Find Death Records in Clark County

Clark County death records are part of the Arkansas Death Index, tracked by the Arkansas Department of Health since February 1, 1914. If you are searching for a death record tied to Arkadelphia or anywhere in Clark County, this page covers the Clark County Clerk's office, the Circuit Clerk, the local health department, and the state vital records office in Little Rock. Use the search tool below to get started, or read through the sections to find the source that fits your research.

Clark County Clerk Records

The Clark County Clerk's office can be reached at (870) 246-4491. The clerk handles several types of local records that are relevant to death research. The office files assumed name certificates, records minister credentials, and handles candidate reports. Minister credentials must be recorded with the county clerk before a minister can legally perform a marriage in Arkansas, which makes the clerk's office a useful source when you are tracing family relationships tied to a death. The Clark County Clerk's office information is also available online at clarkcountyar.gov.

Death certificates themselves are not held by the county clerk. They are kept in Little Rock at the Bureau of Vital Records, which operates under the Arkansas Department of Health. If you are trying to get a certified copy of a death certificate for a Clark County death, the county clerk's office can point you in the right direction, but the actual certificate comes from the state. You can also visit the local Clark County Health Department for application assistance. The state's vital records page is at healthy.arkansas.gov.

For FamilySearch users, Clark County genealogy resources are available through their Arkansas research portal. That includes links to county-level records, census data, and indexes that can supplement the death records search. FamilySearch's Arkansas Vital Records wiki is a practical starting point for researchers working on Clark County families.

Clark County Circuit Clerk

The Clark County Circuit Clerk is Brian Daniel. The office is at 401 Clay Street, Second Floor, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The circuit clerk serves as the clerk of the circuit and juvenile court and is also the ex-officio county recorder. That means the circuit clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents alongside court proceedings. The office's full information is available at clarkcountyar.gov/circuit-clerk/.

The circuit clerk maintains all pending cases and past dispositions from Clark County courts. That includes divorce records, which can come up in death research when you need to confirm marital status at the time of death or trace family relationships. The office prepares summons, warrants, orders, and judgments. If an estate went through probate in Clark County, those records are also accessible through the state's CourtConnect system, which provides an online index of circuit and probate court cases statewide.

There are a few things the Circuit Clerk does not do. Juvenile records are confidential and not available through this office. The clerk does not provide legal forms for divorces, name changes, deeds, or mortgages. For legal forms, the Arkansas Legal Services website has resources available. Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk's office, not the Circuit Clerk. Non-judicial foreclosures are posted separately on the first floor of the courthouse. Knowing what each office handles saves time when you are trying to track down records in Clark County.

Note: If you are researching a death tied to a court case, such as an estate dispute or wrongful death judgment, the Circuit Clerk's records are the right place to look beyond the death certificate itself.

Clark County Death Certificates: State Office

All official death certificates for Clark County are held by the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2174 or toll-free (800) 637-9314. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in requests must be submitted by 3:00 PM for same-day processing.

The first certified copy of a death certificate costs $10.00. Additional copies of the same record ordered together are $8.00 each. If the record cannot be found, the $10.00 search fee still applies and is not refunded. Online ordering is available through VitalChek, the state-authorized service for Arkansas vital records. VitalChek adds a $5.00 processing fee plus a $1.85 identity verification charge. For those who prefer mail, send a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Mail requests typically take one to two weeks once received at the state office.

The Arkansas State Registrar holds authority under § 20-18-203 to maintain and cross-check vital records across all counties, including Clark County, ensuring the accuracy of the death index.

Who Can Access Clark County Death Records

Arkansas law restricts death records that are less than 50 years old. Under Arkansas Statute 20-18-305, only authorized parties can get copies of restricted records. Authorized parties include immediate family members such as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Legal representatives acting on behalf of an estate also qualify. Those with a documented tangible legal interest may apply, though approval is not automatic. Photo ID is required for every request regardless of relationship.

Records 50 years old or older are public. Any member of the public can request them, but non-relatives must use mail. Online and phone ordering is not open to non-relatives for public death records. This is a specific rule under Arkansas vital records law. If you are a researcher without a family connection, plan on submitting by mail and expect standard processing time. Family members have all ordering options available to them for records they are authorized to receive.

Historical Clark County Death Index Sources

Clark County was established in 1818, which means its history runs well before the 1914 start of the state death index. For deaths prior to February 1914, the official record does not exist. Researchers rely on substitute sources from that period. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds the statewide death index for 1914 through 1949. That index is alphabetical and provides names, dates, and county locations. It gives you the information to request an actual certificate from the Department of Health.

The Arkansas Digital Archives has a free searchable death records index covering 1935 through 1961. You can search by name, date, county, or certificate number. That database is especially useful for mid-20th century Clark County deaths and is free to use. Results include the certificate number, which you take to the Department of Health to order the full document. The Digital Archives project was a joint effort by the Arkansas State Archives and the Department of Health.

The In Remembrance Database at the Arkansas State Archives covers 1819 through 1920. It pulls from church records, cemetery transcriptions, and newspaper obituaries from across the state. For Clark County deaths in the 19th century, this is the primary tool for finding records that predate state registration. The Arkansas Genealogical Society also maintains county-level research guides, and their publications often include data specific to counties in southwest Arkansas including Clark.

Note: Cemetery transcriptions from the Arkadelphia area and surrounding Clark County communities can help fill gaps for deaths in the period before statewide registration was enforced.

Arkansas Death Record Laws in Clark County

Death registration in Clark County follows the same Arkansas law that applies statewide. Under Arkansas Code § 20-18-601, a death certificate must be filed within 10 days of death. The attending physician has 3 business days to complete the medical certification. Electronic filing is now standard. Other county records, such as coroner reports, may be available under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act at § 25-19-101 even when the death certificate itself is restricted. FOIA requests must be in writing, and the county must respond within three business days.

VitalChek is the state-authorized online service for ordering Arkansas death certificates, including records from Clark County. Orders are processed by the Department of Health and mailed directly to you.

Nearby Arkansas Counties

Clark County borders several counties in southwest Arkansas. Each has its own local offices and death record resources you can check if you are not certain where a death occurred.