Sebastian County Court Records
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Sebastian County spans the western border of Arkansas, with Fort Smith — the state's second-largest city — serving as the county seat. The county operates two courthouse locations, one in Fort Smith and one in Greenwood, and its courts handle the full spectrum of legal proceedings, including felonies, civil disputes, domestic relations cases, and probate matters. The 12th Judicial Circuit Court and several district courts make up the trial court structure here, all producing case records that the public may access under state law.
If you're researching a court case in Arkansas, you have several options: contact the clerk of court directly, visit courthouse public access terminals in person, or use online search tools maintained by the state judiciary. ArkansasCourts.us can help you connect with publicly available court case information, court forms, and other judicial branch resources. The Arkansas Judiciary also operates the Search ARCourts platform (also known as CourtConnect), a free public tool for searching case data from courts statewide that use the Contexte Case Management System.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Sebastian County?
Your approach will depend on which court heard the matter, how old the case is, and whether you need basic information or certified copies of documents.
Online Search
The Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect case search lets anyone look up circuit court cases across Sebastian County by party name or case number at no charge. The system returns basic case data and some documents for cases filed in the 12th Judicial Circuit.
The Greenwood District Court Case Inquiry portal is a separate free search tool covering criminal, traffic, civil, and small claims matters handled by the Greenwood Division. Records in that system go back to the mid-1980s for criminal and traffic matters and to 1998 for civil and small claims cases.
In-Person Requests
You can access records at either courthouse during regular business hours. Both Fort Smith and Greenwood maintain public access kiosks for self-directed research.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Clerk – Fort Smith | 901 South B Street, Room 205, Fort Smith, AR 72901 | (479) 782-1046 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Circuit Clerk – Greenwood | 301 E. Center, Room 103, Greenwood, AR 72936 | (479) 996-4175 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Circuit Clerk Records Office | Parker Annex, 40 South 4th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901 | (479) 784-1581 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
If the case is no longer open and more than two years old, the Parker Annex Records Office handles retrieval requests.
Division-Specific Phone Extensions
For targeted inquiries, call (479) 441-1310 and use the extension for the division you need:
- Civil: ext. 2965 or 2951
- Criminal: ext. 2955, 2958, or 2960
- Domestic Relations: ext. 2964, 2950, or 2953
- Juvenile: ext. 2952 or 2966
- Probate: ext. 2954 or 2956
Copy Fees
Copies of circuit court records cost $0.50 per page when picked up in person and $1.00 per page when mailed. Certified copies carry an additional $5.00 fee.
Are Court Records Public in Sebastian County?
Most court records in Sebastian County are open to the public. Two legal frameworks govern access: the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (Ark. Code Ann. 25-19-101 through -112) and Administrative Order No. 19 of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Under these rules, anyone can request a court record from its custodian without explaining why or proving state residency.
That said, several categories of records and information are exempt from public disclosure:
- Medical records submitted as part of court proceedings
- Grand jury minutes
- Adoption records
- Unpublished drafts of judicial decisions and opinions
- Sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and credit card data
- Addresses of petitioners who requested anonymity in domestic protection order cases
- Juvenile court records (state law prohibits the Circuit Clerk from discussing any juvenile case)
When a document contains both public and confidential content, the court may redact the protected portions before releasing it. In some situations, access to an entire record may be restricted to the parties in the case, their attorneys, or authorized government entities. A court order may be needed for sealed or otherwise restricted files. The filing fee to petition for sealing a case record is $50.00.
Sebastian County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Sebastian County run through two court levels. The Circuit Court handles felony prosecutions, while the district courts process misdemeanor charges, traffic violations, city ordinance infractions, and felony preliminary hearings. The Fort Smith District Court has exclusive jurisdiction within Fort Smith city limits, and the Greenwood District Court covers the rest of Sebastian County outside Fort Smith and Barling.
Searching Criminal Court Cases
- Use the CourtConnect case search to look up circuit court criminal cases by defendant name or case number.
- Access the Greenwood District Court's online Case Inquiry portal for misdemeanor and traffic matters in that division.
- Visit either courthouse during business hours to use public access kiosks.
- Contact the Circuit Clerk's criminal division at (479) 441-1310, ext. 2955, 2958, or 2960.
Arrest and Custody Records
The Sebastian County Sheriff maintains an Inmate Inquiry portal where you can search for individuals currently in custody by name, booking date, or booking number. The Sheriff's Office is at 800 South A Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, and can be reached at (479) 783-1051 (24-hour line).
Statewide Criminal History Checks
The Arkansas State Police operates two systems for criminal background information:
- Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) — Open to the public without the subject's consent. Requires first name, last name, sex, and date of birth. Each search costs $24.00 (non-refundable).
- Online Criminal Background Check System — Available to those mandated by law to perform a check or who have the subject's signed consent. Each search costs $22.00.
The Circuit Clerk's office does not perform criminal history searches except in connection with petitions to seal a record.
District Court Filing and Service Fees (Fort Smith Division)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Criminal case fines | Payable to District Court or online |
| Service by Sheriff | $50.00 per person |
| Certified mail service | $10.86 |
Sebastian County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Sebastian County is split between the circuit and district courts based on the amount at stake. District courts hear civil matters involving $25,000 or less, including small claims and landlord-tenant evictions. The circuit court handles all other civil actions.
District Court Civil Filing Fees (Greenwood Division)
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil case filing | $80.00 |
| Small claims filing | $65.00 |
| Writ of eviction | $80.00 |
| Garnishment | $10.00 |
| Writ of execution | $10.00 |
| Transcript of judgment | $5.00 |
| Certified documents | $5.00 |
| Authentication | $5.00 |
| Copies | $0.50/page (up to 10 pages); $0.25/page (11+) |
The Fort Smith District Court follows similar fees: $80.00 for civil filings (plus a $2.50 summons fee) and $65.00 for small claims.
Circuit Court Civil Filing Fee: $165.00 for initiating a cause of action.
How to Obtain Civil Records
Civil case records from the circuit court can be accessed through the CourtConnect portal or by contacting the Circuit Clerk's office. As of August 2023, Sebastian County Circuit Court requires mandatory e-filing for civil cases, meaning newly filed documents are entered electronically through the court's system.
District court civil records are available through the individual court clerk's offices or their online case search tools. Have a party name or case number ready before you call or visit, and be prepared to pay copy fees. Self-help forms for civil cases, including pro se answer forms, are available from the Circuit Clerk's office. Additional self-help legal forms can be found through Arkansas Legal Services.
Sebastian County Family Court Records
Domestic relations matters in Sebastian County — including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and orders of protection — fall under the Circuit Court's jurisdiction. There is no standalone family court; all family law cases go through the circuit court's domestic relations division.
Divorce Records
Divorce (dissolution of marriage) cases are filed and resolved in the Circuit Court. Where you request records depends on where the case was filed:
- Fort Smith filings: Contact the Circuit Clerk at (479) 782-1046
- Greenwood filings: Contact (479) 996-4175
- Closed cases older than two years: Contact the Records Office at the Parker Annex, (479) 784-1581
The filing fee for a divorce action is $165.00. Copies cost $0.50 per page picked up in person or $1.00 per page mailed. Free self-help divorce forms are available through Arkansas Legal Services for cases without children or property. Parties with children are advised to retain an attorney.
For domestic relations inquiries, call (479) 441-1310, ext. 2964, 2950, or 2953.
Child Support
Questions about enforcing, establishing, or modifying child support should go to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office at (479) 783-8976 or the Office of Child Support Enforcement at (479) 471-8855. The Arkansas Judiciary publishes child support guidelines and charts on its website.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses and certificates are held by the Sebastian County Clerk/Recorder's Office, which maintains marriage records going back to 1865. Licenses are issued Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $60.00 (cash or credit card) |
| Certified copy of marriage license | $5.00 |
| Photocopy (in person) | $0.50 |
| Photocopy (by mail) | $1.00 |
Both applicants must appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID. Certified copy requests can be submitted at either County Clerk location:
Fort Smith Courthouse
35 South 6th, Room 102, Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone: (479) 782-5065
Greenwood Courthouse
301 E. Center, Room 104, Greenwood, AR 72936
Phone: (479) 996-4195
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates for events in Sebastian County are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records division. You can request records online, by mail using the birth or death record application form, in person, or by telephone at (866) 209-9482. Birth certificates cost $12 for the first copy ($10 each additional); death certificates cost $10 for the first copy ($8 each additional). Mail requests should be sent with payment and a copy of acceptable ID to:
Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Questions can be directed to adh.VitalRecords@arkansas.gov.
Sebastian County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Sebastian County are heard by the Circuit Court, with the Circuit Clerk serving as the Probate Clerk. As of August 2023, the court requires mandatory e-filing for new probate cases. All probate records are kept at the Circuit Clerk's offices in Fort Smith and Greenwood.
Types of Probate Proceedings and Filing Fees
| Proceeding | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| General probate (estate administration, will admission, heirship determination, will contests) | $165.00 |
| Guardianship of the person or estate | $165.00 |
| Adoption (step-parent, new baby, guardianship adoption with consent) | $165.00 |
| Adoption transferred from juvenile to probate | No fee |
| Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate | $25.00 |
| Certified copy of small estate affidavit | $5.00 each |
| Filing a will for safekeeping | $5.00 |
Small Estate Procedures
An Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate may be used when an estate is valued at less than $100,000 and at least 45 days have passed since the date of death. This simplified process can be used to access bank accounts, transfer mineral royalties, or address real estate through newspaper publication. Forms are available at the Circuit Clerk's office or through the Arkansas Judiciary's probate forms page.
Guardianship
Guardianship proceedings come into play when an individual cannot make competent decisions due to age or mental limitations, when someone needs access to a person's assets for care or necessities, or when healthcare and living decisions must be made on someone's behalf. Both Guardianship of the Person and Guardianship of the Estate are filed in the probate division at a fee of $165.00 each.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information is available through the CourtConnect portal by name or case number. In-person access is available at both courthouse locations using public access kiosks. For probate-specific questions, call (479) 441-1310, ext. 2954 or 2956.
Wills for Safekeeping
Original wills may be deposited with the Circuit Clerk's office for a $5.00 filing fee. Two individuals must be designated as eligible to retrieve the will upon the testator's death.