Arkansas court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk. The Circuit Court handles trial-level cases. Arkansas offers a statewide court search through CourtConnect, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: Arkansas state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use CourtConnect for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the Circuit Clerk in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: CourtConnect covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in Arkansas (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
Arkansas Court Records — Key Numbers (CY2025)
What Arkansas court records actually cost
CourtConnect searches cost nothing, and most Arkansas dockets can be read online for free. Clerks charge per page for copies and a separate certification fee, both listed on each court's fee schedule; sealing petitions carry their own filing cost.
Exact amounts are set by each court's current fee schedule — check the official source before you order.
What Changed in 2026 — Arkansas Court Records
The 4-Step Arkansas Court Records Pathway
Five Things People Get Wrong About Arkansas Court Records
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- arcourts.gov — Arkansas Judiciary — Main judicial-branch portal for Arkansas
- Arkansas case access — Public case-search portal
- Arkansas court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- Arkansas annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- Arkansas Criminal Records →
- Arkansas Property Records →
- Arkansas Vital Records →
- Arkansas Voter Records →
- Arkansas Wants & Warrants →
- Arkansas Licenses →
- Arkansas Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
5 official Arkansas court records sources.
Court Records
Arkansas Counties
75 Arkansas counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Arkansas counties publish court dockets online
3 of Arkansas's 74 counties run their own online source for court dockets, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Arkansas court cases online?▼
Arkansas's trial courts publish case lookups through the Arkansas Judiciary. Start at arcourts.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in Arkansas?▼
The Arkansas Judiciary operates Arkansas's official statewide judicial portal at arcourts.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Arkansas residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in Arkansas?▼
Trial courts in Arkansas handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Arkansas Judiciary publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at arcourts.gov.
How far back do Arkansas court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Arkansas county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Arkansas Judiciary portal at arcourts.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged Arkansas cases visible in the online search?▼
No. Arkansas courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Arkansas Judiciary portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.