Franklin County Public Records
Franklin County public records are split between two district offices in Ozark (Northern District) and Charleston (Southern District). The county has dual county seats, and records related to courts, property, and county government may be held at either location depending on the district. This guide explains how public records work in Franklin County, which office handles what, and how to search or request documents through official Arkansas sources.
Franklin County Records Overview
Franklin County Circuit Clerk Records
The Franklin County Circuit Clerk is Claudia Jones, who also serves as County Collector for the Northern District. The Northern District office is at 211 W. Commercial Street in Ozark, AR 72949. Phone: (479) 667-3815. Fax: (479) 667-4268. The Southern District office is at 607 E. Main Street in Charleston, AR 72933. Phone: (479) 965-7331. Fax: (479) 965-2193. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Circuit Clerk handles all court records for civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile cases in Franklin County. As ex-officio county recorder, this office also files land instruments including deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds. New civil and domestic filings cost $165.00. Summons are $2.50 per person. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Standard page copies run $0.25. Recording fees for land instruments are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Real property transfers carry a transfer tax of $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration on amounts above $100.
Franklin County court cases are searchable for free through the Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Search by party name, case number, or filing date. Case status, docket entries, and party information are available without any fee or login. Document copies require a direct request and payment at the Circuit Clerk's office. Records filed in the Southern District may differ from those in the Northern District, so check both locations when researching a case if you are unsure of the district.
Note: Because Franklin County has two courthouses, confirm which district a case or land record was filed in before visiting in person to save yourself a trip.
County Clerk and Marriage Records
The Franklin County Clerk is Frances Wilson. The Northern District office is at 211 W. Commercial Street in Ozark. Phone: (479) 667-3609. Fax: (479) 667-4268. The Southern District is at 607 E. Main Street in Charleston. Phone: (479) 965-7332. Fax: (479) 965-2193. Office hours at both locations are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Marriage licenses cost approximately $60.00. Both applicants must appear in person at the same time with a valid government-issued photo ID and social security card. No waiting period applies for those 18 and older. Minors require parental consent and a five-day waiting period. Licenses are valid for 60 days and must be returned to the Clerk's office for recording within that period. Copies of marriage records are available for $1.00 each. Certified copies cost $5.00. State-certified marriage certificates from 1917 to the present are also available from the Arkansas Department of Health at healthy.arkansas.gov.
Probate records maintained by this office include decedent estates, small estates, guardianships, and civil commitments. Adoption records remain sealed. Full probate filings cost approximately $165.00. Small estate affidavits are about $25.00. DBA certificates are filed here for $25.00 per original registration. The Clerk also handles voter registration rolls and Quorum Court records including minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. County court records (annexations, county contracts, election results) are filed here as well.
Property Records and Assessor Search
The Franklin County Assessor is Terri Morphis. The Northern District office is at 211 W. Commercial Street in Ozark. Phone: (479) 667-4702. Fax: (479) 667-3403. The Southern District office is at 607 E. Main Street in Charleston. Phone: (479) 965-7100. Fax: (479) 965-2193. All real and personal property in the county is assessed at 20% of current market value.
Free online property searches for Franklin County are available at ARCountyData.com. You can look up parcels by owner name, parcel number, or property address. Results show ownership details, assessed values, and property characteristics. The tool is helpful for verifying current ownership, checking assessment values, and researching a parcel before purchase.
The screenshot below shows the ARCountyData.com portal for Franklin County property and assessment records.
This free portal provides parcel ownership, assessed values, and property descriptions for all Franklin County parcels in both the Northern and Southern Districts.
Personal property must be assessed every year between January 1st and May 31st. Items include vehicles, boats, trailers, motorcycles, farm equipment, and similar assets. The late penalty is 10% of assessed value and has no exceptions. New purchases have 30 days from the date of purchase to be assessed without penalty. Property taxes are due from March 1st through October 15th. Homestead credits under Amendment 79 provide up to $600 on owner-occupied primary residences and must be applied for by October 15th. Seniors and disabled property owners may qualify for a taxable value freeze on their primary home.
Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Franklin County Sheriff is Chris R. Brown. The Sheriff's Office is at 208 S. Campbell Street in Ozark. Phone: (479) 667-4127. Fax: (479) 667-2432. 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 the unincorporated areas of both districts of Franklin County.
Arrest records and incident reports are available through written FOIA requests submitted to the Sheriff's Records Division. Requests may be submitted 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. Active investigative files and sealed records are not subject to public disclosure. For statewide criminal history, the Arkansas State Police operates a criminal history portal for name-based and fingerprint-based background checks. The Arkansas Department of Corrections provides a free statewide inmate search. The sex offender registry is available through the Arkansas Crime Information Center.
FOIA and Public Records Access
Any Arkansas citizen can request records from Franklin County government offices under the state Freedom of Information Act. The law is at Arkansas Code Section 25-19-105. No reason is required. Agencies must respond within three working days. Put your request in writing, identify the specific record, and note the date range and any names or case numbers. Submit it to the correct office by mail or in person. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page. Certain records are exempt, including sealed adoption files, active investigation files, and some personnel records. When using the dual-district structure in Franklin County, confirm the correct district before submitting a request so it goes to the right location.
Note: In Franklin County, the Northern District (Ozark) and Southern District (Charleston) offices operate separately; a record filed in one district is not automatically available at the other office.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders these counties in western Arkansas, each with their own public records systems and courthouses.