Columbia County Public Records
Columbia County public records are maintained by county offices in Magnolia, Arkansas, and are accessible through in-person requests, written submissions, and free state online tools. This guide covers how to search court records, land filings, property assessments, marriage licenses, and arrest data held by Columbia County agencies.
Columbia County Records Overview
Columbia County Circuit Clerk Records
The Columbia County Circuit Clerk (Regina Puckett) is at 1 Court Square, Magnolia, AR 71753. Phone: (870) 235-3700. Fax: (870) 234-3331. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Circuit Clerk serves as clerk of the civil, domestic relations, criminal, and juvenile courts and as ex-officio county recorder for land documents.
Court filings in Columbia County follow state-established fee rules. New civil or domestic filings cost $165.00. Summons and subpoenas are $2.50 per person. Reopening a case is $50.00. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Real property recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Real property transfer tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration on transactions over $100. All documents must be on 8.5 by 11 inch paper, properly notarized, with a 2.5 inch top margin and the preparer's name and address included on the first page.
Columbia County court records are searchable at no cost through caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. The CourtConnect portal covers civil, criminal, and domestic cases and requires no account or login. Search by party name, case ID, or filing date range to find cases. The Circuit Clerk also holds land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, surety bonds, and plat maps. These records can support title searches and property ownership research going back many years in Magnolia and throughout Columbia County.
Note: Criminal records for sealing may be filed at no charge for qualifying cases adjudicated after March 6, 2013, at the Circuit Clerk's office.
County Clerk and Marriage License Records
The Columbia County Clerk (Regina Puckett) shares the office at 1 Court Square, Magnolia, AR 71753. Phone: (870) 235-3700. Fax: (870) 234-3331. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk maintains marriage licenses, probate records, voter registration, and county court records.
Marriage licenses cost approximately $60.00. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID and social security cards. No waiting period applies for applicants 18 and older. No blood test is required anywhere in Arkansas. Licenses are valid for 60 days from the date issued and can be used for a ceremony anywhere in the state. The license must be returned to the issuing county after the ceremony. Probate records are kept for decedent estates, guardianships, and adoptions. Adoption files are sealed and require a court order for access. Full probate filing fees are approximately $165.00. The Clerk also processes DBA filings and voter registration.
Property Records and Assessor Search
The Columbia County Assessor (Cheryl Deason) is at 1 Court Square, Magnolia, AR 71753. Phone: (870) 235-3790. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Assessor is responsible for locating and valuing all real and personal property in the county at 20% of current market value.
Free property searches for Columbia County are available through ARCountyData.com. The portal lets you search by parcel number, owner name, or property address. You can view ownership details, assessed values, and property characteristics without a fee. Real property assessments run from January 1 through July 1 each year. Personal property must be assessed between January 1 and May 31. Late assessments carry a 10% penalty that cannot be waived once applied. Residents must report vehicle purchases, sales, and other changes. Business personal property must also be assessed annually.
The screenshot below shows ARCountyData.com with Columbia County property assessment records available for free public access.
Property owners who dispute their assessed value can file an appeal with the County Equalization Board through the Assessor's office before the August 1st board deadline.
Note: The Homestead Tax Credit under Amendment 79 provides a tax credit for primary residences and must be applied for through the Assessor's Office before October 15th of the tax year.
Arrest Records and Sheriff Public Records
The Columbia County Sheriff (Mike Loe) is at 1 Court Square, Magnolia, AR 71753. Phone: (870) 234-5331. Fax: (870) 234-3310. Administrative hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas of Columbia County and operates the county detention facility.
Arrest records and incident reports are available through FOIA requests to the Sheriff's Office. Written requests should include the date range, names of any parties involved, and a description of the records sought. Allow up to three working days for processing. Copy fees may apply. For current jail roster information, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. The Magnolia Police Department handles municipal law enforcement within the city and maintains its own records for incidents within city limits.
State tools for broader record searches include the Arkansas State Police criminal history search at ark.org/criminal, the sex offender registry at ark.org/offender-search, and the corrections inmate search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info.
FOIA Rights and Request Process
Arkansas FOIA rights are established at Ark. Code Ann. 25-19-105. Only citizens of Arkansas may submit FOIA requests. No purpose is required. Agencies must respond within three working days. Copy fees may apply for large or complex requests. Requests can be submitted to any county office in writing, in person, by mail, or by email.
Columbia County is served by the 13th Judicial Circuit. The circuit handles Columbia County along with several neighboring south Arkansas counties. Federal cases involving Columbia County parties are heard in the Western District of Arkansas and can be searched through PACER at pacer.gov.
Nearby Counties
Columbia County borders several counties in southwest Arkansas. Public records for these counties are held at their own courthouse offices.