Montgomery County Public Records
Montgomery County public records are held by several county offices in Mount Ida, Arkansas. This page helps you find court filings, property data, marriage licenses, and arrest records through the right local offices. Most records can be searched online or requested in person at the courthouse on Highway 270 East.
Montgomery County Records Overview
Montgomery County Circuit Clerk Records
The Montgomery County Circuit Clerk maintains the official court records for the county. Civil cases, criminal proceedings, domestic relations filings, and land records all go through this office. The clerk is also the ex-officio recorder of deeds, meaning real estate documents recorded in the county are kept here as well.
Cindy Salyers serves as Circuit Clerk. The office is at 105 Highway 270 East, Mount Ida, AR 71957. Call (870) 867-3521 during regular hours. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Court cases filed in Montgomery County can be searched online through the Arkansas CourtConnect system. This free tool covers civil, criminal, and domestic cases going back several years. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Not every case type appears online, so call the clerk for older records or sealed filings.
Filing fees apply. New civil or domestic cases cost $165.00. Each summons or subpoena runs $2.50 per person. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Recording a deed runs $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each page after that. Real property transfer tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of sale price on transactions over $100.
Note: The Circuit Clerk's office cannot give legal advice or help you fill out forms, so come prepared or consult an attorney before filing.
Montgomery County Clerk and Vital Records
The County Clerk handles marriage licenses, probate records, voter registration, and county court filings. Cindy Salyers also serves in this role. The address and phone are the same as the Circuit Clerk: 105 Highway 270 East, Mount Ida, AR 71957, (870) 867-3521.
Marriage licenses cost $60.00. Both people must come in together with valid ID and Social Security cards. There is no waiting period if both parties are 18 or older. The license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued.
Probate records are public in most cases. The Clerk keeps wills, estate administrations, guardianships, and related filings. Adoption records are sealed and require a court order to access. Filing fees for probate cases run about $165.00. These records go back many decades and are useful for estate research or family history work.
Voter registration is also handled here. Arkansas law requires registration at least 30 days before an election. You can register online through the Arkansas Secretary of State website or in person at this office.
Property Records and Assessor Data
The Montgomery County Assessor locates and values all real and personal property in the county. Christie Lee serves as Assessor. The office is at 105 Highway 270 East, Mount Ida, AR 71957, phone (870) 867-3521.
Arkansas law requires property to be assessed at 20% of its market value. Real property assessment runs from January 1 through July 1 each year. Personal property must be assessed between January 1 and May 31. Missing the deadline brings a 10% late penalty.
Property records for Montgomery County can be searched online through ARCountyData.com. You can look up parcels by owner name, property address, or parcel number. The site shows assessed values, ownership history, and tax status. This is a free public tool.
Homestead exemptions are available for primary residences. The credit reduces your property tax bill by $350. Apply at the Assessor's office before the assessment deadline. Veterans with disabilities may also qualify for additional exemptions.
Note: If you think your property assessment is wrong, you can appeal to the Montgomery County Equalization Board during the review period each fall.
Sheriff Records and Jail Roster
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement, civil process, and the county jail. Sheriff David White leads the office. The main non-emergency number is (870) 867-3151. The office is at 105 Highway 270 East, Mount Ida.
Incident reports and arrest records can be requested directly from the Sheriff's Office. Fees may apply depending on the type and volume of records. For urgent law enforcement matters, call 911. For non-emergency questions about jail status or civil process, call the main office number.
Arkansas maintains a statewide sex offender registry through the Arkansas Crime Information Center. You can search by name or address to find registered offenders in Montgomery County and nearby areas.
State criminal history records are held by the Arkansas State Police. These records cover arrests and dispositions from across the state and can be requested for a fee.
FOIA Requests in Montgomery County
Arkansas public records law is found at Ark. Code Ann. 25-19-105. Government agencies must respond to written records requests within three business days. This covers most records held by county offices, including reports, budgets, contracts, and meeting minutes.
To request records from Montgomery County, submit a written request to the office that holds the records. You can deliver it in person, by mail, or by email if the office accepts email. Be specific about what you want. The office can charge fees for copying and staff time beyond a reasonable amount of search time.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Juvenile court records, adoption files, sealed cases, personnel files in some cases, and certain law enforcement records can be withheld. If your request is denied, the agency must give you a written reason. You can challenge a denial in circuit court.
Online Tools for Montgomery County Records
Several free online tools help you search Montgomery County public records without visiting the courthouse.
- CourtConnect - Free court case search for Arkansas circuit courts
- ARCountyData.com - Property assessment and parcel search
- Arkansas Secretary of State - Voter registration lookup
- Arkansas Sex Offender Registry - Name and address search
- Arkansas State Police - Criminal history requests
The state courts website also has a directory of all circuit clerk offices. If you need to contact a specific division, the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts can point you to the right office.
Note: Online tools show current and recent data, but for certified copies or records older than a few years, you will need to contact the clerk's office directly.
State-Level Public Records Resources
Some Montgomery County records connect to state-level databases. The Arkansas.gov portal links to many agencies that maintain public records. These include professional license lookups, corporate filings, and unclaimed property searches.
The Arkansas Secretary of State handles business entity filings. If you need records on a business operating in Montgomery County, search the Arkansas business search tool. It shows registered agents, filing history, and entity status at no cost.
Vital records such as birth and death certificates are not held by the county. They are kept by the Arkansas Department of Health. You must request them from that office in Little Rock. Divorce and marriage records from older periods may be available through both the county clerk and the state health department, depending on the year.
The state's FOIA portal at Arkansas Attorney General has guides on how to file requests and what your rights are as a requester. This is a good starting point if you are new to public records requests in Arkansas.
Nearby Arkansas Counties
Montgomery County borders several other Arkansas counties. If the records you need involve property or courts in a neighboring area, these pages may help.