. Property Assessor Website
The Clark County Assessor maintains the primary database for property valuation and ownership information. Members of the public may access the Clark County Assessor portal at no charge and without registration. Searches may be conducted by property address, owner name, or parcel ID number. Information available through this portal includes current owner name, mailing address, legal description, parcel number, land use classification, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size, building type), assessed value of land and improvements, taxable value, exemptions applied, and sales history.
How to search the Assessor's database:
- Navigate to the Clark County Assessor website
- Select a search type (address, owner name, or parcel number)
- Enter the relevant search criteria
- Review the results list returned
- Select the specific property to view the full property card
- Review ownership details, valuation data, and sales history
- Print or save the information as needed
Clark County Assessor
400 Courthouse Square, Suite 5
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 246-4431
Clark County Assessor
2. County Circuit Clerk — Official Records Search
The Clark County Circuit Clerk maintains recorded real estate documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats. The Clark County Circuit Clerk office indexes documents by grantor name (seller), grantee name (buyer), document type, recording date, and instrument number. Basic searches are available to the public. Document images may be viewed in person at the courthouse; availability of online document images varies.
Documents available through the Circuit Clerk:
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Satisfactions and releases of mortgage
- Judgment liens and mechanic's liens
- Easements and declarations of restrictions
- Plats and subdivision surveys
- Lis pendens filings
- Powers of attorney affecting real property
How to search recorded documents:
- Visit the Circuit Clerk's office in person or access available online indexes
- Select a search type (grantor/grantee name, document type, or date range)
- Enter the search criteria
- Review the results and note the instrument number or book and page reference
- Request document images or certified copies as needed
- Pay applicable copy fees at the time of request
Clark County Circuit Clerk
400 Courthouse Square, Suite 1
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 246-4281
Clark County Circuit Clerk
3. Tax Collector Website
The Clark County Collector maintains tax billing and payment records for all real and personal property in the county. Members of the public may search tax records through the Clark County Collector portal by property address, owner name, parcel number, or tax account number. Information available includes current tax bills, payment history, outstanding balances, exemptions applied, and delinquency status. The Arkansas Property Tax Center also provides a statewide interface for property tax lookups and online payments.
Clark County Collector
400 Courthouse Square, Suite 2
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 246-4431
Clark County Collector
4. In-Person Searches
Members of the public who require certified copies, access to older records not available online, or staff assistance may visit the Clark County Courthouse in person. Public access computers are available at the Assessor's and Circuit Clerk's offices. Staff members are available to assist with searches, retrieve documents from storage, and process copy requests. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.
5. By Mail Requests
Written requests for property records may be submitted by mail to the relevant county office. Requests directed to the Circuit Clerk should specify the document by instrument number, book and page reference, or property address and approximate recording date range. Requests directed to the Assessor should include the property address or parcel number. Payment for applicable copy fees must accompany the request. Certified copies are available upon request with the appropriate fee.
Mailing Address for All Clark County Property Record Offices:
400 Courthouse Square
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
6. Through Professionals
Title companies, real estate attorneys, and licensed abstractors conduct comprehensive title searches and prepare abstracts of title for real estate transactions. These professionals have direct access to all recorded instruments and can identify encumbrances, gaps in the chain of title, and other issues affecting ownership. Costs vary by provider and scope of work.
Search Tips
- When searching by owner name, attempt both last-name-first and full-name formats, and consider name spelling variations or maiden names
- When searching by address, try variations with and without directional prefixes (N, S, E, W)
- Very recent transactions may not yet appear online due to recording processing delays
- Records predating digitization efforts may require an in-person visit to the courthouse
- Verify results using the parcel ID number when multiple results are returned for common names or similar addresses
What Is Clark County Property Records
Property records in Clark County, Arkansas, are official legal documents related to real property — land and any structures affixed to it — maintained by county government offices pursuant to Arkansas law. These records establish legal ownership, document the chain of title, record encumbrances such as mortgages and liens, and provide the basis for property tax assessment. Under Arkansas Code § 14-15-404, county recorders are required to record and index instruments affecting real property, making those instruments constructive notice to all subsequent purchasers and encumbrancers.
Types of property records maintained in Clark County include:
Ownership Records:
- Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and special warranty deeds
- Trust documents affecting real property
- Life estate deeds
- Transfer records and chain of title documentation
Encumbrance Records:
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Tax liens, judgment liens, and mechanic's liens
- Easements and rights-of-way
- Restrictive covenants and HOA declarations
- Lis pendens filings
Tax and Assessment Records:
- Annual property tax assessments maintained by the Clark County Assessor
- Tax bills and payment histories maintained by the Clark County Collector
- Homestead and other exemption records
- Special assessment records
Legal Description Records:
- Plat maps and subdivision plats
- Survey documents
- Metes and bounds descriptions
- Lot and block information
Building and Permit Records:
- Building permits and certificates of occupancy
- Zoning designations
- Code enforcement records
Who Maintains Property Records:
The Clark County Circuit Clerk records and indexes all instruments affecting real property title, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats. The Clark County Assessor maintains property valuation records, ownership information, and exemption applications. The Clark County Collector maintains tax billing and payment records. Building and zoning records are maintained by the relevant municipal or county planning authority.
Are Property Records Public Information in Clark County?
Property records are public information in Clark County, Arkansas. Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, all public records maintained by government agencies are open to inspection and copying by any person. Recorded instruments affecting real property have been public records under Arkansas law since the state's earliest recording statutes, reflecting the centuries-old American legal tradition that land ownership must be transparent to protect subsequent purchasers and creditors through the doctrine of constructive notice.
Any member of the public may access property records without:
- Demonstrating a specific legal interest in the property
- Establishing residency in Clark County or Arkansas
- Providing a reason or purpose for the request
- Obtaining prior authorization from any government office
Why property records are public:
Transparency in property ownership serves multiple public interests. It enables real estate transactions by allowing buyers, lenders, and title companies to verify ownership and identify encumbrances. It supports accurate property taxation by making assessment data available for review. It facilitates market analysis, appraisals, and investment decisions. It also protects property owners against fraudulent transfers by creating a public record of all conveyances.
Information freely accessible to the public includes:
- Current and historical ownership names
- Legal descriptions and parcel identification numbers
- Sale prices and transfer dates
- Recorded mortgage amounts and lender names
- Liens and encumbrances of record
- Tax assessments and payment histories
- Property characteristics and improvement data
- Plat maps and survey documents
Privacy Considerations:
Pursuant to Arkansas law, Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from recorded documents before public release. Certain individuals — including law enforcement officers, judges, and victims of domestic violence or stalking — may be eligible for address confidentiality protections under applicable state programs. Homestead exemption applications may contain personal financial information that is subject to limited disclosure restrictions; the Clark County Assessor's office can provide guidance on the specific policies applicable to those records.
Common users of Clark County property records include:
- Prospective real estate buyers and sellers
- Licensed real estate agents and brokers
- Title companies and abstractors
- Mortgage lenders and appraisers
- Real estate attorneys
- Property investors and developers
- Genealogical and historical researchers
- Journalists and members of the media
How Much Does It Cost to Get Property Records in Clark County?
Members of the public may inspect property records at the Clark County Courthouse at no charge. Fees apply when copies or certified copies are requested. Under Arkansas Code § 14-15-402, the Circuit Clerk is authorized to collect recording and copy fees established by the Arkansas General Assembly.
Current standard fees for Clark County property records are as follows:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Inspection of records (in person) | No charge |
| Standard copy (per page) | $0.25–$0.50 per page |
| Certified copy of recorded document | $5.00 for first page + $0.50 per additional page |
| Recording a new instrument (deed, mortgage, etc.) | $15.00 for first page + $5.00 per additional page |
| Online document viewing (Circuit Clerk portal) | Varies; basic search typically free |
| Property tax record copies (Collector's office) | $0.25 per page |
Notes on fees:
- Fees are subject to change by action of the Arkansas General Assembly or county ordinance
- Payment is accepted in cash, check, or money order at the courthouse; online payment options vary by office
- Certified copies carry an additional certification fee above the per-page copy rate
- The Arkansas Property Tax Center provides free online access to tax payment information
- Assessment data available through the Clark County Assessor portal is provided at no charge
- Fee waivers are not routinely available for standard public records requests; indigent requesters should inquire directly with the relevant office
What is available at no cost:
- Online inspection of assessment records through the Assessor's portal
- Online tax payment history through the Collector's portal
- In-person inspection of recorded documents at the Circuit Clerk's office
- Basic grantor/grantee index searches
What's Included in a Clark County Property Record
A complete Clark County property record draws from multiple county offices and may include the following categories of information:
Ownership Information:
- Current owner name(s) and ownership type (individual, joint tenants, tenants in common, trust, LLC, corporation, or life estate)
- Acquisition date and deed instrument reference (book and page or instrument number)
- Mailing address for tax billing purposes
- Chain of title showing previous owners, transfer dates, and historical deed references
Property Identification:
- Physical site address and mailing address
- Legal description (lot and block, subdivision name, plat book and page reference, or metes and bounds description)
- Parcel ID number and tax account number
Physical Characteristics:
- Lot size in square feet or acres, lot dimensions, and frontage
- Zoning classification and land use designation
- Total living area, year built, number of stories, and building type
- Construction materials, roof type, foundation type
- Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and total rooms
- Additional features: garage, pool, porch, fireplace, HVAC systems, water source, and sewer system
- Condition and quality ratings assigned by the Assessor
Valuation Information:
- Land value and building value (assessed separately)
- Total assessed value and estimated market value
- Historical assessed values for prior years
- Agricultural classification data where applicable
Tax Information:
- Current year tax amount, taxable value after exemptions, and millage rate
- Breakdown by taxing authority (county, school district, municipality, special districts)
- Tax payment history and delinquency records
- Exemptions applied (homestead, senior, disability, veteran, agricultural)
Sales History:
- Sale dates, sale prices, and deed types for recent and historical transfers
- Grantor and grantee names for each transaction
- Documentary stamp amounts and qualified/unqualified sale designations
Encumbrances and Liens:
- Recorded mortgages, including original amounts, lender names, and recording dates
- Tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, and HOA liens
- Easements, restrictive covenants, and lis pendens filings
Legal and Regulatory Information:
- Zoning classification and permitted uses
- Special district assignments (school, fire, water, CDD)
- Flood zone designation (FEMA)
- Deed restrictions and subdivision covenants
Maps and Visual Information:
- Aerial photograph and GIS map with property boundaries
- Plat map and property sketch
- Street-level imagery where available
What is not typically included in public property records:
- Current outstanding mortgage balances (only original recorded amounts)
- Interior photographs
- Social Security numbers (redacted by law)
- Private purchase contract terms beyond the recorded sale price
- Unrecorded agreements between parties
- Documents filed under court seal
How Long Does Clark County Keep Property Records?
Property records in Clark County are maintained permanently. Recorded instruments affecting real property title — including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and all related documents — are never destroyed. This permanent retention requirement reflects both the legal necessity of an unbroken chain of title and the statutory obligations imposed on county recorders under Arkansas law. The Arkansas Records Retention Schedule, administered pursuant to Arkansas Code § 13-4-101 et seq., classifies recorded real property instruments as permanent records.
Records kept permanently by the Clark County Circuit Clerk include:
- All recorded deeds (warranty, quitclaim, trustee's, and all conveyance types) dating to county formation
- All recorded mortgages, deeds of trust, satisfactions, and releases
- All recorded liens and lien releases
- All plats, subdivision plats, re-plats, and condominium declarations
- All easements, restrictions, covenants, and declarations
- All court documents affecting title
- Powers of attorney affecting real property
Format and storage of historical records:
Records created prior to the digital era exist in multiple formats. Very early records are preserved in handwritten ledger books maintained in the Circuit Clerk's vault. Mid-twentieth century records are available on microfilm. Records from approximately the 1980s forward have been scanned and are available as digital images. The Circuit Clerk's office maintains climate-controlled storage for paper and microfilm records and employs off-site backup systems for digital records.
Online availability by time period:
| Time Period | Availability |
|---|---|
| Recent (last 20 years) | Fully available online in most cases |
| Moderate age (20–50 years) | May be online; microfilm available in person |
| Historical (50+ years) | In-person access; original books or microfilm |
| Very old (100+ years) | Archive storage; advance notice may be required |
Property Assessor retention:
The Clark County Assessor maintains current and historical assessment records, property cards, and assessment rolls on a permanent basis. Recent years of assessment history are accessible through the online portal. Historical assessments are available at the Assessor's office. Exemption applications are retained for a minimum of five to seven years, with permanent records maintained for the underlying property.
Tax Collector retention:
Tax payment records are retained for a minimum of seven to ten years. Tax deed records are maintained permanently by the Circuit Clerk. Delinquency records are retained for several years following resolution.
Accessing historical records:
Members of the public seeking records predating online availability should contact the Circuit Clerk's office directly. Staff can retrieve documents from vault storage or microfilm archives. For very old records, advance notice is recommended to allow for retrieval. The same public access rights and copy fee schedule apply to historical records as to current records.
Clark County Circuit Clerk
400 Courthouse Square, Suite 1
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 246-4281
Clark County Circuit Clerk
How To Find Liens on Property in Clark County?
Liens on property in Clark County are recorded instruments and are therefore part of the public record maintained by the Clark County Circuit Clerk. A lien search requires examining the grantor/grantee index maintained by the Circuit Clerk to identify any recorded instruments that encumber a specific parcel. Members of the public, title professionals, and attorneys may conduct lien searches in person at the courthouse or through available online index portals.
Types of liens that may appear in Clark County property records:
- Mortgage liens — recorded by lenders at the time of loan origination; released upon payoff
- Judgment liens — recorded against a property owner following a court judgment; attach to all real property owned by the debtor in the county
- Federal tax liens — filed by the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid federal taxes; searchable through the Circuit Clerk's index
- State tax liens — filed by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration for unpaid state taxes
- Mechanic's liens — filed by contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers for unpaid construction work under Arkansas mechanic's lien statutes
- HOA liens — filed by homeowner associations for unpaid assessments
- Child support liens — recorded pursuant to court order
Steps to search for liens on a Clark County property:
- Visit the Clark County Circuit Clerk office in person or access the available online index
- Search the grantor index using the current and all prior owner names associated with the property
- Review all recorded instruments associated with those names for the relevant time period
- Note any unreleased mortgages, judgment liens, tax liens, or mechanic's liens
- Cross-reference with the property's parcel ID to confirm the lien attaches to the specific parcel in question
- Request certified copies of any lien documents identified
- For federal tax liens, also search the IRS lien database at IRS.gov
- For delinquent property tax liens, search the Clark County Collector portal for outstanding tax balances
Important considerations:
A lien search conducted solely by property address may miss liens indexed under a prior owner's name. A thorough search requires examining all owner names in the chain of title for the relevant period. Title companies and licensed abstractors routinely perform comprehensive lien searches as part of the title examination process for real estate transactions. Judgment liens in Arkansas attach to all real property owned by the judgment debtor in the county where the judgment is recorded, not only to a specific parcel.
Clark County Circuit Clerk
400 Courthouse Square, Suite 1
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 246-4281
Clark County Circuit Clerk
Clark County Collector
400 Courthouse Square, Suite 2
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 246-4431
Clark County Collector
What Is Property Owner Rule in Clark County?
The property owner rule in Clark County, Arkansas, refers to the body of state law and local practice governing who may own real property, how ownership is established and transferred, and what rights and obligations attach to property ownership. Arkansas follows the general common law framework for real property ownership, supplemented by state statutes codified in Title 18 of the Arkansas Code (Property).
Establishing ownership:
Legal ownership of real property in Clark County is established by a recorded deed. Under Arkansas recording law, a deed must be recorded with the Clark County Circuit Clerk to provide constructive notice to subsequent purchasers and creditors. An unrecorded deed is valid between the parties but does not protect the grantee against a subsequent bona fide purchaser who records first. This principle — known as the race-notice recording rule — is the foundation of Arkansas's property recording system.
Who may own property in Clark County:
Under current Arkansas law, real property may be owned by:
- Individual adults (natural persons of legal age)
- Married couples (as tenants by the entirety, joint tenants, or tenants in common)
- Multiple individuals as co-owners (joint tenancy or tenancy in common)
- Trusts (revocable and irrevocable)
- Corporations, limited liability companies, and other legal entities
- Nonprofit organizations
- Government entities
There is no residency requirement for property ownership in Arkansas. Non-residents and foreign nationals may own real property subject to applicable federal and state regulations.
Forms of co-ownership:
Arkansas recognizes the following forms of concurrent ownership:
- Tenancy in common — each co-owner holds an undivided fractional interest that may be transferred or devised independently
- Joint tenancy with right of survivorship — upon the death of one joint tenant, the surviving joint tenant(s) take the deceased's interest by operation of law; must be expressly stated in the deed
- Tenancy by the entirety — available only to married couples; neither spouse may convey or encumber the property without the other's consent; the survivor takes the whole upon the other's death
Homestead rights:
Arkansas provides constitutional homestead protections for owner-occupied residential property. Under the Arkansas Constitution, Article 9, a homestead of up to one acre in an urban area or up to 160 acres in a rural area is exempt from forced sale for most debts. Property owners who occupy their principal residence as a homestead may also apply for the homestead property tax credit through the Clark County Assessor, which reduces the assessed value subject to taxation.
Transfer of ownership:
Real property in Clark County is transferred by deed, which must be signed by the grantor, acknowledged before a notary public, and recorded with the Circuit Clerk to be effective against third parties. Arkansas does not impose a state real estate transfer tax, though documentary stamps may apply in certain circumstances. Upon recording, the deed becomes part of the permanent public record and is indexed in the grantor/grantee index maintained by the Clark County Circuit Clerk.
Property tax obligations:
All owners of real property in Clark County are subject to annual property tax assessment and payment obligations. The Clark County Assessor assesses all real property annually, and taxes are due to the Clark County Collector by October 15 of each year. Failure to pay property taxes may result in the property becoming subject to a tax lien and, ultimately, a tax sale pursuant to Arkansas delinquent tax statutes.