What are Arkansas Property Records?
Arkansas property records are official records containing data pertaining to property or land within state limits. They are a collection of documents that prove ownership of land, buildings, or real estate.
Property records are registered, maintained, and kept by the county clerk, who makes records available to those seeking property record information. Property records in Arkansas include; property deeds, property survey records, tax records for property, and mortgage records. Arkansas property records are usually updated with every sale or transfer of property (partial or complete), either as an inheritance or a gift. This is because it serves as a reference document in case of a property dispute which could involve:
- Lines of a boundary.
- Matters related to sharing property, inheritance, or will.
- Mortgages or foreclosure.
The information included in a property record is as follows; the name of the owner, cost of the property, the current value of a property, historical value (if any), annual tax, and date it was last sold.
Are Arkansas Property Records Public?
Yes, Arkansas property records are public information according to Arkansas Sunshine Law. Hence, these records may be made available to interested members of the public on request. Property records can be obtained from either a state-maintained database or a third-party site. The requesting party would need to know the exact location of the property and the name of the property owner. Inquirers seeking property records without adequate knowledge of its exact location may check third-party aggregate sites for the information of interest, as they offer unlimited area coverage.
Property records are available for public viewing through government agencies or third-party aggregate websites. Accessing property records through third-party sites is typically straightforward, and the records are not geographically limited. However, because the sites are not government-affiliated and run independently, the information contained in the records may vary. Searching parties should include the following information to obtain complete property records:
- The property’s exact location.
- The property owner’s details.
What Information is Included in Arkansas Property Records?
Some of the information included in Arkansas property records include the following:
- Contract of sale: An Arkansas contract of sale is a legal document showing a contractual agreement or obligation between a seller (the owner of the property) and a buyer. It is the grounds upon which a property is transferred from one person to another.
- Agreements: A property agreement in Arkansas is a legally binding document between the parties involved in a property transaction (owner and buyer, landlord and tenant, etc)
- Deeds: A deed is an official document showing ownership or the transfer of ownership of a property. There are different types of deeds, some of which includes; beneficiary deeds, executors deeds, and warranty deeds.
- Surveys: An Arkansas property survey is a property record that shows the boundary line of a piece of property from one end to another.
Other information includes; Notices, cancellations, notary bonds, easements, etc.
Where to Search Arkansas Public Property Records
Members of the public who desire to search Arkansas public property records can visit the Arkansas Land Records website, to begin with. In addition to property records, the site can also be used t O find property tax records, and property ownership records. Alternatively, members of the public can check the county courthouse or query the County Clerk to find a particular record. Requestors may also check with the local accessors office or private/third-party aggregate sites for Arkansas public property records.
Members of the public researching or carrying out a public property record search can also look up U.S. land records from the national archives. The U.S. land records office, as well as Bureau of Land Management, has records of real property held within the United States
How to Do a Property Records Search in Arkansas.
Individuals seeking to conduct a property record search in Arkansas can visit the office of the County Clerk or local accessors to carry out a search. The requester would need to know the name of the property owner and location of the property to obtain the desired information. Requesters can also check the database maintained by Arkansas state at the county level for public records for property ownership.
For example; requestors seeking property records in Benton Arkansas can check records online via Public Records - Circuit Clerk or visit the Office of the circuit clerk in person during official working hours.
Benton County
215 East Central,
Room 202
Bentonville, AR 72712.
Pulaski County
Address:
401 W Markham Street # 100,
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 340-8500
Madison County
Address: 201 West Main Street,
Huntsville, AR 72740
Phone: (479) 738-2215
Lonoke County
Address:
301 North Center Street #202,
Lonoke, AR 72086,
Phone: (501) 676-2368
Sebastian County
40 South 4th Street,
Fort Smith, AR 72901,
Phone: (479) 784-1581
Requestors can also conduct an Arkansas property records search on third-party sites offering this service.
Please note that information provided may vary from site to site as services are not provided by the state or county government agency responsible for recording, filing, and maintaining records.
Individuals interested in getting a certified copy of a property record would be required to pay a fee of $5. To get the entire file is $5 plus $0.05 per additional page.
How to Find the Owner of an Arkansas Property Using Public Records.
Information regarding the owner of an Arkansas property is typically indicated in the property’s record. This information typically includes the owners full name, contact address and phone number. Members of the public (both state residents and researchers alike) can request this data per the Arkansas Sunshine Law. Persons seeking to purchase property are advised to carry out adequate research regarding the property and its owner. Requesters can access this information from the local County recorder’s office or the County accessor. Another way to carry out a search is to check property tax records. Third party sites also maintain public record information and can be used to verify the owner of an Arkansas property.
What are Arkansas Property Records Used For?
Arkansas property records contain detailed information regarding properties in Arkansas, whether land or buildings either for residential or commercial purposes. The details contained in Arkansas property records help owners and potential buyers make informed decisions regarding a property. Members of the public may request property records for diverse reasons including:
- Resolving issues relating to ownership of a property
- Resolving issues related to boundary lines disputes or encroachment, as records can be referred back to for markers
- Finding out details about a property, its history, records, taxation, and ownership for intending buyers.
- Property records can also be referred back to in resolving issues related to wills or inheritance.
- They can also be used for providing details for mortgages or insurance purposes.
- Arkansas property records can also be used to determine the current value of a property.
Individuals interested in a particular property should ensure to carry out proper and complete property record searches.
How to Find Arkansas Property Tax Records.
To find Arkansas property tax records, a requester can send a query to the office of the county accessor where the property is located. Property tax records contain information regarding the history of tax payments on a property, and any pending or due payments or liens. Inquirers can also find Arkansas property tax records and pay property tax on the state-maintained database online. For instance, members of the public seeking to find property tax records in Arkansas county can find Arkansas property tax records from the database owned by the county. Tax records also contain information and contact details of the former owners and current owners of a property. The tax record can also serve as a reference for the valuation of property.
In general, most county property records are available online from county databases or from third-party aggregate sites that also provide this service.
What to Do When You Can’t Find Property Records in Arkansas.
Sometimes records of a particular property may not be found by a requester, this may constitute delay or termination of property transactions. When a requester can't find a property record in Arkansas, they can file a lawsuit so that a court can mediate and help prove and determine ownership. This would then become a reference for any other future transaction hence preventing similar legal issues in the near future.
Interested members of the public who can not find property records in Arkansas can also obtain other useful subsidiary documents. Reviewing other available documents may prove helpful in establishing ownership of a particular property. Documents such as tax records can be reviewed. Those who cannot find the records of a property can as well hire a real estate lawyer who can, in turn, check court records, and peradventure finds a case file/document in regard to the property that would be helpful.
Where no document or record is found in all searches, the inquirer should contact a lawyer, an insurance company, and the local recorder's office to ensure that the property is properly recorded. It is important and legally necessary to ensure that all properties are duly recorded to avoid future problems and possible loss of property.
The fee to record property in Arkansas is $15 for the first page and $5 for any additional page(s). The fee to get a certified copy of a property record is $5. To get the entire file is $5 plus $0.05 per additional page.
To record a property, those who want to must ensure that:
- Proper and adequate research and findings have been duly carried out through an attorney or private investigation (personal or employed)
- Documents are arranged in the order they would be recorded. As documents would be recorded and filed as submitted.
- Filings are done accurately.
- Documents are clear and readable
