Understanding Civil Court Records in Arkansas

Civil court records in Arkansas, which are maintained by the state judiciary, include all documents filed with or generated by civil courts during legal proceedings. According to the Arkansas Judiciary, these cases involve claims that seek either equitable relief or monetary damages. Arkansas civil court records provide detailed information regarding non-criminal disputes between individuals, businesses, or government entities. In other words, civil court documents specifically exclude cases related to state-prosecuted offenses or criminal violations.

In line with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), civil court records are public documents managed by official custodians (clerks) and are accessible upon request.. Certain records, however, may be exempt from disclosure, particularly those pertaining to sensitive issues and juveniles.

Civil Court Record Statistics Reported by Arkansas Courts

The Arkansas Judiciary's Office of Research and Justice Statistics compiles and publishes annual reports on civil caseloads from all courts across the state's counties. According to the office's 2025 Annual Report, Arkansas circuit courts recorded a total of 54,807 filings and 49,439 dispositions in 2024, reflecting a 90% clearance rate and accounting for 30% of all filings received statewide.

The breakdown for the district courts, excluding appeals and local ordinance cases, is as follows:

• Total Number of Civil Filings: 44,854
• Total Number of Dispositions: 28,245

Debt collection accounted for the bulk of the civil caseload, with 24,215 filings and 15,946 dispositions. Interested parties may view the statistical supplement to the annual report, which includes civil court statistics by county.

How Civil Records Differ from Criminal Records in Arkansas

Criminal and civil court records are the two primary categories of court records maintained by the Arkansas Judiciary. These records differ fundamentally in structure and legal function, with civil records documenting disputes between individuals, businesses, or government entities. In contrast, criminal court records reflect the prosecution of offenses allegedly committed against the state.

Civil cases are governed by the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, which outline the processes for resolving non-criminal disputes. In contrast, criminal cases are governed by the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure and other statutory provisions that regulate the adjudication of criminal offenses.

Arkansas civil records also differ from criminal records in party designations, possible outcomes, and public access, as highlighted in the table below:

Category	Civil Court Records	Criminal Court Records
Party Designation	Plaintiff v. Defendant	The State of Arkansas v. Defendant
Possible Relief/Outcome	Damages, injunctions, custody orders	Fines, jail/prison, probation
Originating Document	Written Complaint	Complaint, criminal Information, citation, or indictment

Structure of the Civil Court System in Arkansas

Arkansas' civil court system handles all non-criminal matters in its two courts of original jurisdiction-the circuit courts and district courts-depending on the type and value of the case. The Circuit Court is the state's trial court of general jurisdiction, with the civil division serving as one of its five divisions. Matters handled by the Circuit Court include personal injury claims, breach of contract, mortgages, foreclosure of promissory notes, and cases where the monetary award sought is above $25,000. Furthermore, the circuit court hears appeals from the District Court in all civil actions and can conduct jury trials.

Meanwhile, Arkansas' District Courts have limited jurisdiction in civil matters and are further divided into state and local District Courts. The State District Courts may have citywide, countywide, or judicial district-wide authority over certain civil matters, while the Local District Courts exercise jurisdiction over specific areas within General Assembly-assigned judicial districts. Also, while the State District Courts hear personal property damage and recovery cases where the amount in question does not exceed $25,000, the Local District Courts are limited to cases with amounts up to $5,000.

It is noteworthy that both State and Local District Courts have small claims divisions, where the rules of evidence are more relaxed, cases are handled more informally, and litigants may represent themselves.

Below is a summary of the various civil courts in Arkansas and the kinds of cases they handle:

Court	Type of Civil Cases
Arkansas Circuit Court	Civil claims in excess of $25,000 All justiciable matters not within the jurisdiction of any other court
Arkansas State District Courts	Original jurisdiction over property damage and recovery of property cases where the claim does not exceed $25,000. Small claims totaling $5,000 or less.
Local District Courts	Property damage and recovery claims where the disputed sum is less than or equal to $5,000.

Public Access to Civil Court Documents in Arkansas

As mentioned above, civil court records are public documents under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which gives any interested party the right to review or obtain copies of documents from official custodians (clerks). However, while the FOIA generally governs public access to government records, including court documents, Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19 takes precedence for court records, specifying which documents are accessible and which are confidential.

Consequently, Administrative Order No. 19 provides that certain court records must be designated as confidential or sealed. Confidential records are not open to public inspection, while sealed records are neither disclosable nor acknowledgeable. Examples of such records include

• Certain personally identifying information
• Social security numbers
• Any court record rendered confidential by a court order
• Information excluded from public access pursuant to federal law and the Arkansas Code

How to Lookup Arkansas Civil Court Records

Individuals can find Arkansas civil court records using the following methods:

Circuit and District Court Clerk Offices

Civil court records are maintained by the clerks of the circuit and district courts. To access these records, one must locate the appropriate clerk of the court (where the matter was filed). Typically, record requests can be made in person during normal business hours, in addition to any other channels prescribed by the clerk.

Individuals are encouraged to explore other available options, such as submitting requests by mail or phone, to obtain court records. Regardless of the method chosen, requesters will need to provide search terms like party names or case numbers to locate the record.

Search ARCourts

Public Arkansas civil court case records are available for review through the state's judiciary online case search platform, Search ARCourts. Individuals can access information about parties, judges, case filings, judgments, and more on the search portal by entering a case number or the name of any party involved in the lawsuit. Search results can be further filtered by county, date, or court location.

Types of Civil Cases Filed in Arkansas Courts

In Arkansas, non-criminal cases are managed by specialized divisions within the circuit and district courts and are generally classified according to the nature of the dispute (civil, domestic relations, probate, or juvenile) or the amount in controversy (small claims, limited civil, and general civil). The most common civil case types heard in the Arkansas Courts include

• Torts claims (personal injury, negligence, defamation)
• Contract disputes (employment contracts, debts and loans, etc.)
• Property disputes (mortgage foreclosure cases, landlord-tenant matters)
• Family law and domestic issues (child custody, divorce, adoption)
• Small claims (cases where the amount in dispute is below $5,000)
• Probate and estates (estate administration, adoptions, trusts)
• Juvenile matters (paternity proceedings, Family in Need of Services cases, dependency/neglect)

Information Captured in Arkansas Civil Court Files

Arkansas civil court records document the filings and proceedings of non-criminal matters heard before competent courts within the state. These records form part of each case's official court file; therefore, the information contained in the file varies from case to case, depending on the nature and specifics of each matter. Information contained in an Arkansas civil court case file includes

• Dockets
• Complaints and responses
• Motions
• Affidavits
• Subpoenas
• Writs
• Petitions
• Orders and judgment
• Satisfactions of judgment

Access to information on a case file is subject to confidentiality rules outlined in the Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19 and the applicable laws. Consequently, specific information, such as social security numbers and financial account details, may be redacted from public view, even though contained in the original documents.

Retention and Archiving of Civil Court Records in Arkansas

The State of Arkansas operates a General Records Retention Schedule, which specifies retention and archival policies regarding records held by the various state agencies. However, this schedule does not apply to the Arkansas Judiciary Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), the Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeals. The retention of civil court records is governed by the Administrative Supreme Court Order, the Official Court Reporter Retention Schedule, and other judicial-specific retention schedules.

Per Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 7, docket books, case indices, and records of proceedings in civil matters handled by the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals are retained permanently. However, civil case records and case files after 1940 have a retention period of 7 years from the case's closing before being offered for donation to any institution that provides a special collections department.

Furthermore, Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 4 mandates that verbatim trial records, physical exhibits received in evidence, and electronic recordings in circuit courts be retained in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 21 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners. Meanwhile, the Arkansas Code § 16-10-211 mandates that case indices and dockets for all district courts be maintained permanently, while complete case files and written exhibits (except civil and small claims divisions where judgment is not satisfied) are retained for 7 years.

References and Official Resources

• Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
• Arkansas Supreme Court
• Arkansas Circuit Court Clerks
• Arkansas District Court Clerks
• Arkansas Search ARCourts database