Garland County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Garland County?

Public records in Garland County are defined as information that has been filed or recorded by local, county, and state agencies, pursuant to Arkansas Freedom of Information Act § 25-19-103. These records, created and maintained by government entities, are generally accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law.

Garland County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

• Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases processed through the Garland County Circuit Court and Garland County District Court
• Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and property assessments
• Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
• Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations
• Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax sale data
• Voting and Election Records: Voter registration information and election results
• Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records from County Commission meetings and various boards
• Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, budgets, and financial reports
• Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and certain incident reports (with legally required redactions)
• Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning maps, and building permits

The Garland County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, while specialized records are maintained by specific departments:

Garland County Clerk's Office
501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 103
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 622-3600
Garland County Clerk

The Garland County Circuit Clerk maintains court records, while the Assessor's Office handles property assessment records, and the Treasurer's Office manages tax payment records.

Is Garland County an Open Records County?

Garland County fully complies with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) § 25-19-101, which establishes the public's right to access government records. Under this state law, all records maintained by government entities are presumed to be open to public inspection and copying unless specifically exempted by statute.

The Arkansas FOIA states: "It is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that the electors shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are reached in public activity."

Garland County adheres to these principles through its records management policies. The county maintains transparency in government operations by making non-exempt records available to the public upon request. County officials are required to respond to FOIA requests promptly, typically within three working days, as mandated by Arkansas Code § 25-19-105(e).

The county's compliance with open records laws extends to public meetings as well, with the Garland County Quorum Court and other public bodies providing notice of meetings and maintaining minutes as required by the Arkansas FOIA's open meetings provisions.

How to Find Public Records in Garland County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Garland County may utilize several methods to access information. The county has established procedures to facilitate public access to government records:

1. Submit a written request to the appropriate county department. While verbal requests are permitted under Arkansas law, written requests help ensure accuracy and create a record of the request.

2. Visit the specific office that maintains the desired records:

   • For property records, visit the Circuit Clerk's Office at the Garland County Courthouse
   • For tax records, contact the County Assessor or Treasurer
   • For court records, visit the Circuit Clerk or District Court Clerk

3. Access online resources for certain record types:

   • Property records can be searched through the Garland County Assessor's website
   • Court records are available through the Arkansas Judiciary's case information portal
   • County Commission meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the Garland County website

4. Submit a FOIA request for records not readily available. Requests should include:

   • Requestor's name and contact information
   • Clear description of records sought
   • Preferred format for receiving records
   • Statement indicating whether the request is for commercial purposes

The custodian of records must respond to requests within three working days. If records cannot be produced within this timeframe, the custodian must provide a timeline for fulfillment.

For court records specifically, the Garland County District Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor cases, and preliminary felony proceedings, while more serious matters are processed through the Circuit Court.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Garland County?

Garland County assesses fees for public records in accordance with Arkansas Code § 25-19-105(d)(3), which permits charging reasonable fees to recover direct costs of providing records. Current standard fees include:

• Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard black and white copies
• Certified Copies: $5.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page
• Marriage Licenses: $60.00 (includes one certified copy)
• Recording Fees: $15.00 for the first page, $5.00 for each additional page for deeds and other recorded documents
• Court Records: $10.00 for record searches plus copy fees
• Maps and Plats: $5.00 to $25.00 depending on size and complexity

The county accepts the following payment methods:

• Cash (in-person requests only)
• Personal checks (with proper identification)
• Money orders
• Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fee)

Pursuant to Arkansas FOIA provisions, fees may be waived if the request is determined to be in the public interest. Additionally, the law prohibits charging for the first hour of employee time spent fulfilling a request, though subsequent time may be billed at the employee's salary rate.

Special fees may apply for specialized records or services, such as extensive research or large-format documents. The county clerk or specific department can provide current fee information for particular record types.

Does Garland County Have Free Public Records?

Garland County provides free access to certain public records in compliance with Arkansas law. Members of the public may inspect records without charge during regular business hours at the appropriate county office. Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, citizens have the right to examine public records without cost, though fees may apply for copies or certified documents.

Free public records resources in Garland County include:

• In-person inspection of non-exempt records at county offices during regular business hours
• Online access to certain records through county websites:
  • Property assessment information through the Garland County Assessor's Office
  • County Commission meeting agendas and minutes on the Garland County website
  • Court docket information through the Arkansas Judiciary's online portal
• Public terminals at the County Clerk's Office and Circuit Clerk's Office for searching certain records
• Public notices published in local newspapers and posted at the county courthouse

The Garland County Library also provides public access computers where residents can access online county records at no charge. While inspection is free, standard copy fees apply if printed copies are requested.

Who Can Request Public Records in Garland County?

Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act § 25-19-105(a)(1), "any citizen of the State of Arkansas" may request public records. In practice, Garland County generally processes requests from any person regardless of residency, though Arkansas citizenship may be required for certain record types.

Key eligibility considerations include:

• Residency: While the law specifies Arkansas citizenship, many routine records are provided without residency verification
• Identification: Some records may require identification, particularly those containing sensitive information
• Purpose: Generally, requestors are not required to state their purpose for seeking records, though commercial use may affect fees
• Restrictions: Certain records have specific eligibility requirements:
  • Vital records (birth/death certificates) require proof of relationship or legal interest
  • Juvenile court records have strict confidentiality protections
  • Sealed court records require court authorization

When requesting records about oneself, identification is typically required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. When requesting records about others, access may be limited based on privacy protections and statutory exemptions.

Government agencies, law enforcement, and authorized researchers may have expanded access to certain records that are restricted from general public access.

What Records Are Confidential in Garland County?

Garland County maintains confidentiality for certain records as required by Arkansas Code § 25-19-105(b), which establishes specific exemptions from public disclosure. Records protected from general public access include:

• Sealed court records: Cases sealed by judicial order
• Juvenile records: Court proceedings, arrest records, and social service records involving minors
• Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records that could impede active investigations
• Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account information
• Medical records: Health information protected under HIPAA and state privacy laws
• Adoption records: Sealed by court order to protect privacy of all parties
• Child welfare/protective services records: Reports of child abuse or neglect
• Personnel records: Employee evaluations, disciplinary records (though certain personnel information remains public)
• Trade secrets/proprietary business information: Confidential commercial data submitted to government agencies
• Security plans and infrastructure details: Information that could compromise public safety
• Attorney-client communications: Legal advice provided to government entities
• Tax return information: Individual and business tax filings
• Certain home addresses: For judges, law enforcement officers, and other protected individuals

When records contain both exempt and non-exempt information, Garland County officials will redact confidential portions while releasing the remainder of the record, as required by Arkansas Code § 25-19-105(f).

The county applies a balancing test when considering disclosure of certain records, weighing the public's right to know against individual privacy interests, as established by Arkansas Supreme Court precedent.

Garland County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Garland County Circuit Clerk's Office
501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 104
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 622-3670
Garland County Circuit Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and federal holidays

The Circuit Clerk's Office serves as the recorder of deeds and maintains property records, marriage licenses, and court records for Garland County. The office provides document recording services, certified copies of records, and assistance with record searches.

Additional county offices that maintain public records include:

Garland County Assessor's Office
501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 105
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 622-3800
Garland County Assessor

Garland County Treasurer's Office
501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 107
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 622-3720
Garland County Treasurer

Garland County District Court
607 Ouachita Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 321-6765
Garland County District Court

Lookup Public Records in Garland County

Garland County District Court

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