Find Arkansas Court Docket Records
Arkansas court docket records track every action taken in a case filed with the state's circuit and district courts. Each entry shows what was filed, when hearings are set, and how a judge ruled. The main tool for searching Arkansas court dockets is the free Search ARCourts portal, run by the state judiciary and covering most of the state's 75 counties. You can look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. For older records or certified copies, you need to contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed.
Arkansas Court Docket Records Overview
Search Arkansas Court Dockets
The primary tool for finding Arkansas court dockets is Search ARCourts, the official public access portal from the state judiciary. The system replaced the older Public CourtConnect platform and offers better filtering, faster results, and an easier interface. It is free for anyone to use. No account is needed for basic case searches.
To use the portal, go to the Search ARCourts direct access portal and enter a last name and first name or a business name. Optional fields include middle name, driver's license number, and date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format. Case number searches work too. You can also filter by case type, a date range for filings, or a date range for docket activity. Results show party names, the case type, the filing date, current status, and the judge assigned.
Some courts upload documents for free download. Others do not. Availability depends on the individual court's setup. Restricted matters will not appear. Juvenile files, sealed records, and certain adoption proceedings are blocked from public view under Administrative Order No. 19, which governs public access to Arkansas court information.
The Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect portal page explains the full scope of what case types and courts participate in the system. Technical support is available at (501) 410-1900 or toll-free at (866) 823-5778, with email help at acap.help@arcourts.gov.
The Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect portal provides background on how the system works and which courts are included. The Administrative Office of the Courts built Search ARCourts to replace older lookup tools and expand online access across the state.
The Search ARCourts direct access portal allows free online lookups of case records in most Arkansas counties.
Both circuit and district courts in many counties participate in this system, making it the first stop for most public searches of Arkansas court dockets.
What Arkansas Court Dockets Contain
A court docket is the official log of case activity maintained by the Circuit Clerk. Every action in a case gets a date stamp and a brief description. When a case is first filed, the clerk assigns it a docket number that stays with it through final judgment and any appeals.
Arkansas Circuit Courts keep dockets for four main types of cases: civil, criminal, domestic relations, and probate. Civil dockets cover contract disputes, personal injury, and property matters with amounts over $25,000. Criminal dockets track felony charges from indictment through sentencing. Domestic relations dockets include divorces, custody matters, and child support cases. Probate dockets cover estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings. Typical entries in a Circuit Court docket include the original petition or complaint, summons and service details, motions filed by either party, scheduled hearing dates and continuances, court orders, final judgments, and notice of appeal if the case goes further.
District Courts keep their own dockets for lower-level matters. These include traffic citations, misdemeanor criminal charges, small claims cases, and civil disputes under $25,000. Some district court dockets are available through Search ARCourts. Others require a visit to the local courthouse.
Most docket entries are public records under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105. Exceptions include juvenile files, sealed criminal records, and adoption proceedings.
Arkansas Circuit and District Courts
Arkansas divides its 75 counties among 28 judicial circuits. Each county has a Circuit Court that handles the most serious cases. The Circuit Clerk in each county keeps all records for that court. Felony criminal cases go to Circuit Court, as do civil disputes over $25,000, divorces and custody fights, probate estates, and appeals from lower courts.
Below Circuit Courts, Arkansas District Courts handle lower-level matters. These include traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal charges, preliminary hearings for felonies, and small claims up to $25,000. Some counties have multiple district courts serving different parts of the county. A handful of Arkansas counties also have municipal courts for city code violations and local traffic offenses.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, located at 625 Marshall Street in Little Rock, oversees all state court operations and manages the technology systems for court records access. The office also trains court personnel, develops court rules, and collects statistical data across all 75 counties. Director Marty Sullivan can be reached at 501-682-9400.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts provides administrative support to all Arkansas courts and manages court technology systems including CourtConnect and the eFiling platform.
The office coordinates activities across all court levels and ensures consistent application of court rules and procedures statewide.
Specialty courts operate in some Arkansas counties. Drug courts, veterans courts, and mental health courts follow special programs for eligible defendants. These courts still maintain dockets through the same Circuit Clerk system used by all other cases.
Online Arkansas Court Docket Access
The Arkansas Judiciary Online Services portal brings together three separate tools in one place. CourtConnect gives public access to case information. eTraffic lets eligible defendants pay traffic tickets online. eFiling lets registered attorneys submit documents electronically. Each tool works only for courts that have adopted the relevant system.
Full docket access through Search ARCourts covers a long list of circuit courts: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Clark, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Dallas, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Howard, Izard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lee, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Lincoln, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sevier, Sharp, St. Francis, Union, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell. Hempstead County provides probate records. A separate group of counties provides only partial statistical data.
The Arkansas Judiciary Online Services portal consolidates CourtConnect, eTraffic, and eFiling into one centralized access point for court users across the state.
eTraffic lets eligible defendants handle traffic citations online, while eFiling allows registered attorneys to submit court documents electronically without visiting the courthouse.
Public Access to Arkansas Court Records
Most court dockets in Arkansas are open to anyone. Arkansas Code § 25-19-105 gives citizens the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not have to explain why you want them. Courts and Circuit Clerk offices handle public records requests during normal business hours, which are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Restricted records do exist. Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court lists what cannot be released publicly. Blocked records include juvenile case files, adoption proceedings, mental health commitments, and sealed criminal records. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and certain other personal identifiers are redacted from public filings. A party can petition the court to seal specific records for good cause, but courts grant these requests selectively. The default rule is that docket entries and case filings are public documents. If you are denied access to something you believe should be public, you can raise the issue with the clerk or seek legal advice.
The Arkansas FOIA procedures guide explains how to request public records and what exemptions apply under state law.
Records not immediately available must be made available within three working days of the request under Arkansas public records law.
The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk portal, run by the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, provides free self-help resources at courthouse locations statewide. It includes forms, video guides, and links for record sealing, guardianship, divorce, and other court matters. Kiosk terminals are available in courthouses across many Arkansas counties, which is especially useful for people in rural areas without reliable internet access at home.
Note: Records involving minors and sealed criminal matters are restricted and will not appear in public online searches or at the clerk's counter.
Getting Copies of Docket Records in Arkansas
To get copies of a court docket or the documents filed in a case, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was heard. You can go in person or call ahead. Clerks pull up a case by name or cause number and make copies while you wait. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page in most counties. Certified copies require a certification fee on top of the copy charge, which is typically $5.00 per document plus the per-page copy fee.
Some Circuit Clerk offices accept mail requests. Send a written request with the case details and a check or money order for the estimated fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time varies by office and workload. In-person requests for current cases are often handled the same day. Older archived files may need to be pulled from storage, which adds time. Call ahead to ask about turnaround when you need something urgently.
Standard new case filing fees in Arkansas run $165 for civil, domestic relations, appeals, and foreign judgment matters. Summons and subpoenas cost $2.50 per person served. Writs run $20. Reopening a closed case costs $50. These are baseline statewide rates. Some counties charge slightly more or less. Call the specific Circuit Clerk's office to confirm before mailing payment.
Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford to pay. You file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The court reviews income and expenses. If you receive certain government benefits or earn below 125 percent of the federal poverty line, you generally qualify.
Note: Always confirm current fees with the Circuit Clerk before visiting or mailing a request, as fee schedules can change.
Federal Court Dockets in Arkansas
Arkansas has two federal court districts. The Eastern District serves the eastern half of the state from courthouses in Little Rock and Jonesboro. The Western District serves the western half. Federal cases are filed and maintained separately from state court cases. You cannot search federal dockets through Search ARCourts.
Federal court records are available through PACER, the federal court's public online system. PACER charges per-page fees to download documents. Public terminals at the Eastern District clerk's offices in Little Rock and Jonesboro let you access records for free. Per the Eastern District of Arkansas records page, electronic copy fees are $0.10 per page, and copies prepared by the clerk cost $0.50 per page. Certification adds $12.00 per document. Contact the Eastern District clerk at 501-604-5351 or clerksoffice@ared.uscourts.gov.
The Eastern District of Arkansas Federal Court page explains how to obtain copies of federal court documents and transcripts, including information on PACER registration and copy fees.
For cases in the Western District of Arkansas, contact that court's clerk directly through the Western District's official federal court website.
Sealing Arkansas Court Docket Records
Some court records can be removed from public access. Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-90-901 et seq. allows certain criminal records to be sealed after a person completes their sentence and meets all court obligations. The petition to seal is filed with the court that handled the original case. There is no fee to file. The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) maintains the registry of sealed records.
Requirements include finishing all parole or probation, paying all court costs, fines, and restitution, and waiting the required time period after conviction. Waiting periods differ by offense type. Misdemeanors generally require shorter waits than felonies. Some offenses are not eligible for sealing at all, including violent felonies, sexual offenses, and certain drug crimes. Once sealed, a record disappears from public searches but remains accessible to law enforcement agencies.
Legal authority for Circuit Clerk recordkeeping in Arkansas comes from the Arkansas Constitution, Article 7, Sections 19 through 21, and Arkansas Code Annotated §§ 16-20-101 through 16-20-115. These provisions define the duties of the Circuit Clerk as keeper of court records for each county.
Legal Resources for Arkansas Court Records
Free legal help is available across Arkansas. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services covers central Arkansas and can be reached at (501) 376-3423. Legal Aid of Arkansas handles the rest of the state at (870) 972-9224. Both offer guidance for people who need help understanding court docket records or navigating the court system.
The State Bar of Arkansas runs a lawyer referral line at (501) 375-4606. An attorney can help you read a docket, understand what filings mean, or figure out your next steps if you are a party in a case. The Arkansas Judiciary eFiling system at efile.arkansas.gov lets attorneys file documents electronically in participating courts, with a timestamp and confirmation for every filing.
The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk portal is run by the Access to Justice Commission and offers free forms, guides, and online legal advice connections for people who represent themselves in court. Kiosk computers are available in courthouse buildings across the state.
Browse Arkansas Court Dockets by County
Each of Arkansas's 75 counties has its own Circuit Clerk that maintains court docket records. Select a county to find local contact information, clerk office details, and resources for searching court dockets in that area.
Court Docket Records in Major Arkansas Cities
Residents of major Arkansas cities file circuit court cases at the county courthouse. District and municipal courts handle local traffic and misdemeanor matters. Select a city to find where to search court docket records in that area.