Access Dallas County Public Records
Dallas County public records are kept by county offices in Fordyce, the county seat. Court cases, property documents, arrest records, and marriage licenses are each managed by a separate agency. This guide tells you where Dallas County public records are held, how to request them, and which searches can be done online through official Arkansas portals before you make a trip to the courthouse at 3rd and Oak Streets in Fordyce.
Dallas County Records Overview
Dallas County Circuit Clerk Records
The Dallas County Circuit Clerk handles all court filings for civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile cases in the county. The office is at 3rd and Oak Streets in Fordyce. Phone: (870) 352-2307. Fax: (870) 352-7370. Circuit Clerk: Jill Henderson. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Court records held by this office include felony criminal cases, civil matters, divorce and child custody filings, and domestic abuse cases. The Circuit Clerk also serves as ex-officio county recorder and maintains land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds. These two functions sit in the same office, so if you need both a court record and a property instrument, you can handle it in one trip.
New civil and domestic filings cost $165.00. Summons and subpoenas run $2.50 per person. Certified copy fees are $5.00 per document. Standard page copies are $0.25 per page. Land record recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. A real property transfer tax of $3.30 per $1,000 applies to real estate transactions over $100. The free statewide CourtConnect portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad lets you search Dallas County court cases by name, case number, or date without any login or fee. Basic case status and docket information are available online. Document copies require a request to the Circuit Clerk's office.
Note: Juvenile case records are sealed under Arkansas law and are not accessible through public requests regardless of the case outcome.
County Clerk and Marriage Records
The Dallas County Clerk is Jill Henderson, who also serves as County Collector. The office is at 3rd and Oak Streets in Fordyce. Phone: (870) 352-2307. Fax: (870) 352-7370. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This office is responsible for marriage licenses, probate records, voter registration, and official county documents.
Marriage licenses cost approximately $60.00. Both parties must appear in person together and bring a valid government-issued photo ID and social security card. No waiting period applies for applicants 18 and older. The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date and must be returned to this office for recording. Minors require parental consent and must wait five days. No blood test is required. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains certified marriage certificates for events from 1917 to the present and can be reached through healthy.arkansas.gov.
Probate records held by this office include decedent estates (both testate and intestate), small estates, guardianships, and civil commitments. Adoption records are sealed and cannot be disclosed. Full probate filings cost approximately $165.00. Small estate filings are about $25.00. DBA certificate filings are $25.00 for original registration. Certified copies of probate documents cost $5.00 each. The Clerk also handles voter registration for Dallas County residents and processes absentee ballot applications.
Property Records and Tax Search
The Dallas County Assessor is Angie Bennett. The office is at 3rd and Oak Streets in Fordyce. Phone: (870) 352-2590. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. All real and personal property in the county is valued at 20% of current market value under Arkansas law.
Free online property searches for Dallas County are available through ARCountyData.com. You can look up parcels by owner name, parcel number, or address. Search results include ownership details, assessed values, property characteristics, and basic tax information. This free tool is a good first step before filing a formal records request.
The screenshot below shows the ARCountyData.com portal for Dallas County property and assessment records.
The portal provides free access to parcel ownership, assessed values, and property descriptions for all properties in Dallas County.
Personal property must be assessed each year between January 1st and May 31st. This includes vehicles, boats, motorcycles, trailers, and farm equipment. Late assessment carries a 10% penalty. Real property follows a January 1st through July 1st assessment window. Property taxes are due between March 1st and October 15th. Two consecutive years of delinquency can result in a property being certified to the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands for tax sale proceedings. Homestead credits under Amendment 79 are available for owner-occupied primary residences and require application through the Assessor's office.
Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Dallas County Sheriff is Larry White. The Sheriff's Office is at 106 S. Charlotte Street in Fordyce. Phone: (870) 352-2002. Fax: (870) 352-3236. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Sheriff's Office operates the county jail and provides law enforcement throughout unincorporated Dallas County.
Arrest records and incident reports are available through written FOIA requests submitted to the Sheriff's Office. Requests may be made in person or by mail. Under Arkansas Code Section 25-19-105, the office must respond within three working days. Copy fees are generally $0.25 to $1.00 per page. Only Arkansas citizens may request records under this law, but no explanation of purpose is required. Active criminal investigation files and sealed adoption records are among the categories exempt from disclosure.
For statewide inmate searches, the Arkansas Department of Corrections provides a free inmate search portal. The Arkansas Crime Information Center operates the state sex offender registry, which is searchable by name and location. Background checks for Dallas County criminal history can also be requested through the Arkansas State Police criminal history portal.
FOIA and Records Access
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act gives citizens broad access to government records. Under Arkansas Code Section 25-19-105, any Arkansas resident may request inspection and copies of public records. Submit your request in writing to the office that holds the specific records you need. Be clear about the record type, the date range, and any names or file numbers. Agencies must respond within three business days. Fees are generally $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for certified copies. If a large request requires significant staff research time, additional fees may apply. Some records are not available to the public, such as sealed adoption files, active investigative files, and certain personnel records.
Note: Requests that involve large volumes of documents may take longer to fulfill, but the agency must still notify you of the status within three business days.
Nearby Counties
Dallas County borders the following counties in south-central Arkansas, each with its own public records offices.