Conway County Death Index
Conway County death records are centralized at the Arkansas Department of Health in Little Rock rather than at the courthouse in Morrilton. If you need to search the Death Index or request a certified copy of a death certificate for someone who died in Conway County, this page covers the state vital records process, local county clerk resources, historical databases, and genealogy collections that reach back to 1914 and earlier. The Conway County Clerk in Morrilton holds marriage records going back to 1858 and probate filings that can serve as secondary sources when death certificates are restricted or unavailable.
Conway County Death Index Overview
Death Certificate Requests for Conway County
Certified copies of death certificates for Conway County residents are available from the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. The main phone number is (501) 661-2174, and the toll-free line is (800) 637-9314. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Same-day service requires arriving by 3:00 PM. No certificate copies are issued locally in Morrilton. Every request, whether in person, by mail, or online, routes through the Little Rock office.
The fee structure is $10.00 for the first certified copy and $8.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. A non-refundable $10.00 search fee applies even when a record is not found. Photo ID is required for all requests. Death records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members and legal representatives under Arkansas Code § 20-18-305. Records 50 years old and older are open to the public without requiring a family relationship.
Online requests go through VitalChek, the state-authorized ordering platform. VitalChek adds $5.00 for processing and $1.85 for identity verification. For mail requests, send a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to "Arkansas Department of Health" to the Little Rock address.
Note: Online ordering through VitalChek is typically the fastest method and lets you track the status of your Conway County death certificate request without a follow-up phone call.
Conway County Clerk Records in Morrilton
The Conway County Courthouse is located at 117 South Moose Street, Morrilton, AR 72110. Phone: (501) 354-9621. The County Clerk handles marriage records, probate records, county court filings, and administrative documents. Marriage records in Conway County go back to 1858, which is one of the deeper runs of county-level marriage data in Arkansas. That long archive makes the Clerk's office a strong starting point when you need to identify a spouse or confirm a family connection as part of death research.
Probate records in Morrilton date back to 1837, making them one of the richest secondary sources for pre-registration death research in the region. When someone died in Conway County and left property or debts, a probate case was typically opened. Those files contain dates of death, surviving heirs, property inventories, and sometimes letters testamentary or administration that confirm basic facts about the death. Probate Court Records from 1826 to 1937 have been indexed and are partially available through genealogical databases.
Court records go back to 1842, and land records reach to 1825. That depth of historical documentation sets Conway County apart from many smaller Arkansas counties and makes the Morrilton courthouse a worthwhile stop for serious genealogical research.
The Arkansas Genealogical Society offers guides, indexes, and county-specific research assistance that can help you navigate Conway County death records and related historical collections.
Historical Conway County Death Records
The Arkansas Digital Heritage Death Records Index covers 1935 to 1961 and is searchable online at no cost. It returns certificate numbers for Conway County deaths in that period, which you can then use to order the full document from the Department of Health. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds the statewide Death Index for 1914 through 1949 and the In Remembrance Database covering deaths from 1819 to 1920. Both can be accessed in person in Little Rock or through written inquiry.
Ancestry.com holds Arkansas Death Certificates from 1914 to 1969 as a searchable collection. MyHeritage holds the Arkansas Deaths and Death Index for 1935 to 1961. FamilySearch provides free access to indexed vital records and includes a county-specific wiki for Conway County that lists known record collections, their date ranges, and where to find them online or in person. The FamilySearch Conway County genealogy page documents marriage records from 1858, probate records, and notes on specific collections available at the Family History Library.
The Conway County Marriage Books C through W have been indexed for the period 1851 to 1923. Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783 to 1998 is a broader collection that includes Conway County estate filings. Local cemeteries, church records, and old newspapers from Morrilton can fill in deaths that predate registration or were not captured in the formal index due to early compliance issues.
Conway County Death Registration and Access Law
Arkansas required death registration beginning February 1, 1914. Early compliance in rural counties was inconsistent, and deaths from the first decade of registration may be absent from the index even when they occurred during the registration period. Under Arkansas Code § 20-18-601, deaths must be registered within 10 days. The attending physician must complete the medical certification within three business days. Today, records are filed electronically, but older Conway County records exist only in paper form or on microfilm at the state archives.
The State Registrar's authority over all Arkansas vital records is established by § 20-18-203. The 50-year public access rule comes from § 20-18-305, which means Conway County deaths before the mid-1970s are now accessible to anyone. Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act § 25-19-101, public records must be provided within three business days of a written request.
The State Registrar's authority under § 20-18-203 governs how all Conway County death records are registered, maintained, and made available to requesters statewide.
Conway County Circuit Clerk and Court Records
The Conway County Circuit Clerk maintains civil and criminal court records, land documents, and divorce filings. Land records go back to 1825, giving Conway County one of the longer runs of property documentation in Arkansas. Property transfers after a death are documented in deed records held by the Circuit Clerk, and those documents can confirm who inherited land from a deceased Conway County resident. For certified copies of divorce decrees, contact the Circuit Clerk in Morrilton with a valid photo ID.
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal provides online access to court case indexes statewide. Searching by the name of a deceased person can surface probate cases, estate disputes, or related civil filings in Conway County. Not all case documents are available through the portal, but the index entries confirm a filing exists and identify the case number before you request copies from the clerk.
Cities in Conway County
No cities in Conway County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Morrilton is the largest community and county seat. Plumerville and Oppelo are smaller towns in the county. For death records tied to those communities, use the county resources listed on this page.
Nearby Counties
Deaths near the Conway County border may have been recorded in a neighboring county. Check these nearby county pages for local Death Index access and court contact information.