Access Jonesboro Death Records

Death records for Jonesboro, Arkansas are available through the Arkansas Department of Health, the state agency that issues all certified death certificates in Arkansas. Jonesboro is the county seat of Craighead County, and the Craighead County Circuit Clerk handles probate and estate records at the local courthouse. Statewide death registration began in February 1914, so Jonesboro records in the state system date from that point. For deaths before 1914, you need to search church records, cemetery transcriptions, and historical archives. Jonesboro is the largest city in northeast Arkansas and the home of Arkansas State University, which has regional history collections that can assist in older death research.

Where to Get Jonesboro Death Records

All certified death certificates for Jonesboro go through the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records Section. There is no Jonesboro or Craighead County vital records office. Every death in Arkansas is reported to the state, and all requests for certified copies go to the state as well. The office is at 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. From Jonesboro, the drive to Little Rock is about two hours and fifteen minutes.

Most Jonesboro residents use remote options. 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. Both options need a completed form, a copy of your government-issued photo ID, and payment. Mail payment must be by check or money order made out to the Arkansas Department of Health.

For probate and estate records related to Jonesboro deaths, the Craighead County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Jonesboro is the right place to look. As the county seat, Jonesboro is where those records are filed and stored.

Craighead County Courthouse and Probate Records

Craighead County Circuit Court handles probate matters for Jonesboro and the rest of the county. Estate filings, wills, letters testamentary, and related court records are all held at the courthouse in Jonesboro. These records can provide information about a deceased person's family, property, and debts that does not appear on the death certificate. Probate files are generally public once the case is closed and can be accessed at the courthouse.

The Arkansas State Archives holds older Craighead County records that predate modern courthouse systems, including some materials from the county's early history that document deaths and estates from the 1800s.

The Encyclopedia of Arkansas entry for Jonesboro is a good starting point for understanding what records exist locally and where they are held.

You can search Craighead County court cases through the Arkansas Courts case search tool at no charge. This covers probate and civil cases and is searchable by the name of the deceased or the estate. For more about Craighead County records, see the Craighead County death records page.

Historical Death Records in Jonesboro

Statewide death registration began in Arkansas in February 1914. For Jonesboro deaths before that point, the state vital records system has nothing. Researchers must turn to substitute sources. Church burial records are usually the best starting point. Jonesboro had established Baptist, Methodist, and other congregations from the late 1800s onward, and some of those churches kept detailed death and burial registers that have survived.

County histories and local newspapers are also important for pre-1914 research. The Craighead County Historical Society has compiled records covering deaths and burials in the county going back to the 1800s. Arkansas State University's Special Collections in Jonesboro holds regional history materials that can be very useful for local death research.

The Encyclopedia of Arkansas covers Jonesboro's history and can direct you to key archives. The Arkansas State Archives holds Craighead County newspaper records and other primary sources that document deaths from the city's early years. The National Archives holds military pension and service records for Jonesboro residents who served in the Civil War and later conflicts.

Cemetery Records for Jonesboro

Jonesboro has several significant cemeteries with records that document deaths going back to the 1800s. Oaklawn Cemetery is one of the largest and has burials spanning from the city's early years to the present. It has been the subject of transcription efforts that have produced detailed burial lists. Other cemeteries in and around Jonesboro include Nettleton Cemetery and various rural church graveyards in Craighead County.

Find a Grave has extensive listings for Jonesboro and Craighead County cemeteries, with volunteer-submitted headstone photographs and burial data. Many entries include death dates, birth dates, and biographical notes that can help confirm a death or find family connections. The Craighead County Genealogical Society has published cemetery indexes for the area. Arkansas State University's Special Collections Library also holds some unique burial records and sexton books that have not been digitized. The Jonesboro Public Library has a local history room with resources covering deaths and burials in the region.

Obituaries and Death Notices for Jonesboro

The Jonesboro Sun is the primary newspaper for the city and publishes obituaries in print and online. Legacy.com aggregates obituaries from regional papers including the Jonesboro Sun and allows free name searches. For historical Jonesboro obituaries, the Arkansas State Archives holds microfilm copies of the Jonesboro Evening Sun and earlier Craighead County newspapers going back to the late 1800s. These are searchable at the archives in Little Rock and at the Arkansas State University Library. The university's newspaper archives are especially strong for Jonesboro research spanning the early and mid-20th century. Funeral homes in Jonesboro typically post current obituaries on their websites and maintain records of services they have conducted.

Who Can Access Jonesboro Death Records

Arkansas restricts certified death certificates for 50 years after the date of death under Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 18. Records that are 50 or more years old are public and anyone can get a copy. For deaths within the last 50 years, you must qualify as an eligible requester to get a certified copy.

Eligible requesters include the spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal representatives handling an estate may also request records. A person with a documented direct and tangible legal interest, such as an insurance or probate matter, may qualify as well. Every request must include a valid government-issued photo ID. The same eligibility rules apply for in-person, mail, and online requests. If you have questions, call (501) 661-2336 before submitting a request.

Online Search Tools for Jonesboro Deaths

VitalChek is the official online ordering platform for Arkansas death certificates including Jonesboro records. It is the fastest remote method and takes three to five business days. Arkansas Courts case search covers Craighead County probate and civil cases and is free to use. The CDC guide to Arkansas vital records gives a useful overview of what is available and how to request it. The National Vital Statistics System holds aggregate death data at a national level but does not offer searches for individual records.

Genealogy Resources for Jonesboro

Jonesboro has good genealogical resources for death research, including Arkansas State University's Special Collections, the Craighead County Genealogical Society, and a well-stocked public library. These institutions collectively cover death research from the city's founding in the late 1800s through the present.

FamilySearch holds free Arkansas death certificate indexes, mortality schedules from the 1850 to 1880 federal censuses covering Craighead County, and digitized church records from northeast Arkansas.

FamilySearch is free to use and includes some of the most comprehensive Arkansas death record collections available online, including indexes that link to images of original certificates.

The National Archives holds military records, pension files, and other federal documents that contain death information for Jonesboro residents. The Arkansas Supreme Court at arcourts.gov maintains older appellate records that sometimes involve Craighead County estate matters. Arkansas State University's Special Collections Library at astate.edu is a particularly strong resource for Jonesboro area death research that is not available elsewhere.

Nearby Cities and County Records

These nearby cities and counties also have death records resources for the region.