Desha County Public Records Search
Desha County public records are held at the courthouse in Arkansas City, the county seat. The offices there handle court cases, land documents, arrest records, marriage licenses, and voter registration. Each record type belongs to a different office, and some records can be found online through free state tools. This page covers where to look, how to file a request, and what each Desha County office maintains.
Desha County Records Overview
Desha County Circuit Clerk Records
The Desha County Circuit Clerk handles court records for civil, criminal, domestic, and juvenile cases. The office is at 608 Robert S. Moore Avenue in Arkansas City. Phone: (870) 877-2323. Fax: (870) 877-2641. Circuit Clerk: Barbara Crow. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Case types filed at this office include felony criminal matters, civil disputes, divorce and child custody proceedings, child support enforcement, and domestic relations filings. As ex-officio county recorder, the Circuit Clerk also records and indexes land instruments including deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds. This dual role makes this office a key stop for both court-related and property-related records in Desha County.
New civil and domestic filings cost $165.00. Summons and subpoenas are $2.50 per person. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Land recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page, plus a real property transfer tax of $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration on transactions above $100. Free online case searches are available through the Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. You can search by party name, case number, or date range without any account or fee.
Note: Juvenile records are confidential under Arkansas law and are not available to the public through any request method.
County Clerk and Probate Records
The Desha County Clerk is Barbara Crow, who also serves as County Collector. The mailing address and office address are both 608 Robert S. Moore Avenue in Arkansas City. Phone: (870) 877-2323. Fax: (870) 877-2641. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This office manages marriage licenses, probate filings, voter registration, and official county records.
Marriage licenses in Desha County cost $60.00. Both applicants must appear in person at the same time with a valid government-issued photo ID and social security cards. There is no waiting period for adults 18 and older. Minors require parental consent and face a five-day waiting period. Licenses remain valid for 60 days from the issue date and must be returned to the Clerk for recording. Copies of marriage records cost $1.00 per copy. Certified copies are $5.00. Marriage certificates for events from 1917 forward are also available through the Arkansas Department of Health at healthy.arkansas.gov.
Probate records held here include decedent estates, small estates, guardianships, and civil commitments. Adoption records are sealed and not available to the public under state law. Probate filings cost about $165.00. DBA certificates are available for $25.00. The Clerk also maintains county court records including ordinances, resolutions, and Quorum Court minutes. Voter registration is handled by this office as well, and residents can also register through the state at Arkansas Secretary of State elections portal.
Property Records in Desha County
The Desha County Assessor is Margie Dunlap. The office is at 608 Robert S. Moore Avenue in Arkansas City. Phone: (870) 877-2616. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. All real and personal property in the county is assessed at 20% of current market value, which is determined by state-established guidelines.
The screenshot below shows the free ARCountyData.com property search portal for Desha County.
This free portal lets you search by parcel number, owner name, or address to find ownership details and assessed values for Desha County properties.
Personal property assessment runs from January 1st through May 31st each year. Items to assess include vehicles, boats, campers, motorcycles, jet skis, farm equipment, trailers, and aircraft. The 10% late penalty applies with no exceptions for property not assessed by the May 31st deadline. New purchases have 30 days from the date of purchase to be assessed without penalty. Real property reappraisal follows a state-mandated cycle. Property taxes are collected by the Collector's office from March 1st through October 15th each year. Homestead credit applications under Amendment 79 must be filed by October 15th to apply to the current tax bill. Seniors and persons with qualifying disabilities may be eligible for a taxable value freeze on their primary residence.
Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Desha County Sheriff is Mark Pruitt. The Sheriff's Office is at 608 Robert S. Moore Avenue in Arkansas City. Phone: (870) 877-2323. Fax: (870) 877-2641. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Sheriff's Office operates the county detention facility and handles law enforcement for the unincorporated areas of the county.
Arrest records and incident reports are subject to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Written FOIA requests must be submitted to the Sheriff's Records Division in person or by mail. Under Arkansas Code Section 25-19-105, the office must respond within three working days. Copy fees are typically $0.25 per page for standard copies. Active criminal investigation files and sealed records are exempt from disclosure.
Statewide criminal history searches are available through the Arkansas State Police criminal history portal. The Arkansas Department of Corrections maintains a free inmate search portal for state prison records. The Arkansas sex offender registry is searchable by name or location through the Arkansas Crime Information Center.
FOIA Requests in Desha County
Arkansas citizens have the right to inspect and copy public records held by Desha County offices under Arkansas Code Section 25-19-105. No reason is required. Agencies must respond within three working days. Submit your request in writing to the office holding the records you want. Be specific about the record type, date range, and parties involved to speed up the process. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page plus additional page fees. If a request is large and takes staff time to compile, the agency may charge a reasonable fee for that work.
Note: FOIA access is limited to Arkansas citizens, but there is no test or proof required at the time of submission for most routine requests.
Nearby Counties
Desha County is bordered by the following Arkansas counties, each maintaining their own public records and court systems.