Jefferson County Court Records

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    ArkansasCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on ArkansasCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

    Jefferson County, located in central Arkansas with Pine Bluff as its county seat, maintains court records through a multi-tiered system of Circuit and District Courts. These records document the full range of legal proceedings — from felony criminal cases and civil disputes to probate administration, domestic relations, and juvenile matters. They include filings, orders, judgments, hearing transcripts, evidence logs, and other documents that form the official account of each case.

    If you're looking for Jefferson County court records, you can start with ArkansasCourts.us to identify publicly available case information, or go directly to clerk offices in person, by written request, or through the state judiciary's electronic case search tools. The best approach depends on what type of record you need and which court handled the original proceeding.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County court cases can be searched through several channels. Which method you choose depends on whether you need basic docket information or certified copies of court documents.

    Online Search via Search ARCourts

    The Arkansas Judiciary's Search ARCourts portal provides free public access to case information for courts using the Contexte Case Management System. All Arkansas circuit courts supply case statistical data through this portal as required by Administrative Order 8, and many provide additional detail including party names, judges, filings, charges and dispositions, upcoming events, and judgments. Some district courts also participate. You can search by participant name or case number. For technical questions about the portal, contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at (501) 410-1900, option 1, or (866) 823-5778, or email acap.help@arcourts.gov.

    In-Person Requests at the Circuit Clerk's Office

    The Jefferson County Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of record for the Circuit Court and also serves as the ex-officio County Recorder. Court dockets and official records are available through this office:

    Jefferson County Circuit Clerk's Office
    Address: 101 West Barraque Street, Suite 104, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
    Phone: (870) 541-5306
    Fax: (870) 541-5453
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

    The Circuit Clerk's office is prohibited by law from providing legal advice but can help you locate and copy court records.

    Mail Requests

    You can also send written requests for court records to the Circuit Clerk's office at the address above. Include enough identifying information — party names, case number, and approximate filing date — along with any applicable fees.

    Jefferson County Courts Directory

    The following courts handle cases originating in Jefferson County:

    CourtAddressPhoneFax
    Jefferson County Circuit Court101 W. Barraque St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601(870) 541-5312(870) 541-5453
    District Court Pine Bluff, Div. 1P.O. Box 8747, Pine Bluff, AR 71611(870) 541-4646(870) 541-4640
    District Court Pine Bluff, Div. 2223 E. 3rd Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71601(870) 850-7584(870) 850-2440
    District Court AltheimerP.O. Box 728, Altheimer, AR 72004(870) 766-8229(870) 766-4875
    District Court HumphreyP.O. Box 128, Humphrey, AR 72073(870) 873-4615(870) 873-4657
    District Court Redfield113 River Road, P.O. Box 304, Redfield, AR 72132(501) 397-6111(501) 397-2350
    District Court WabbasekaP.O. Box 3029, Pine Bluff, AR 71611(870) 692-0326(870) 766-4262
    District Court White Hall101 Parkway Dr., P.O. Box 20100, White Hall, AR 71602(870) 247-1420(870) 247-2229

    The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, domestic relations, juvenile proceedings, probate, guardianship, and mental health commitments. District courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, and certain preliminary criminal proceedings.

    Are Court Records Public in Jefferson County?

    Arkansas law creates a strong presumption in favor of public access to court records. Two overlapping frameworks control what gets disclosed: the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at Ark. Code Ann. 25-19-105, and the Arkansas Supreme Court's Administrative Order No. 19, which specifically governs access to and confidentiality of court records.

    Under the FOIA, all public records are open to inspection and copying by any Arkansas citizen during the custodian's regular business hours. Administrative Order No. 19 broadens this for court records: requesters do not need to be Arkansas citizens and do not need to state a reason for their request. Access includes the right to obtain copies, not merely inspect documents.

    Records excluded from public access include:

    • Personnel records whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
    • Personal contact information of subjects or witnesses (home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses)
    • Medical records, adoption records, and education records protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g)
    • Grand jury minutes and unpublished drafts of judicial or quasi-judicial opinions
    • Undisclosed law enforcement investigations of suspected criminal activity
    • Working papers of Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeals Judges, and the Attorney General
    • Documents protected by court order or rule
    • Identities of undercover law enforcement officers
    • Security data such as passwords, PINs, and transaction authorization mechanisms
    • Social Security numbers (last four digits may be retained in public records)
    • Information sealed by court order — sealed cases may not even be acknowledged to exist

    Redaction policies. Under Section I(E) of Administrative Order No. 19, clerks and courts may redact or restrict information in records created before January 1, 2009, that was previously considered public. Records made available through remote electronic access must be redacted if they contain confidential information, regardless of when they were created. When compiled data is requested, names, addresses (except zip codes), and the month and day of birth must be redacted unless the requester signs an affidavit and license agreement declaring that identification of individuals is essential and that the purpose is scholarly, journalistic, governmental, research, evaluation, or statistical.

    If you need access to records excluded from public disclosure, you must submit a written, notarized request to the court. You'll need to show either that the public interest outweighs the harm of disclosure or that the information should not have been excluded in the first place. The court must notify affected parties and hold a hearing within 30 days, applying a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard.

    Jefferson County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Jefferson County are prosecuted in Circuit Court (felonies and appeals from district court) and the various District Courts (misdemeanors, traffic offenses, preliminary hearings). Charging instruments, arraignment dockets, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment records are maintained by the respective court clerk and can be searched through Search ARCourts or requested from the Circuit Clerk's office.

    Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) Background Checks

    Arkansas law (Act 1185; Ark. Code Ann. 12-12-1501) authorizes the Arkansas State Police to operate the Online Criminal Background Check System. This system lets authorized persons and entities obtain criminal history information. Key requirements and fees:

    • The requester must have the signed written consent of the record subject.
    • An online account with Tyler Arkansas is required. You can subscribe online.
    • Pricing for online checks:
      • $22.00 per Arkansas State name-based check
      • $11.00 per Arkansas State name-based check (volunteers)
      • $13.00 per National/FBI fingerprint-based check
      • $11.00 per National/FBI fingerprint-based check (volunteers)

    • Mail-in requests cost $25.00 each and should be sent to:

      Arkansas State Police, Identification Bureau
      1 State Police Plaza Drive
      Little Rock, AR 72209

    Criminal background check forms are available from the State Police website. Using criminal history information for any purpose other than what was stated in the request constitutes a Class A misdemeanor.

    Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

    The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and serves as the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of the county:

    Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
    Address: 410 East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
    Phone: (870) 541-5351
    Fax: (870) 541-5348

    Jefferson County Civil Court Records

    The Jefferson County Circuit Court exercises original jurisdiction over civil actions and appellate jurisdiction over judgments and final orders from the county's district courts. Civil case types include breach of contract, personal injury, property disputes, and other non-criminal claims. District courts handle small claims and lower-value civil disputes.

    Searching Civil Records

    1. Online: Use the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search tool. You can locate civil cases by party name, case number, case type, county, or court location. Some filings include linked documents viewable directly through the portal.
    2. In person: Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office at 101 West Barraque Street, Suite 104, Pine Bluff, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.).
    3. By mail: Submit a written request with identifying details and applicable reproduction fees to the Circuit Clerk's mailing address.

    Fees for Civil Filings and Copies

    Arkansas circuit courts generally charge $165.00 to file a new civil, criminal, or domestic case. Other common fees across Arkansas circuit courts include $2.50 per subpoena or summons, $50.00 for reopening or transferring a case, and additional fees for certified copies. Specific amounts may vary by circuit, so confirm current rates directly with the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk at (870) 541-5306 before you file.

    Property Records

    Civil matters often involve real property. The Jefferson County Assessor's Office maintains current appraisal and assessment records:

    Jefferson County Assessor's Office
    Address: 101 West Barraque Street, Suite 111, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
    Phone: (870) 541-5334
    Fax: (870) 541-5335
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

    An online property records search lets the public look up real estate records by owner name, parcel number, assessment number, property ID, physical address, mailing address, or subdivision.

    Jefferson County Family Court Records

    Domestic relations cases in Jefferson County — including divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, and paternity — are heard in Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk maintains all filings, orders, and judgments in these cases. Adoption and guardianship records are maintained by the County Clerk in the Clerk's capacity as clerk to the Probate Court.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Jefferson County Clerk:

    Jefferson County Clerk's Office
    Address: 101 W. Barraque Street, Suite 101, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
    Phone: (870) 541-5322
    Fax: (870) 541-5324
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

    To get a marriage license, both parties must be at least 18 years old and present a valid form of identification — a state-issued ID, driver's license, original birth certificate, unexpired passport or visa, or military ID. The license fee is $60.00, cash only. Certified copies of marriage licenses cost $5.00 per copy.

    Jefferson County residents can search marriage license records online, which include the names of the parties, marriage date, officiating minister, and book and page number. This online tool is for informational purposes only — certified copies may be requested in person or by written request mailed to P.O. Box 6317, Pine Bluff, AR 71611.

    Marriage and Divorce Records Through the Arkansas Department of Health

    Eligible individuals may also obtain certified copies of marriage and divorce records from the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records Division:

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

    • Marriage record: $10.00 per copy
    • Divorce record: $10.00 per copy (nonrefundable)
    • Online orders through Vital Records incur a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 identity verification fee

    Mail-in applicants for divorce records should submit a completed divorce application along with copies of acceptable identification.

    Arkansas law restricts access to vital records less than 100 years old to specified eligible individuals: persons named on the record, their spouse, registered domestic partner, descendants, parents or guardians, or their legal representative.

    Birth and Death Records

    While not strictly family court records, birth and death certificates come up frequently in custody, inheritance, and domestic proceedings. The Arkansas Department of Health issues these records:

    • Birth certificate: $12.00 for the first copy; $10.00 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously
    • Death certificate: $10.00 for the first copy; $8.00 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously

    Walk-in service is available Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at the Vital Records office in Little Rock. Mail requests require a completed birth application or death application, acceptable ID, and a check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Telephone orders can be placed toll-free at (866) 209-9482 with credit or debit card payment.

    Jefferson County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Jefferson County are administered through the County Clerk's office, which serves as clerk to the Probate Court under Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. 14-14-902, 14-14-903). The County Clerk files all instruments related to decedent estate cases, making them part of the official record. The office also maintains records for adoptions and guardianships.

    Probate proceedings in Jefferson County encompass:

    • Proving the validity of a deceased person's will
    • Inventorying and appraising estate property
    • Administering the payment of debts and taxes from the estate
    • Distributing assets to heirs and beneficiaries
    • Appointing guardians and conservators

    Requesting Probate Records

    Probate records may be obtained in person or by mail from the Circuit Clerk's office, which houses the court's case files:

    Jefferson County Circuit Clerk's Office
    Address: 101 West Barraque Street, Suite 104, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
    Phone: (870) 541-5306

    For matters involving probate administration, the County Clerk's office can also assist:

    Jefferson County Clerk's Office
    Address: 101 W. Barraque Street, Suite 101, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
    Phone: (870) 541-5322
    Email: JeffersonClerk@arkansasclerks.com

    Probate case information may also be searchable through the Search ARCourts portal, since the Circuit Court's use of the Contexte Case Management System includes probate case types. Adoption records, however, are among the categories explicitly excluded from public disclosure under both the Arkansas FOIA and Administrative Order No. 19.