Ouachita County Court Records Search
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Ouachita County, Arkansas — with Camden as its county seat — runs a court system that handles everything from felony prosecutions and major civil disputes to traffic violations, small claims, and probate matters. Every case generates records: filings, hearing notices, orders, and final dispositions. Those documents are held by specific county and state offices depending on which court handled the proceeding, so finding the right record starts with knowing where to look.
If you're just getting oriented, ArkansasCourts.us is a solid starting point. It connects you to official public access tools, clerk contact information, and online case lookup resources statewide. For direct case searches, the Arkansas Judiciary operates the Search ARCourts portal — a free system where you can search publicly available case information by participant name or case number across courts that use the state's Contexte case management platform. If the record you need isn't available online, an in-person or written request to the appropriate clerk's office is the next step.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Ouachita County?
Court records in Ouachita County are held by the clerk of whichever court handled the case. Circuit Court records go through the Circuit Clerk; district court matters are held by the clerk of the specific district court department where the case was filed.
Online Search
The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search Portal gives free access to publicly available case records. You can search by participant name or by case/citation number, and results include docket entries, case type, and case status for qualifying proceedings.
In-Person Access
The primary office for Circuit Court records is:
Ouachita County Circuit Clerk — Gladys Nettles
Address: 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, AR 71701
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 667, Camden, AR 71711
Phone: (870) 837-2230
Fax: (870) 837-2252
Standard Copy Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Document copies (requester-made) | $0.50 per page |
| Document copies (staff-made) | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per document |
| New civil/criminal case filing | $165.00 |
| Case reopening | $50.00 |
Payments are accepted in person at the clerk's office. For the full statewide breakdown, the Arkansas Judiciary publishes filing fee information covering all court divisions.
Electronic Filing
Electronic filings that do not require fees are accepted at the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk's Office. Call the clerk directly at (870) 837-2230 to confirm which case types qualify before submitting electronically.
District Court Locations
District court proceedings in Ouachita County fall under Judge Ryan P. Phillips of the 39th Judicial District, which serves both Ouachita and Columbia counties. The judge presides across multiple departments throughout the county:
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Camden (Ouachita County) | 109A Goodgame Street, Camden, AR 71701 | (870) 836-0331 |
| Bearden | 20 N. 2nd Street, Bearden, AR 71720 | (870) 687-2204 |
| Chidester | 118 Willow Street, Chidester, AR 71726 | (870) 685-2906 |
| East Camden | 100 Womble Avenue, East Camden, AR 71711 | (870) 574-2900 |
| Stephens | 121 W. Ruby Street, Stephens, AR 71764 | (870) 786-5818 |
District Court Session Schedule (Camden/Ouachita County Department)
- 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 9:00 AM — City plea and arraignment
- 3rd Thursday at 9:00 AM — County plea and arraignment
- 1st Friday at 9:00 AM — City and county trials (DWI and Domestic Battery 3rd)
- 2nd Wednesday at 9:00 AM — City criminal/traffic trials
- 2nd Thursday at 9:00 AM — County criminal/traffic trials
- 1st Thursday at 9:00 AM — Civil and small claims
- 2nd and 4th Fridays at 9:00 AM — Special settings
- 4th Wednesday at 9:00 AM — Compliance review
Are Court Records Public in Ouachita County?
Arkansas law starts from a clear presumption: court records are open to public inspection. Under A.C.A. § 25-19-105, all public records must be made available for inspection and copying during the regular business hours of the custodial agency. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act applies to courts and county offices alike, which means most Ouachita County court records — dockets, orders, civil filings, and criminal case records — are available to anyone who requests them.
That right of access works alongside Arkansas Administrative Order No. 19, which governs court records specifically and balances transparency against privacy. Under these two frameworks together, the following categories are shielded from public disclosure:
- Juvenile case records
- Grand jury minutes
- Sealed and expunged records
- Medical, educational, and adoption records
- Records protected by court order, specific statute, or court rule
- Unpublished drafts of judicial or quasi-judicial opinions and decisions
When a record falls into a restricted category, the clerk's office will tell you a restriction applies but will not disclose the protected content. Routine redactions may also apply to Social Security numbers and financial account information within otherwise public filings.
Ouachita County Criminal Court Records
Felony and serious criminal cases in Ouachita County go through the Circuit Court. The court operates as part of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, covering Ouachita, Calhoun, Cleveland, Dallas, and Union counties. Six circuit judges serve the district; the judge assigned to Division 5, Hon. David W. Talley, Jr., is based in Magnolia and handles Ouachita County matters alongside other divisional assignments.
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Judges Serving Ouachita County
| Division | Judge | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1 | Hon. David Graham | Camden, P.O. Box 763 | (870) 837-2272 |
| Division 2 | Hon. Mary Thomason | El Dorado | (870) 864-1937 |
| Division 3 | Hon. Ryan P. Phillips | Camden | (870) 231-9145 |
| Division 4 | Hon. Gary McDonald | El Dorado | (870) 864-1947 |
| Division 5 | Hon. David W. Talley, Jr. | Magnolia | (870) 234-6890 |
| Division 6 | Hon. Gary Burbank | El Dorado | (870) 864-1968 |
Criminal case records — charges, pleas, dispositions, and sentencing — are maintained by the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk and can be searched online through the Search ARCourts portal. If you need certified copies, submit an in-person or written request directly to the clerk's office.
Arrest Records and Jail Information
Arrest records are generated and held by the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. At the county level, that's the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office, which maintains an online inmate portal through the ISOMS detention management system. Through that portal you can view:
- Current inmate roster
- Jail intake and release records (last 24 and 72 hours)
- Warrant information
Ouachita County Sheriff's Office
Address: 109 Goodgame Street, Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 231-5300
Fax: (870) 231-4329
Sheriff: David Norwood
If the record you need isn't available through the portal, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Municipal police departments within the county — including the Camden Police Department — keep their own arrest records, and requests should go to whichever agency made the arrest.
Misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary felony matters at the district court level are handled by Judge Ryan P. Phillips across the county's five Ouachita County departments, with criminal and traffic sessions scheduled throughout the month at each location.
Ouachita County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Ouachita County is divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the dollar amount of the claim.
- The Circuit Court has general civil jurisdiction with no monetary ceiling, covering major contract disputes, real property actions, and claims that exceed the district court limit.
- The District Court handles civil claims up to $25,000 and small claims matters up to $5,000.
Small Claims Court
Small claims cases are heard by Judge Ryan P. Phillips at the Camden department of the 39th District Court on the 1st Thursday of each month at 9:00 AM. The Arkansas Attorney General's Guide to Small Claims Court notes that filing fees in Arkansas district courts generally run between $30 and $65, with additional costs for service. You can represent yourself without an attorney, though hiring one is allowed.
Searching Civil Records
- Online: The Search ARCourts case portal provides free searches of civil case docket information by name or case number.
- In person: Visit the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk's Office at 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, during business hours. Staff will locate the file and provide copies at the applicable rate.
- District court civil records: Contact the clerk of the specific district court department where the case was filed.
Property Records
Property-related records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats — are recorded through the Circuit Clerk's Office. The Assessor's Office handles valuation and appraisal data.
Ouachita County Assessor — Tonya McKenzie
Address: 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 837-2240
Fax: (870) 837-2242
Ouachita County Collector — David Norwood
Address: P.O. Box 217, Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 837-2260
Property tax records are also searchable through ARCountyData.com, which offers a public search of Ouachita County personal property and real estate tax records.
Ouachita County Family Court Records
Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and other domestic relations matters are filed in the Circuit Court's domestic relations division and processed through the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk's Office at 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden. Filing a new domestic relations case carries the standard $165.00 circuit court filing fee; reopening or modifying an existing domestic order costs $50.00.
Divorce case records that are not sealed are accessible through the Search ARCourts portal or in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office. If you need self-help forms for a domestic proceeding, the Arkansas Judiciary's official court forms library provides standardized documents for circuit court filings.
Marriage Records
Marriage records dating back to 1917 are available from the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records Division. Each copy costs $10.00. You can request records by mail, by phone at (866) 209-9482, or in person at the ADH office. Mail-in requests require a completed Marriage Coupon Application, a copy of acceptable ID, and a check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health, sent to:
Arkansas Department of Health — Vital Records
Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requesters who arrive before 4:00 PM are generally processed the same day. You can also contact the Ouachita County local health unit at 740 California Avenue SW, Camden, AR 71701 — (870) 836-5033 — for local access to ADH services and assistance with vital record requests.
Divorce Records
Divorce records are maintained by the same ADH Vital Records Division. The fee is $10.00 per copy, and requests follow the same mail, phone, or in-person process used for marriage records. Mail requests require a completed Divorce Coupon Application.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are managed by the ADH Vital Records Division and are restricted to eligible individuals — typically the person named on the record and their immediate family members.
| Record Type | First Copy | Additional Copies |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $12.00 | $10.00 each (ordered simultaneously) |
| Death certificate | $10.00 | $8.00 each (ordered simultaneously) |
Mail requests for birth records use the Birth Certificate Application; death record requests use the Death Certificate Application. All mail submissions require a copy of acceptable ID and payment by check or money order. Phone orders can be placed at (866) 209-9482.
Ouachita County Probate Court Records
Arkansas does not have a standalone probate court. Probate proceedings — estate administrations, will probations, guardianships, and conservatorship petitions — are all filed within the Circuit Court system. In Ouachita County, that means everything goes through the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk's Office. The County Clerk's Office has maintained marriage, wills, and probate records dating back to 1876 and can be reached at (870) 837-2220.
Probate records are generally public and accessible to anyone who submits a proper request. Common probate matters filed in Ouachita County include:
- Administration of decedent estates (testate and intestate)
- Probation and filing of wills
- Appointment of personal representatives and executors
- Guardianship petitions for minors and incapacitated adults
- Conservatorship appointments
- Petitions to sell estate property
Searching Probate Records
- Online: Search probate case information free of charge through the Search ARCourts portal using the decedent's name or a case number.
- In person: Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office at 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, AR 71701 during regular business hours. Staff will locate the file; copies are available at standard rates ($0.50/page self-service; $1.00/page staff-assisted; $5.00 for certified copies).
- By mail: Send a written request to P.O. Box 667, Camden, AR 71711. Include the decedent's name, approximate year of filing, a self-addressed stamped envelope for return correspondence, and payment for applicable copy fees.
The Arkansas Judiciary also publishes official probate division forms for estate and guardianship proceedings — including a demand for notice of proceedings — which can be downloaded and submitted to the clerk's office as part of a probate filing.
For genealogical researchers, the Ouachita County ARGenWeb project notes that the County Clerk holds marriage, wills, and probate records from 1876 to the present, making it a useful resource for historical estate and family research that may not yet appear in the current court management system.