Craighead County Court Records

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    Craighead County, Arkansas, is one of the state's dual-county-seat counties, with courthouses in both Jonesboro (Western District) and Lake City (Eastern District). The county's trial court system includes the Circuit Court—which handles civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile matters—and the District Court, which covers misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and preliminary hearings. Circuit Court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and Recorder's office, while probate proceedings fall under the County Clerk's office. This guide walks through each method for locating, requesting, and obtaining Craighead County court records, including fees, office locations, and relevant Arkansas law.

    If you're searching for court case information in Arkansas, ArkansasCourts.us can help you find publicly available case information statewide. The Search ARCourts portal, maintained by the Arkansas Judiciary, provides access to public case records for courts using the Contexte Case Management System. Craighead County's Circuit and District Courts participate in this system for cases filed after August 1, 2018, while older archived records may be available through separate tools.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Craighead County?

    Craighead County court cases can be looked up through online search portals, in-person visits to courthouse clerk offices, and mail requests. The right method depends on the type of case, the filing date, and whether the record is held by the Circuit Clerk or the County Clerk.

    Online Case Search

    Start with Search ARCourts, which covers all civil, small claims, traffic, and misdemeanor criminal cases filed after August 1, 2018. You can search by party name or case number at no charge. Archived District Court records from September 1994 through July 31, 2018 may be available through the District Court's older record search system.

    The CourtConnect portal on the Arkansas Judiciary website also offers simplified access to public court information for participating courts statewide.

    In-Person Access

    You can visit the Circuit Clerk's office at either the Jonesboro or Lake City courthouse. The Craighead County Circuit Clerk maintains all civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile court records. Bring a valid government-issued ID. Searching records is generally free, but copy fees apply.

    LocationAddressPhoneFax
    Jonesboro Courthouse511 South Main St., Suite 200, Jonesboro, AR 72401(870) 933-4530(870) 933-4534
    Lake City Courthouse107 Cobean Blvd., Lake City, AR 72437(870) 237-4342(870) 237-8174

    The Circuit Clerk's office is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, except on court-approved holidays.

    Probate Records

    Probate court records are kept separately by the Craighead County Clerk's Office, which handles probate proceedings including decedent estates, adoptions, and guardianships. You can visit or write to:

    Craighead County Clerk's Office
    511 South Main St., Suite 202
    Jonesboro, AR 72401
    Phone: (870) 933-4520
    Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday (except court-approved holidays)

    Are Court Records Public in Craighead County?

    Court records in Craighead County are generally open to the public under two legal authorities. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gives Arkansas citizens the right to inspect and obtain government records without stating a reason. Administrative Order No. 19, issued by the Arkansas Supreme Court, specifically governs access to and confidentiality of court records—especially as those records become more accessible online.

    The Circuit Clerk's office confirms that all records it maintains are public information, with one exception: juvenile court records are kept confidential.

    Beyond juvenile records, Administrative Order No. 19 and the FOIA restrict public access to the following:

    • HIPAA-protected health data
    • Tax records
    • Social Security numbers
    • Adoption records
    • Grand jury proceedings
    • Drug test results
    • Judicial notes, communications, and deliberative materials related to decisions
    • Sealed records as ordered by the court

    These restrictions apply whether you access records online or in person. Both the FOIA and Administrative Order No. 19 also limit access to Arkansas citizens, meaning out-of-state residents may face different requirements when requesting court records.

    Craighead County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Craighead County are handled at two levels. The Circuit Court's Criminal Division processes all felony cases filed by the Craighead County Prosecutor's office, as well as appeals from the District Courts. The District Court—operating with Divisions 1 and 2 in both Jonesboro and Lake City—handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, municipal law infractions, and preliminary hearings in criminal cases.

    Circuit Court Criminal Records

    Criminal cases that reach trial in Circuit Court can be searched through the Search ARCourts portal using the case ID, case number, or participant name. For in-person requests, visit the Circuit Clerk's office at the Jonesboro or Lake City courthouse.

    District Court Criminal Records

    Craighead County District Court – Jonesboro
    603 South Madison
    Jonesboro, AR 72401
    Phone: (870) 933-4508
    Fax: (870) 933-4582

    Craighead County District Court – Lake City
    107 Cobean Blvd.
    Lake City, AR 72437
    Phone: (870) 237-4142
    Fax: (870) 237-8174

    Cases filed after August 1, 2018 are searchable through Search ARCourts. Older archived records from September 1994 through July 31, 2018 may be available through separate historical search tools maintained by the District Court.

    Statewide Criminal Background Checks

    For criminal history information beyond individual case records, the Arkansas State Police maintains the state's criminal records database. You can request a background check through three methods:

    1. Online: Through the Online Criminal Background Check System at $22.00 per name-based check ($11.00 for volunteers)
    2. In person: At Arkansas State Police Headquarters at I-30 and Geyer Springs Road (exit 133) in Little Rock, during business hours (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday), for $25.00

    3. By mail: Send a completed ASP-122 form with the subject's release signature, a $25.00 check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

      Arkansas State Police ID Bureau
      1 State Police Plaza Drive
      Little Rock, AR 72209
      Phone: (501) 618-8500

    Arrest records in Craighead County are maintained by the Craighead County Sheriff's Office and local agencies such as the Jonesboro Police Department. The Sheriff's Office covers both the Western District (Jonesboro) and Eastern District (Lake City).

    Craighead County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in Craighead County are heard in both the Circuit Court and the District Court. The Circuit Court's Civil Division handles a broad range of noncriminal disputes—negligence, fraud, malpractice, product liability, foreclosure, quiet title, injunctions, partition, condemnation, replevin, declaratory judgment, unlawful detainer, administrative appeals, property forfeiture, name changes, and other civil filings. The District Court hears small claims and other civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts.

    Accessing Civil Court Records

    Civil records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and can be obtained through these methods:

    • Online: Search the Search ARCourts portal by case number or party name for cases filed after August 1, 2018. Searching is free; fees apply for document copies.
    • In person: Visit the Circuit Clerk's Recorder's Office at either the Jonesboro Courthouse (511 South Main St., Suite 200) or the Lake City Courthouse (107 Cobean Blvd.) during business hours (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday–Friday). Bring the case number, names of the parties, or the type of case to help staff locate the file.
    • By mail: Send written requests to the Circuit Clerk at P.O. Box 120, Jonesboro, AR 72403.

    The Circuit Clerk also serves as the ex-officio county recorder and maintains records of deeds, mortgages, liens, surety bonds, and other property-related instruments.

    Property Records

    Property records can be searched through the Craighead County Assessor's Office, which provides a free public search tool for real estate records. You can search by parcel number, owner name, street name, or city. The office is located at:

    Craighead County Assessor's Office
    511 S. Union Street, Suite 130
    Jonesboro, AR 72401
    Phone: (870) 933-4570
    Fax: (870) 933-4522

    Craighead County Family Court Records

    Craighead County does not operate a separate family court. Family law matters are handled by the Circuit Court's Domestic Relations Division, which hears cases involving divorce, annulment, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic abuse, and orders of protection.

    Searching Family Court Records

    Family court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and accessible through the same channels as other Circuit Court records:

    1. Online through Search ARCourts for cases filed after August 1, 2018
    2. In person at the Circuit Clerk's offices in Jonesboro or Lake City during regular business hours
    3. By mail directed to the Circuit Clerk at P.O. Box 120, Jonesboro, AR 72403

    Family court records are generally public unless sealed or deemed confidential by court order. Records involving minors or domestic abuse protective orders may have restricted access.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records in Craighead County are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Office of Vital Records. Arkansas began keeping marriage records in 1917. Each copy costs $10.00. Eligible individuals can order marriage records through:

    • Online: Through the ADH Vital Records website, with a $5.00 processing fee and $1.85 identity verification fee added to the certificate cost. Requests typically take 7–14 business days from approval.

    • By mail: Send a completed marriage coupon application, a check or money order for $10.00 payable to the Arkansas Department of Health, and copies of acceptable ID to:

      Arkansas Department of Health
      Vital Records, Slot 44
      4815 West Markham Street
      Little Rock, AR 72205

    • In person: Visit the ADH office at 4815 West Markham Street in Little Rock (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday) or the Craighead County Health Unit in Jonesboro:

      Craighead County Health Unit – Jonesboro
      611 E. Washington Ave.
      Jonesboro, AR 72401
      Phone: (870) 933-4585
      Fax: (870) 933-6416

    • By phone: Call toll-free at (866) 209-9482 and pay by debit or credit card.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce records are also maintained by the ADH (recording began in 1923) and follow the same request procedures and $10.00 fee as marriage records. Applications can be submitted online, by mail, in person, or by phone using the same methods described above.

    Birth and Death Records

    The ADH Office of Vital Records maintains all Craighead County birth and death records. Birth certificates cost $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Death certificates cost $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy. These records can be requested online, by mail, in person at the Little Rock office or the Craighead County Health Unit in Jonesboro, or by phone at (866) 209-9482.

    Craighead County Probate Court Records

    The Craighead County Clerk serves as the clerk to the Probate Court and is the statutory custodian of all probate records. The Probate Court handles a range of matters including the probate of wills, appointment of estate administrators or executors, guardianship and conservatorship appointments for minors and incapacitated individuals, adoption proceedings, legal name changes, and will contests.

    Searching Probate Records Online

    Probate case information may be searchable through the Search ARCourts portal using case numbers, case titles, party names, attorneys, judges, or docket entries. Searching is free.

    In-Person and Mail Requests

    For records not available online, or when you need certified copies, contact the County Clerk's Office directly:

    Craighead County Clerk's Office
    511 South Main St., Suite 202
    Jonesboro, AR 72401
    Phone: (870) 933-4520
    Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday (except court-approved holidays)

    The County Clerk files all instruments in decedent estate cases, swears in witnesses during contested probate proceedings, and keeps permanent records of adoptions, guardianships, and related probate matters. When visiting in person, bring a valid ID and have the case number or party names ready to help staff locate the records more efficiently. Copy fees may apply depending on the type and volume of records requested. Mail requests should include sufficient identifying information and be sent to the County Clerk at the address above.