White County Public Records
White County public records are maintained by several county offices in Searcy, Arkansas. The circuit clerk, county clerk, assessor, and sheriff each hold separate sets of documents that include court cases, land records, property data, vital records, and arrest logs. Most offices sit at the main courthouse on N. Spruce Street, though felony court is held at a separate facility. This guide covers what each office keeps, how to reach them, what it costs to get copies, and how to search records online through free state tools.
White County Records Overview
White County Circuit Clerk Records
The White County Circuit Clerk is Tami King. The office is at 300 N. Spruce Street, Searcy, AR 72143. Phone: (501) 279-6203. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This office serves as clerk for all circuit court divisions, including civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile courts. It also functions as the ex-officio recorder of land documents for the county.
Court records held here cover civil case filings, criminal case histories, divorce and custody files, child support proceedings, eviction cases, and juvenile court records. The Circuit Clerk issues warrants and summons and keeps minutes from all court proceedings. Land records recorded in this office include deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, and plats. These land records are public and available by request.
One thing worth knowing about White County: felony criminal cases are NOT heard at the main courthouse. They are handled at the White County Law Enforcement Center at 1600 East Booth Street, Searcy, AR 72143. If you need to attend or research a felony case, that is the right location. All other circuit court business runs through 300 N. Spruce.
The office accepts cash, money order, cashier's check, and major credit cards. Credit card payments carry a 2.5% convenience fee. Traffic offense fines must be paid in full with no partial payments accepted. You can pay traffic fines online at www.tncrtinfo.com or in person at the clerk's office. For free statewide court case searches, use Arkansas CourtConnect.
The screenshot below shows the White County Circuit Clerk page through CountyService.net, a portal with links to court and property records for White County.
The CountyService.net portal includes links to White County's court case search, property assessment data, and other county services in one place.
Note: Under Arkansas Code 25-19-105, all government agencies in the state must respond to public records requests within three business days.
White County Clerk: Vital and Probate Records
The White County Clerk is Carla Ervin. Her office is also at 300 N. Spruce Street, Searcy, AR 72143. Phone: (501) 279-6204. Fax: (501) 279-6260. Email: clerk@whi.countyservice.net. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
This office issues marriage licenses and keeps records of all issued licenses going back decades. The fee for a marriage license is approximately $60.00. Payment can be made by cash or credit card. Both applicants must appear in person and bring valid government-issued photo ID. Applicants must be at least 18 years old without parental consent. Licenses are valid for 60 days from the date of issue and are valid throughout Arkansas.
The County Clerk also handles probate court records. These include decedent estate filings, guardianship proceedings, and conservatorship cases. Adoption records are sealed under Arkansas law. Certified copies of documents in this office cost $5.00 per copy. The clerk also keeps quorum court minutes, county ordinances, DBA (fictitious name) filings, and voter registration rolls. If you need election records or ballot history, this office is the right place to ask.
Mail requests to this office should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a money order or cashier's check for any fees. The staff can confirm what records are available and what the correct fee is before you send payment.
White County Property Records and Assessor
The White County Assessor is Gail Snyder. Her office is at 300 N. Spruce Street, Searcy, AR 72143. Phone: (501) 279-6205. Real estate department direct: (501) 279-6208. Fax: (501) 279-6258. Email: assessor@whi.countyservice.net. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
White County has roughly 51,276 parcels. The assessor values all real and personal property each year as of January 1. Properties are assessed at 20% of market value, which is the standard rate across Arkansas. The effective tax rate is approximately 0.48% based on assessed value. The assessor's office also handles Amendment 79 homestead credits, which can reduce property taxes by up to $600.00 per year on a primary residence. Property owners who are 65 or older, or who are 100% disabled, may qualify for a freeze on their assessed value.
Personal property must be assessed between January 1 and May 31 each year. Real estate assessments run from January 1 through July 1. Late filings carry a 10% penalty. You can search White County property records online at no cost through the county portal linked through CountyService.net. The free portal lets you look up properties by owner name, parcel number, or address. It shows assessed values, ownership details, legal descriptions, and tax history.
One thing to note about White County's digital records: the county experienced a cyber attack in 2022. Some records were affected and manual processes were put in place for a period. If you have trouble locating a record online, call the assessor's office directly to confirm availability.
White County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The White County Sheriff is Phillip E. Miller. The Sheriff's Office is at 1600 East Booth Street, Searcy, AR 72143 - the same location as the county's felony courthouse. Main phone: (501) 279-6286. Detention Center: (501) 278-8050.
The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports for all individuals taken into custody in White County. An online inmate roster is available showing current detainees along with their charges, booking dates, and bond information. The average daily jail population in White County is around 315 inmates.
The screenshot below is from the White County Sheriff's Office website, which includes the online inmate search and general department information.
The Sheriff's Office site lets you look up current jail detainees in White County at no cost without a formal records request.
Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, arrest records and incident reports are public and can be requested by anyone. Submit requests in person at the office or in writing by mail. Inmate phone calls are handled through Correct Solutions; customer care can be reached at (877) 618-3516 or through www.regentpay.com. Money deposits can be made at the lobby kiosk or online at www.tigerdeposit.com. Visitation scheduling is done through www.smartjailmail.com. Each inmate is allowed one free on-site visit per week.
For statewide criminal history background checks, the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) manages the state repository and handles requests through licensed providers. For state prison inmate searches, the Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate search is the right tool.
White County Tax Collector Records
Property taxes in White County are collected from March 1 through October 15 each year. The County Collector's office is located at 300 N. Spruce Street, Searcy, AR 72143. Tax records including payment histories and delinquent tax lists are public records in Arkansas.
These records are useful for confirming property ownership, checking whether taxes are current, and reviewing transaction history. Unpaid taxes can result in a tax lien being placed on the property and eventual sale at a tax sale. The same online portal at CountyService.net includes access to tax payment records for White County properties at no cost.
Searcy City Clerk Records
Searcy is the county seat of White County. The Searcy City Clerk is Jason Nier. His office is at 401 W. Arch Avenue, Searcy, AR 72143. Phone: (501) 268-2483. Fax: (501) 268-2104. Email: jason.nier@cityofsearcy.org. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The City Clerk keeps city financial information, municipal ordinances, resolutions, budget documents, and city council minutes. City council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM at City Hall. FOIA requests for city records can be submitted to this office. The Searcy city government structure includes seven council members and a mayor, all serving four-year terms.
For Searcy city-specific public records, go directly to the City Clerk. County-level records -- courts, property, vital records -- all run through White County offices at 300 N. Spruce or the Law Enforcement Center.
Note: Searcy city records and White County records are separate systems. A request to the county will not retrieve city records, and vice versa.
Online Tools for White County Records
Several free tools let you search White County public records from anywhere. Arkansas CourtConnect provides access to circuit court case information across the state. You can search by name or case number. Most active cases and many older filings show up in the system, though some older records have not been digitized.
Property records are searchable at no charge through the White County portal on CountyService.net. The Arkansas Crime Information Center provides statewide criminal history access for authorized requests. Business entity records and UCC filings are maintained by the Arkansas Secretary of State. For birth and death certificates, contact the Arkansas Department of Health, which holds those records statewide.
FOIA requests to any White County office must be submitted in writing. The county is required by law to respond within three business days. There is no single online FOIA portal for the county; in-person or mail requests are the standard method.
Cities in White County
The city of Searcy is the largest city in White County and the county seat. It qualifies for its own public records page.
Nearby County Records
White County borders several other Arkansas counties. Each has its own offices and records systems.