Find Arkansas Public Records

Arkansas public records are open to state citizens under the Freedom of Information Act. The law covers court filings, property documents, criminal history, vital records, and records held by state and county agencies. You can search Arkansas public records online through government portals, visit county offices in person, or submit a FOIA request to get the documents you need. This guide covers where to look and how to get records fast.

What Are Arkansas Public Records

Most records held by Arkansas government agencies are public. Court case files, property deeds, tax records, criminal histories, vital records, business filings, and government meeting minutes all fall under that category. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act defines which records must be open and which are exempt. Both state and county agencies are covered. City offices, school boards, and other public bodies must comply as well.

Arkansas has one rule that sets it apart from most states. Only citizens of Arkansas may request records under the state FOIA. Arkansas is one of just seven states with that restriction. You do not need to say why you want the records. You can use the information any way you like once you have it. The one exception is that incarcerated felons, and anyone who acts on their behalf except an attorney, cannot make FOIA requests under Arkansas Code Annotated 25-19-101 et seq.

The three-day rule matters. When an agency gets a records request, it must make non-exempt records available within three working days. If the record is immediately available, access should be given right then. Some records are exempt from release. These include medical files, active law enforcement investigation records, and certain personnel files. But the general rule in Arkansas leans toward public access. Agencies must show a specific legal reason to withhold records.

The Arkansas FOIA was established in 1967. Questions about FOIA compliance can go to the Arkansas Attorney General's Office at (800) 482-8982. The Attorney General can issue informal opinions on whether a denial was proper, though those opinions are advisory.

The guide above covers the full scope of Arkansas FOIA procedures under Arkansas Code 25-19-105, including response timelines and agency obligations. Each county and state office follows these same rules when handling your records requests.

Arkansas Court Records and Case Search

Court records are among the most searched public records in Arkansas. The state has 75 counties split into 28 judicial circuits. Each county has a Circuit Court that handles civil cases, criminal cases, domestic matters, and probate. District Courts handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims up to $5,000. Both levels produce public case files that you can view, copy, or request in certified form.

The main online portal is CourtConnect, run by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. The public search tool is at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. Results include party names, case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. The system is free. It covers most counties. You can also file documents electronically through the eFlex Arkansas Courts system. The Administrative Office is at 625 Marshall Street, Suite 1100, Little Rock, AR 72201; phone (501) 410-1919.

Certified copies of court documents cost $5.00 per copy from the Circuit or County Clerk. Some counties charge $0.25 per plain copy. If you need a record from a specific county and can't find it online, call that county's Circuit Clerk. They can pull files by party name or case number and make copies while you wait or by mail.

The Arkansas Court System CourtConnect portal provides free access to public court case records statewide, covering civil, criminal, domestic, and probate filings. Select a county and search by name or cause number to pull up case details.

Criminal Records and Background Checks

The Arkansas Crime Information Center, known as ACIC, maintains the state's central criminal history database. ACIC is the official source for Arkansas criminal history records. It is located at One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201. Phone: (501) 682-2222, toll-free: (800) 482-5866. ACIC operates under Ark. Code § 12-12-207 as a separate state agency. Its system links to the FBI's National Crime Information Center and criminal databases in all 50 states.

The Arkansas State Police runs the public background check system at ark.org/criminal. You can also use the Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) portal at arch.ark.org. A name-based public search through ARCH costs $24.00 per search. Results include Arkansas felony and misdemeanor convictions and pending felony arrests within the last three years. Mail requests to the Arkansas State Police, One State Police Plaza Dr, Little Rock, AR 72209, phone 501-618-8500, cost $25.00 using form ASP-122. Mail requests must be paid by check or money order. The system is authorized under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1501 et seq.

The Arkansas State Police criminal background check system lets citizens run a name-based search for Arkansas criminal history. The public ARCH portal costs $24.00 per search and covers felony and misdemeanor convictions.

The Arkansas Sex Offender Registry is free and open to the public at ark.org/offender-search. ACIC runs this registry under Ark. Code § 12-12-1008. You can search by name, address, or map location. Results show the offender's photo, current address, offense details, and risk level on a scale of 1 to 4. The VINE victim notification system is also available through ACIC for tracking offender status changes.

The Arkansas Sex Offender Registry is a free public search tool maintained by ACIC. It shows offender photos, addresses, offense details, and risk levels for all registered sex offenders in the state.

Arkansas Inmate and Detention Records

The Arkansas Department of Corrections runs the public inmate search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info. You can search by first name, last name, or ADC number. The results show current location, offense, sentence details, and projected release date. The database is free to use after you agree to a short disclaimer. Inmates on the ADC waiting list do not appear until they are moved from a county jail into the state system. Out-of-state inmates housed under Interstate Compact also do not appear.

If you need to find someone in a community correction program, call the Division of Community Correction at (501) 682-9510. For county jail rosters, check the sheriff's office in the county where the person was booked. Many Arkansas sheriff offices post inmate rosters online. The Arkansas Escape Alert System, run by the ADC, sends email notifications about escapes and major status changes.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate search is a free public tool that shows current location, offense, and projected release date for inmates in state custody.

Property and Land Records in Arkansas

Property records in Arkansas are maintained at the county level. Each of the 75 counties has a Circuit Clerk and Recorder that files warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and plats. The recording fee is $15 for the first page and $5 for each additional page in most counties. Certified copies cost extra. The real property transfer tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of value on transactions over $100.

For online access, several tools cover multiple counties at once. ARCountyData.com provides property and tax records for all Arkansas counties. actDataScout.com offers property assessment records for many counties. LandRecords.net (Tapestry by Fidlar Technologies) covers participating Arkansas counties. For counties not on those platforms, visit the county Circuit Clerk or Assessor in person. Tax payment portals for many counties are also available at countyservice.net.

Tax delinquent property is managed by the Commissioner of State Lands. The Commissioner conducts public auctions and handles redemption requests for property owners who fall behind on taxes. The office is at the State Capitol in Little Rock. Property owners can redeem land before and after a tax sale by paying the back taxes plus fees.

Arkansas land and property records are governed by Act 436 of 1997 and Arkansas Code Annotated 25-28-103, which set the rules for assessment, recording, and public access to property documents across all 75 counties.

LandRecords.net (Tapestry by Fidlar Technologies) offers online access to recorded land documents for participating Arkansas counties, including deeds, mortgages, and liens.

Vital Records - Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce

The Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, holds the statewide index of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Their office is at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2336. Birth records have been available since February 1914, with some original Little Rock and Fort Smith records going back to 1881. Death records also go back to 1914. Marriage coupons are on file since 1917, and divorce coupons since 1923.

Birth certificate fees are $12 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Death certificate fees are $10 for the first copy and $8 for each additional copy. Marriage and divorce certificates are $10 per copy. Payment must be by personal check or money order made out to the Arkansas Department of Health. A photo ID is required with every request. Birth certificates are exempt from FOIA under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-18-304(a). If you need a full court decree for a divorce, you must contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed - the state office only issues verification letters.

Business Records and Professional Licenses

The Arkansas Secretary of State maintains the state's business entity database at sos.arkansas.gov/corps. You can search by business name, registered agent, or filing number. The database includes corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, nonprofits, and cooperatives. Good standing certificates, registered agent information, and annual report filings are all available online. UCC filings and state trademark registrations are also searchable through the Secretary of State's office at the State Capitol in Little Rock.

Professional licenses in Arkansas are handled by individual licensing boards. Contractors working on projects over $50,000 must be licensed through the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board at 4100 Richards Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117, phone (501) 372-4661. License verifications can typically be done online through each board's website. Many professional licenses require a background check from the Arkansas State Police as part of the application process. Voter registration and election records are managed by the Secretary of State's Elections Division at sos.arkansas.gov/elections.

The Arkansas Secretary of State business search portal lets you look up corporations, LLCs, nonprofits, and other registered entities by name or filing number.

Arkansas professional license records and other state databases are searchable at ark.org/corp-search, which links to the key state agency lookup tools in one place.

Voter Records and Unclaimed Property

Voter registration records in Arkansas are maintained by the Secretary of State's Elections Division and by individual County Clerks. You can check voter status and find polling locations at sos.arkansas.gov/elections. To register, you must be a U.S. citizen, an Arkansas resident, and at least 18 years old. You must not be currently serving a felony sentence. The deadline to register is 30 days before any election. Absentee ballot applications go through your County Clerk. Early voting begins 15 days before Election Day.

The Arkansas Treasure Hunt program lets you search for unclaimed property at arkansas.gov/treasury/treasure-hunt. Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank accounts, insurance proceeds, dividends, utility deposits, and safe deposit box contents. The state holds property indefinitely until the rightful owner or heir files a claim. Claims are free to file. Businesses must report unclaimed property to the state annually under the Arkansas Unclaimed Property Act.

The Arkansas Secretary of State Elections page handles voter registration, polling locations, and absentee ballot information for all 75 counties.

The Arkansas Treasure Hunt program managed by the State Treasurer lets you search for and claim unclaimed funds and property being held by the state.

Arkansas Public Records Online Tools

Several state and third-party portals bring Arkansas public records online. Here is a quick list of the most useful ones:

• CourtConnect (caseinfo.arcourts.gov) - statewide court case search
• Arkansas State Police Background Checks - name-based criminal history
• Sex Offender Registry (ACIC) - free name and map search
• ADC Inmate Search - current state inmates
• Secretary of State Business Search - corporations and LLCs
• ARCountyData.com - property records for all 75 counties
• Arkansas Treasure Hunt - unclaimed property search

For records that are not available online, contact the county office that holds them. Each county has a Circuit Clerk for court and land records, a County Clerk for probate and voter records, an Assessor for property valuations, and a Sheriff for arrest records and jail rosters. Use the county pages below to find local contact information.

Search Arkansas Public Records by County

Each of Arkansas's 75 counties maintains its own public records at the local level. Pick a county to find contact info, local resources, and record search options for that area.

View All 75 Arkansas Counties

Arkansas Public Records by City

Residents of major Arkansas cities can find public records through their city clerk, local police department, and the county courthouse that serves their area.

View Major Arkansas Cities