Where to Look in Arkansas
The six most productive places to start a people search in Arkansas. Each links directly to the official record source.
Official Arkansas Sources
State-level databases and agency record portals.
Arkansas Courts
Dockets, civil & criminal case filings, judgments.
Property & Tax Records
Deeds, assessor data, owner history, liens.
Inmates & Offenders
State prison rosters, sex offender registries, jails.
Vital Records
Birth, death, marriage, divorce — certified records.
Arkansas FAQ
Laws, fees, turnaround, and common questions.
1About Arkansas Public Records
Arkansas's open-records framework is the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. The FOIA is considered one of the stronger state sunshine laws in the country. It presumes that all records in the possession of public officials are open to any citizen of the state, and generally requires a response within three business days.
Major exemptions include juvenile court records, sealed or expunged criminal records, medical records, personnel records of certain nature, undercover investigative files, and certain taxpayer information. A 2023 amendment narrowed public access to some state-agency records and attorney-client privileged material, but Arkansas's framework remains robust for most people-search purposes.
2Best Starting Points in Arkansas
Statewide free public-access case search for Circuit and District courts across all 75 counties.
Search current state prison population by name or ADC number.
Free search for corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and registered agents.
Arkansas Crime Information Center registry of sex and child offenders.
3Official State Sources
Portal for CourtConnect, court rules, judicial directories, and appellate opinions.
Business filings, UCC, notary records, election services, and state archives.
Oversees state tax records, motor vehicle records, and county assessor coordination.
State AG office, consumer protection, and FOIA guidance for public-records disputes.
4Court Records
Arkansas's trial courts are divided into Circuit Courts (general jurisdiction — felony, civil over $5,000, probate, domestic relations, juvenile) and District Courts (misdemeanors, small claims, traffic). The appellate tier is the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. CourtConnect provides free public access to both Circuit and District court dockets statewide.
Statewide docket search for Circuit and District courts across all 75 counties.
Free searchable database of appellate opinions.
Federal court case search for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas.
5Property & Tax Records
Property records in Arkansas are filed with the Circuit Clerk (who also serves as Recorder) in each county. Property tax assessments are handled separately by the County Assessor, and tax collection by the County Collector. Many counties also use third-party platforms like ARCountyData.com or individual aggregator sites for assessor data.
Aggregated access to property records and assessor data from many Arkansas counties.
Land records and civil court filings for Little Rock and Pulaski County.
Records for Bentonville, Rogers, and the Walmart-area boomtown corridor.
Fayetteville and University of Arkansas area records.
Fort Smith area records; note this county has two county seats (Fort Smith and Greenwood).
Circuit Clerks for Conway, Benton/Bryant, and Jonesboro metro areas.
6Business & Licensing Records
Corporation, LLC, trademark, and UCC search portal.
Statewide Uniform Commercial Code lien search.
Portal linking to boards for medicine, nursing, law, real estate, cosmetology, and more.
Physician license verification and disciplinary actions.
Searchable directory of licensed Arkansas attorneys.
License verification for real estate agents, brokers, and firms.
7Corrections & Inmate Records
Search current Arkansas state prisoners by name or ADC number.
Probation, parole, and community supervision information.
Parole hearing schedules and decisions.
Sex and child offender registry maintained by the Arkansas Crime Information Center.
County jail inmate information for the Little Rock metro.
8Vital Records
Arkansas vital records are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records. Birth certificates are restricted to eligible requesters for 100 years; death records are restricted for 50 years. Marriage records are filed with the Circuit Clerk of the county where the license was issued and also centrally reported to the state.
Certified birth, death, marriage, and divorce records.
9Voter Registration
Self-service lookup for individual voter status and polling place.
10Archives, Genealogy & Obituary Resources
Historical state records, military records, and genealogical collections.
Access to historic newspaper archives, Arkansas Traveler index, and genealogy databases.
Digitized historic Arkansas newspapers from the Library of Congress.
11County & City Resources
Arkansas's 75 counties vary widely in digital access. Top population centers with robust online systems include Pulaski (Little Rock), Benton (Bentonville/Rogers), Washington (Fayetteville), Sebastian (Fort Smith), Faulkner (Conway), Saline (Benton/Bryant), Craighead (Jonesboro), Garland (Hot Springs), Lonoke, and White. Several counties have two county seats (Sebastian has Fort Smith and Greenwood; Arkansas County has DeWitt and Stuttgart) — always confirm the correct courthouse. For a complete directory, see our Arkansas County Public Records index.
12People Search Tips for Arkansas
- Start with CourtConnect — it's free, statewide, and covers both Circuit and District courts.
- Circuit Clerks are the workhorse office — a single Circuit Clerk visit often yields civil, criminal, probate, marriage, and property records.
- Check dual county seats — a handful of Arkansas counties have two county seats, and records may be split between them.
- Assessor and Clerk are separate — for full property research, consult both the Circuit Clerk (deed) and the County Assessor (valuation).
- Use ARCountyData.com for regional sweeps — it aggregates property data from many (but not all) counties.
13Privacy & Legal Framework
Arkansas does not have a comprehensive consumer data privacy law like California's CCPA. Arkansas does offer an Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) through the Attorney General's office for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
FCRA Reminder: Records accessed through these portals cannot be used for employment screening, tenant evaluation, or credit decisions unless run through a compliant Consumer Reporting Agency.
More Arkansas Record Tools
Combine a people search with Arkansas-specific record searches for a complete profile. These companion directories are already live on PublicRecordCenter.com:
Search People in Other States
Every state's public records system works differently. Click any state for its dedicated people-search directory.
Frequently Asked Questions — Arkansas
Are Arkansas court records free to search online?
Yes. Arkansas CourtConnect, operated by the Administrative Office of the Courts, provides free statewide public access to Circuit Court and District Court case information across all 75 counties. Document images may require a small per-page fee.
How do I find property records in Arkansas?
Arkansas property deeds and mortgages are recorded by the Circuit Clerk in each of the 75 counties. Property valuations and tax rolls are maintained by the County Assessor. The Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration provides links to county assessor portals.
Is the Arkansas inmate lookup online?
Yes, the Arkansas Division of Correction offers a free online Inmate Population Search for individuals incarcerated in state prisons and community correction facilities.
Does Arkansas have a sex offender registry?
Yes, the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) maintains a statewide searchable Sex Offender Registry available to the public.
How do I get an Arkansas birth certificate?
Arkansas birth certificates are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records. Records are restricted to the individual, immediate family, and legal representatives for 100 years after birth.
What does the Arkansas Circuit Clerk handle?
Unlike most states, Arkansas Circuit Clerks handle an unusually broad portfolio — civil cases, criminal cases, probate, land records (deeds and mortgages), and marriage licenses are all filed with the Circuit Clerk, making them the primary office for nearly all county-level records.
How do I search for a business in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Secretary of State Business & Commercial Services portal offers free searches for corporations, LLCs, trademarks, and UCC filings.
Are Arkansas voter registrations public?
Arkansas voter registration lists are public records. Individuals can verify their own status through the Secretary of State's Voter View portal. Bulk voter file access requires a formal request and is restricted to certain uses.