Hempstead County People Search

A Hempstead County people search points to Hope, the county seat best known as the birthplace of former President Bill Clinton. The county was created in 1818, before Arkansas was even a state, and named for Edward Hempstead, a delegate to Congress from the old Missouri Territory. That long history means the deed books and probate files in Hempstead County go back further than most. The County Clerk and Circuit Clerk handle the local records, and the state CourtConnect tool covers every modern case.

Hempstead County Clerk Office

The Hempstead County Clerk is at 400 S. Washington Street in Hope. The phone is (870) 777-2381. The clerk holds marriage licenses, probate filings, voter rolls, county court orders, and assumed names. Marriage licenses cost $60 in cash and are good for 60 days from the date of issue. Both parties must show up in person with a current photo ID.

Probate cases include estates, small estates, guardianships, and adoption petitions. Adoption files are sealed under state law. Estate, will, and guardianship files are open under Arkansas Code Annotated § 25-19-105. Anyone can ask the clerk for a copy of an inventory, a will, or a final order. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. A certified copy is $5 plus the page fee.

The clerk also serves as the official voter registrar for Hempstead County. The voter list is public. To check your own status, use the state Voter View tool. To buy the full list for campaign or research use, contact the clerk for the per name fee.

Circuit Court Records and Land Files

The Hempstead County Circuit Clerk is at the courthouse in Hope. The phone is (870) 777-6161. The clerk holds civil, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile (sealed), and probate files for the Eighth Judicial Circuit South Division. The clerk acts as the ex officio County Recorder, so deeds, mortgages, leases, and liens are filed at the same office. Hempstead has some of the oldest land records in the state, dating to the territorial era.

Search court files online at CourtConnect. The site lists case style, parties, attorneys, hearings, and the docket of every step. Use the percent sign (%) as a wildcard for partial names. The Administrative Office of the Courts runs the portal at no charge.

For paper copies, ask the clerk by name or case number. Copies cost $0.50 per page. A certified copy is $5 plus the page fee. The clerk also files UCC-1 financing statements. UCC searches are useful for due diligence on a small business owner.

Sheriff and Jail Records

The Hempstead County Sheriff's Office is at 312 S. Washington Street in Hope. The phone is (870) 777-6727. The sheriff books arrests for the rural parts of the county and the towns of Hope, Fulton, Blevins, McNab, Oakhaven, Ozan, Patmos, Perrytown, McCaskill, Spring Hill, and Washington. Arrest records, current jail bookings, incident reports, and active warrants are open under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

The sheriff posts a jail roster with booking date, charge, bond, and current housing. For a full arrest or incident report, send a written FOIA request to the records officer with the subject's name and a date window. Standard per page copy fees apply.

For state inmates already moved to prison, use the Arkansas Department of Correction inmate locator. The state list shows ADC number, current facility, parole eligibility, and the offense. Sign up for release notice through VINElink.

The DOC inmate locator above shows where any Hempstead County resident now in state prison is held. Open it at apps.ark.org/inmate_info.

Property and Tax Records

The Hempstead County Assessor values each parcel and each business in the county. Real property is set at 20% of fair market value. Personal property such as a car, a boat, or business equipment must be listed by May 31 each year. After that date, a 10% late penalty applies under Arkansas Code 26-26-201. The assessor also handles the $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit and the freeze for owners 65 and older or disabled.

Many Hempstead County parcels are searchable on ARCountyData. The result lists owner name, parcel ID, mailing address, deed reference, and assessed value. Tax payment is through the County Collector. Bills run from March 1 through October 15 each year. Late tax goes to the Commissioner of State Lands for sale after two years.

Vital Records and Background Checks

The County Clerk holds marriage licenses for couples who applied here. For state birth and death certificates, contact the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records Office at 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. The phone is (501) 661-2336. A birth record is $12 for the first copy. A death record is $10. Order online via VitalChek. Birth records are not public and are limited to the named person, a parent, a guardian, or a legal rep.

For a state criminal background check, use the Arkansas State Police online tool at cbc.ark.org. Name based checks cost $22. Volunteer rate is $11. National FBI fingerprint checks cost $13. The subject must sign a release. Mail in requests cost $25 and take 7 to 10 business days.

The Arkansas State Police background check site above is the official source of state level criminal history. Open it at cbc.ark.org.

Sex Offender and Voter Lookup

Search the public sex offender registry at acic.org by name, address, city, or zip. The result shows photo, address, employer, vehicle, offense, and risk level. Levels run 1 (low) to 4 (sexually violent predator). Hempstead County deputies verify each registered address per the schedule for that level.

Voter lookups are at voterview.ar-nova.org. Use a name and date of birth to confirm registration, polling place, and current districts. The Secretary of State's office runs the state voter info page at sos.arkansas.gov/elections.

Cities in Hempstead County

Hope is the seat with about 8,800 residents. The city is famous as the boyhood home of Bill Clinton, but it does not meet the population threshold for a stand alone city page on this site. Other towns include Fulton, Blevins, McNab, McCaskill, Oakhaven, Ozan, Patmos, Perrytown, Spring Hill, and the historic village of Washington (now part of the Historic Washington State Park). For arrest data in any of these towns, contact the local police or the County Sheriff.

Nearby Counties

If your subject crossed a county line, try a neighbor. Hempstead County borders Howard County to the north, Pike County to the northeast, Nevada County to the east, Lafayette County to the southeast, Little River County to the southwest, and Sevier County to the west. CourtConnect covers all of them.