Pulaski County Court Records
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Pulaski County is Arkansas's most populous county, with Little Rock — the state capital — as its county seat. The court system here is broad and includes multiple divisions of the Circuit Court, a District Court, and a Juvenile Court, together covering criminal, civil, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile matters. The Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk is the primary office responsible for maintaining court records, while the Pulaski County District Court keeps its own files for misdemeanor, traffic, and small claims proceedings.
You can locate Pulaski County court records through several channels: clerk offices, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and online search tools. The state judiciary operates Search ARCourts, a free portal for looking up cases filed in courts using the Contexte case-management system. ArkansasCourts.us may also help you find publicly available court case information across the state. For county-specific records, the Circuit Clerk's website offers direct search functions for court orders, marriage licenses, DBA filings, and ministers' credentials.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Pulaski County?
Pulaski County court cases can be searched online, in person, by mail, or by phone. For most people, the fastest place to start is the statewide Search ARCourts portal, which lets you search by party name, case number, or case type.
Online search steps:
- Navigate to the Search ARCourts case-information page.
- Select Pulaski County from the court-selection menu.
- Enter either a party name (last name, first name) or a case number.
- Choose the relevant case type (civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, or juvenile) and filing-date range.
- Review the results, which display parties, case status, filing date, and docket entries.
In-person and mail requests:
Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk County Records Department
Address: 401 West Markham St., Suite 103, Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 340-8500
Fax: (501) 421-0293
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
You can also submit requests through the FOIA request portal. When contacting the clerk's office, have the full name of the party, the approximate case date, and the case type ready. Certified copies cost $5.00 each and can be picked up in person or mailed via USPS. Payment may be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card in person, or by check or money order by mail. An online payment portal is available for certain transactions.
Are Court Records Public in Pulaski County?
Court records in Pulaski County are generally presumed open to the public under two overlapping legal frameworks: the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 25-19-101 to 25-19-110) and Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 19, which specifically governs access to and confidentiality of court records.
Under Administrative Order No. 19, you do not need to be an Arkansas resident to request records, and you are not required to explain why you want them. Access includes the right to obtain copies, not merely view documents during business hours.
Records excluded from public access include:
- Juvenile court files (except as permitted by statute)
- Adoption records
- Grand jury minutes
- Medical, mental health, and drug-test records submitted to the court
- Social Security numbers (the last four digits may be disclosed)
- Documents shielded by a court order or protective order
- Judicial deliberative materials such as unpublished draft opinions, judges' notes, and juror communications
- Security plans and threat-assessment information
- Sealed records, which courts may neither disclose nor acknowledge
For records created before January 1, 2009, clerks may redact or restrict information previously considered public if confidential data appears in remotely accessible files. If you need access to otherwise restricted records, you must submit a written, notarized request showing that the public interest outweighs the potential harm from disclosure. Arkansas law also allows individuals to petition to seal certain criminal records once sentencing conditions are satisfied (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 16-90-601, 16-90-605, 16-90-901, 16-93-301, 16-93-303).
Pulaski County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Pulaski County are divided between the Circuit Court — which handles felonies and some misdemeanors — and the District Court, which covers misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and warrant matters. The Circuit Court operates seventeen divisions, most of which are located at the Pulaski County Courthouse at 401 West Markham Street in Little Rock. The 8th and 10th Divisions are located at 3001 West Roosevelt Road, Little Rock, AR 72204.
Searching criminal court records:
- Online: Use the Search ARCourts portal and select a criminal case type for Pulaski County.
- By phone or email: Contact the Circuit Clerk at (501) 340-8500 or email courtrecords@pulaskiclerkar.gov. For District Court criminal or traffic questions, call (501) 340-6832 or email dcct@pulaskicounty.net.
District Court criminal contacts:
Pulaski County District Court
Address: 3001 W. Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: (501) 340-6824
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Online payments: pay.arcourts.gov
Statewide criminal background checks are available through the Arkansas State Police. Two online systems are available: a consent-based criminal background check at $22.00 per search, and an open criminal history search at $24.00 per search for any purpose.
Arrest and inmate information can be accessed through the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, located at 2900 South Woodrow, Little Rock, AR 72206 (Phone: (501) 340-6600). The Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate roster with current booking data, charges, and custody status. The Arkansas Department of Correction also provides a statewide inmate search tool.
Pulaski County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Pulaski County are heard by both the Circuit Court and the District Court, depending on the amount in controversy and the case type.
Circuit Court civil cases include contract disputes, personal injury claims, appeals of administrative decisions, and civil actions exceeding District Court jurisdiction. All new civil cases are filed through the Central Receiving Department at Room 120 of the Pulaski County Courthouse, 401 West Markham Street.
Key civil filing fees (from the Court Filings Fee Schedule):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil case | $165.00 |
| Civil/criminal appeal | $150.00 |
| Foreign judgment (out of state) | $165.00 |
| Writ of garnishment | $20.00 |
| Writ of execution | $20.00 |
| Contempt | $165.00 |
| Certificate of indebtedness | $8.00 |
| Certified copy | $5.00 |
| Regular copy first page | $0.50 |
| Regular copy each additional page | $0.25 |
District Court civil and small claims cases are handled at 3001 W. Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204. The District Court provides downloadable small claims forms on its website. For questions about civil or small claims matters at the District Court, call (501) 340-6845.
Attorneys may file documents electronically through the eFiling system. Self-represented litigants must file in person or by mail. Civil forms — including the civil cover sheet and civil subpoena — are available on the Circuit Clerk's Central Receiving page.
Pulaski County Family Court Records
Pulaski County does not operate a separate family court. Domestic relations cases — including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, annulment, and domestic abuse protection orders — are heard by the Circuit Court's various divisions. The Circuit Clerk's Central Receiving Department files all new domestic relations cases at Room 120, 401 West Markham Street.
Domestic relations filing fees (from the Court Filings Fee Schedule):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce | $165.00 |
| Divorce with support | $165.00 |
| Child support | $165.00 |
| Custody/visitation | $165.00 |
| Paternity | $165.00 |
| Adoption | $165.00 |
| Annulment | $165.00 |
| Domestic abuse protection order | $165.00 |
| Separate maintenance | $165.00 |
Domestic relations cover sheets, confidential information sheets, and subpoena forms are available on the Central Receiving page. Orders of protection may be filed at no charge. Victims can obtain forms from the clerk's office, and the court advocate with Arkansas Women and Children First (Room 105, Phone: (501) 372-5630, Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) can assist with the filing process.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Marriage License Department of the Circuit Clerk's office. The fee is $60.00, payable by cash or credit card only. Both applicants must appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID. No appointment is required. Certified copies of recorded marriage licenses cost $5.00. An online marriage license search is available on the clerk's website.
Birth and death certificates are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records office. Orders can be placed online, by mail, by phone at (866) 209-9482, or in person at 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Fees are as follows:
- Birth certificate: $12.00 first copy, $10.00 each additional
- Death certificate: $10.00 first copy, $8.00 each additional
- Online orders: additional $5.00 processing fee and $1.85 identity-verification fee
Divorce records are also available from the Vital Records office for events occurring in Arkansas from 1923 onward, at $10.00 per copy.
Pulaski County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Pulaski County — including estate administration, probate of wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust-related filings — are handled by the Circuit Court. New probate cases are filed through the Central Receiving Department at 401 West Markham Street, Room 120.
Probate filing fees (from the Court Filings Fee Schedule):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Administration of estate | $165.00 |
| Probate of will | $165.00 |
| Probate of will without administration | $165.00 |
| Guardianship | $165.00 |
| Conservatorship | $165.00 |
| No administration | $165.00 |
| Special administration | $165.00 |
| Trust agreement | $165.00 |
| Affidavit for collection of small estate | $25.00 |
| Will for safekeeping | $5.00 |
| Durable Power of Attorney filing | $10.00 |
| Guardianship accounting | $50.00 |
| Deceased accounting | $55.00 |
| Inventory (first $1,000 of estate) | $2.00 |
| Inventory (each additional $1,000, max $12.00) | $0.50 |
| Certified copy | $5.00 |
For estates valued under $100,000, a simplified small estate process is available. The petitioner files an Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate (filing fee $25.00; certified copy $5.00). The affidavit form and additional probate forms — including the probate cover sheet — are downloadable from the Circuit Clerk's website.
To request existing probate records, contact the County Records Department at (501) 340-8500 or mail a written request with payment to Pulaski Circuit and County Clerk, County Records, 401 West Markham St., Suite 103, Little Rock, AR 72201. Probate case information is also searchable through the Search ARCourts portal by selecting the probate case type under Pulaski County.