Crawford County Public Records
Crawford County public records are held across several county offices in Van Buren, Arkansas. This page helps you search court cases, property data, arrest logs, and other records maintained by the Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Assessor, and Sheriff. Most requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or online through state and county portals.
Crawford County Records Overview
Crawford County Circuit Clerk Records
The Crawford County Circuit Clerk, Sharon L. Blount-Baker, operates from 317 Main Street, Van Buren, AR 72956. The office can be reached at (479) 474-1821. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the office stays open through lunch. The Circuit Clerk serves as clerk of the Circuit and Juvenile Courts and also acts as ex-officio recorder for the county.
Court records cover several divisions. Criminal Division records include felony and misdemeanor case files. The Civil Division holds records for negligence, fraud, contract disputes, and foreclosures. Domestic Relations records cover divorce, custody, child support, and paternity cases. Probate Division records include estate cases and guardianships. Juvenile Division records are not open to the public. Land records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are also filed here. You can search Crawford County case records online at no cost through the Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect portal.
The Circuit Clerk also runs an online land records portal at crawfordcircuitclerk.com. Index data and document images run from 1984 to the present, with updates every 30 minutes. Filing fees start at $165.00 to initiate a circuit court action, with an additional $50.00 fee in some cases. Land record recording costs $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each page after that.
The Circuit Clerk's website at crawfordcircuitclerk.com lists current fee schedules and provides access to the online land records portal. Staff can answer questions about specific case types or document requests.
The Crawford County Circuit Clerk website offers online land record searches dating back to 1984, with records updated every 30 minutes throughout the business day.
Crawford County Assessor Property Records
The Crawford County Assessor, Sandra Heiner, maintains property records for all real and personal property in the county. The office is at 300 Main Street, Room 8, Van Buren, AR 72956, and can be reached at (479) 471-3245. The Assessor locates all taxable property, identifies ownership, establishes taxable values, and maintains the assessment roll. The office also handles exemptions under the Amendment 79 Homestead Act.
Real estate assessments run from the first Monday of January through July 1 each year. The county conducts a full reappraisal every five years. Personal property assessments must be filed between the first Monday of January and May 31. Filing personal property after May 31 results in a 10% late penalty based on the assessment value. You can search Crawford County property records for free through the county Assessor's page. The state's ARCountyData portal also provides parcel-level search options by owner name, address, or parcel number.
The Crawford County Assessor's office manages property valuation and assessment records, with reappraisals completed every five years to maintain accurate values across the county.
Note: Personal property owners who miss the May 31 deadline face a 10% penalty, so early filing is recommended each calendar year.
County Clerk Marriage and Probate Records
The Crawford County Clerk, Stacey Shelly, is located at 300 Main Street, Room 7, Van Buren, AR 72956. Phone: (479) 474-1312. The County Clerk handles voter registration, marriage licensing, accounts payable and payroll records, Quorum Court and County Court records, annexations, articles of incorporation, and tax levy records.
Marriage licenses cost $60.00. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID. No blood test is required, and there is no waiting period for adults 18 and older. A license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued and must be returned for recording within that period. The County Clerk also serves as clerk to the probate court, maintaining records of wills, estates, conservatorships, and guardianships. Probate filings carry an opening fee of approximately $165.00.
The Crawford County Clerk's office at 300 Main Street issues marriage licenses and maintains probate court records, voter registration, and county government records for Van Buren and surrounding areas.
Crawford County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Crawford County Sheriff's Department, led by Sheriff Daniel Perry, is at 4235 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR 72956. Phone: (479) 474-2261. The department operates several divisions including Patrol, Criminal Investigation, Civil Process, and Detention. Records available from the Sheriff include incident reports, arrest records, jail and detention records, and civil process records.
To request records from the Sheriff's Office, you can submit a written request under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Under Arkansas Code 25-19-105, only Arkansas citizens may request public records. Agencies must respond within 3 working days. The law does not require you to state a reason for your request. Fees may apply to cover the actual cost of copying or staff time. The Sheriff's website at crawfordcountysheriff.org has current contact details and department information.
Van Buren City and District Court Records
The City of Van Buren maintains its own public records at its City Hall. The Van Buren public records portal provides access to county property records, engineering records, floodplain files, historic district records, ordinance files, planning commission files, resolution records, subdivision plat files, and municipal codes.
Van Buren's District Court is located at 301 Mount Vista Boulevard, Van Buren, AR 72956, and can be reached at 479-474-1671. The Police Department maintains incident reports and accident reports. The Building Department holds records for permits, code enforcement actions, and inspections. These city-level records are separate from county court records but are also public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Note: City and county records are held by different offices; contact the appropriate office to avoid delays when requesting specific document types.
Arkansas FOIA and Statewide Record Access
Arkansas Code 25-19-105 governs public records access across all counties. Only Arkansas citizens may file requests. Agencies must respond within 3 working days. You do not need to explain why you want a record. Fees, if any, are limited to the actual cost of providing the records.
Several statewide resources supplement local county records. The Arkansas CourtConnect portal provides free access to case-level court records across the state. The Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records section handles birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificate requests at the state level. Criminal background checks are available through the Arkansas State Police online system for a fee. The Arkansas Secretary of State maintains business entity records online. For questions about FOIA rights, contact the Arkansas Attorney General's Office at (800) 482-8982.
Nearby Counties
Crawford County borders several other Arkansas counties. You can search public records for neighboring jurisdictions using the links below.