Conway Death Records Search
Death records for Conway, Arkansas are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health, the state agency that holds all certified death certificates for Arkansas. Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, and the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk handles probate and estate records at the local courthouse. Conway is located about 30 miles north of Little Rock on I-40, which means the state vital records office in Little Rock is closer here than in most Arkansas cities. Statewide death registration began in February 1914, so state records for Conway start from that point. For deaths before 1914, church records, cemetery transcriptions, and historical archives are the main options.
Conway Death Records Overview
Where to Get Conway Death Records
All certified death certificates for Conway go through the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records Section. There is no Conway or Faulkner County vital records office. The state handles all of it. The office address is 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2336. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. In-person visitors who arrive before 4:00 PM get same-day service. Conway residents are about 35 minutes from the office on I-40, making in-person visits more practical here than in most parts of the state.
Mail requests take four to six weeks. VitalChek online processes orders in three to five business days. The fee is $10.00 for the first certified copy and $8.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Mail payments must be by check or money order. Every request needs a completed form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment.
Probate and estate records for Conway deaths are filed with the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk at the Faulkner County Courthouse in Conway. As the county seat, Conway is where these records are created and stored. The clerk's office maintains wills, estate files, and other probate court records.
Note: Conway's proximity to Little Rock means an in-person visit to the Arkansas Department of Health is much more convenient here than for most Arkansas cities. The drive takes about 35 minutes on I-40.
Faulkner County Courthouse and Probate Records
Faulkner County Circuit Court is where probate matters for Conway are handled. Estate files, wills, letters testamentary, and related court records are all filed at the courthouse in Conway. These records can provide important detail about a person's death and final estate that does not appear on the death certificate, including the names of heirs and beneficiaries, the nature of the estate, and any debts or claims. Probate records are generally public once a case is closed.
The Arkansas State Archives holds older Faulkner County records that predate modern courthouse systems, including materials from the county's early settlement period in the 1800s.
The archives are especially useful for Faulkner County death-related records from the late 1800s and early 1900s that may not have survived at the county courthouse level.
You can search Faulkner County court cases through the Arkansas Courts case search tool at no charge. This covers probate and civil cases. For a full overview of Faulkner County records, see the Faulkner County death records page.
Historical Death Records in Conway
Statewide death registration in Arkansas started in February 1914. For Conway deaths before that date, state records do not exist. Researchers must use substitute sources. Church burial records are often the most complete option for pre-1914 deaths. Conway has long been home to several colleges, including the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College, and Central Baptist College, and those institutions have maintained historical records that sometimes include death information from their early years.
The Faulkner County Historical Society has compiled death and burial records for the county going back to the 1800s. Some of these records have been published in indexes available at the Conway Public Library.
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas has entries on Conway and Faulkner County that can point you to the right archives for older death research.
The encyclopedia is a free resource that identifies key archives and collections relevant to Conway death research.
The Arkansas State Archives holds Faulkner County newspaper records and other primary sources from the 19th century. The National Archives holds military pension and service records for Conway-area residents who served in the Civil War and later conflicts.
Cemetery Records for Conway
Conway has several historic cemeteries with records going back to the 1800s. Oakland Cemetery and Oakdale Cemetery are among the most significant in the city, with burials spanning from the mid-1800s to the present. Cemetery preservation projects have produced transcriptions and burial lists for many of these sites.
Find a Grave has extensive Conway and Faulkner County listings, with volunteer-submitted photographs and burial data. Free name searches can turn up death dates and burial locations. The Faulkner County Historical Society has published cemetery indexes for the area. The University of Central Arkansas library holds some unique local history materials including death-related records and burial registers that are not available elsewhere. The Conway Public Library local history room also has resources for Conway death and cemetery research spanning from the city's founding in the 1870s through the 20th century.
Obituaries and Death Notices for Conway
The Log Cabin Democrat is the primary newspaper for Conway and publishes obituaries in print and online. Legacy.com aggregates obituaries from regional papers including the Log Cabin Democrat, with free name searching. For older Conway obituaries, the Arkansas State Archives holds microfilm of the Log Cabin Democrat and earlier Faulkner County newspapers going back to the late 1800s. These records are searchable at the archives in Little Rock. The University of Central Arkansas library also holds some historical Conway newspaper records. Funeral homes in Conway post current obituaries on their websites and maintain records of past services. Given Conway's size, the city has multiple funeral homes that collectively cover a large share of deaths in the area.
Who Can Access Conway Death Records
Arkansas restricts access to certified death certificates for 50 years after the date of death. This restriction comes from Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 18. Records 50 or more years old are public and anyone can request a copy. For deaths within the last 50 years, you must be an eligible requester.
Eligible requesters include the spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal representatives handling an estate can also request records. A person with a documented direct and tangible legal interest may also qualify. Every request must include a valid government-issued photo ID. Conway residents who want to request in person benefit from the short drive to Little Rock. If you have questions about eligibility, call (501) 661-2336 before submitting.
Online Search Tools for Conway Deaths
VitalChek is the official online ordering platform for Arkansas death certificates including Conway records. Processing takes three to five business days. Arkansas Courts case search covers Faulkner County probate and civil cases and is free. The CDC guide to Arkansas vital records provides a summary of what records are available and how to access them. The National Vital Statistics System holds aggregate national death data but does not allow individual record searches.
Genealogy Resources for Conway
Conway has solid genealogical resources for death research. Three universities in the city hold historical collections, the Faulkner County Historical Society is active, and the public library has a strong local history room. These institutions together cover Conway death research from the 1870s through the present.
FamilySearch provides free access to Arkansas death certificate indexes, mortality schedules from the 1850 through 1880 federal censuses covering Faulkner County, and digitized church records from central Arkansas.
FamilySearch is a free resource and has one of the largest collections of Arkansas death records and genealogical materials available online.
The National Archives holds military records, pension files, and other federal documents with death information for Conway residents. The Arkansas Supreme Court at arcourts.gov maintains older appellate records that sometimes involve Faulkner County estate disputes. The University of Central Arkansas library also holds unique central Arkansas historical materials relevant to death research.
Nearby Cities and County Records
These nearby cities and counties also have death records resources for the region.