St. Francis County Court Records Search
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St. Francis County sits in eastern Arkansas, with Forrest City as its county seat. The county's court system covers the full range of legal matters — felony prosecutions, civil disputes, family proceedings, and probate filings — handled across a Circuit Court and multiple district court divisions. Each step of a legal proceeding generates records: initial pleadings, docket entries, hearing orders, and final judgments. Those records are held by specific clerk's offices at the county courthouse, and the right place to look depends on what type of case it was.
If you're starting from scratch, ArkansasCourts.us can help you identify court locations, clerk contact information, and available case lookup tools across Arkansas. The Arkansas Judiciary also runs the Search ARCourts portal — a free online system where you can search publicly available case information by participant name or case number for courts using the state's Contexte case management platform. For records that haven't been digitized yet, you'll need to visit or write to the relevant clerk's office directly.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Francis County?
Which office holds the record depends on which court handled the case. Circuit Court records — covering felony criminal, civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and probate matters — are kept by the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk. District court records are held by the clerk of whichever district court division heard the case.
St. Francis County Circuit Clerk — Alan T. Smith
Address: 313 S. Izard Street, Suite 8, Forrest City, AR 72335
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1775, Forrest City, AR 72336
Phone: (870) 261-1715 / (870) 261-1724
Fax: (870) 261-1723
Standard Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil/domestic circuit court case filing | $165.00 |
| Case reopening or modification | $50.00 |
| Staff-produced copies | $1.00 per page |
| Self-produced copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per document |
The Arkansas Judiciary publishes a complete statewide schedule on its filing fee information page, covering all court types and filing categories. Note that St. Francis County Circuit Court became mandatory for e-filing in non-monetary existing cases effective January 10, 2023.
District Court Locations
St. Francis County has two district court divisions. The Forrest City Division is the county's pilot state district court, operating under an expanded standing order that allows the district judge to hear certain referred matters from circuit court — including uncontested civil debt collection cases, garnishments, forcible entry matters, and felony first appearances.
St. Francis County District Court — Forrest City Division
Address: 615 East Cross Street, Forrest City, AR 72335
Phone: (870) 261-1410
Fax: (870) 261-1411
Sessions: Trials held Mondays and Wednesdays; Plea and Arraignment held Fridays at 9:00 AM
St. Francis County District Court — Madison Division
Address: 302 Dr. Martin Luther King, P.O. Box 109, Madison, AR 72359
Phone: (870) 633-2172
Fax: (870) 630-0935
Are Court Records Public in St. Francis County?
Arkansas law starts from a clear presumption that court records are open to the public. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 19 together govern public access to court records statewide. Records created by courts and government offices in performing their official functions are generally open to anyone who requests them.
Administrative Order No. 19 identifies specific categories excluded from public access unless a court order says otherwise:
- Information that federal law prohibits from general public disclosure
- Information that the Arkansas Code Annotated restricts from public access
- Data protected by court order or regulation
- Social Security numbers
- Personal identification numbers (PINs)
- Account numbers for assets, liabilities, accounts, and credit cards
- Details regarding sealed or expunged cases
Beyond those categorical exemptions, sensitive personal identifiers embedded within otherwise public filings are routinely redacted. If a record you request falls into a restricted category, the clerk's office will confirm the restriction without disclosing the protected content.
St. Francis County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal prosecutions in St. Francis County are handled by the Circuit Court, which operates as part of the First Judicial Circuit of Arkansas. This circuit covers Lee, St. Francis, and Cross counties. Five circuit judges serve the district across separate divisions.
First Judicial Circuit Judges Serving St. Francis County
| Division | Judge | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1 | Hon. E. Dion Wilson | Helena-West Helena (P.O. Box 2775) | (870) 338-5518 |
| Division 2 | Hon. Danny Glover | Wynne, 705 East Union St., Room 11 | (870) 238-3831 |
| Division 3 | Hon. Christopher W. Morledge | Forrest City (P.O. Box 1225) | (870) 261-1740 |
| Division 4 | Hon. Chalk S. Mitchell | Helena-West Helena (P.O. Box 177) | (870) 338-5522 |
| Division 5 | Hon. Kathie Hess | Forrest City (P.O. Box 2232) | (870) 633-5995 |
Criminal case records — charging documents, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing information — are filed with and maintained by the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk. Non-confidential criminal case information can be searched free of charge through the Search ARCourts portal. If you need certified copies of criminal case documents, submit a direct request to the Circuit Clerk's Office.
Arrest Records and Jail Information
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible online inmate roster showing current detainees at the St. Francis County Detention Center, sortable by booking time and including charges and booking dates. The Sheriff/Collector is Bobby May.
St. Francis County Sheriff's Office
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1817, Forrest City, AR 72336
Phone: (870) 261-1795
Fax: (870) 261-1784
For statewide criminal history records, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check System provides conviction information subject to authorization requirements. Mail-in background check request forms are available through the Arkansas State Police.
District Court Criminal Jurisdiction
Misdemeanors and traffic violations are heard in the Forrest City District Court. Under its pilot standing order, the district judge is also authorized to issue search warrants and arrest warrants, conduct first appearance hearings, appoint counsel, and conduct preliminary hearings for felony matters — all referred from the Circuit Court under Administrative Order No. 18 of the Arkansas Supreme Court.
St. Francis County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in St. Francis County is shared between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the dollar amount at issue and the nature of the claim.
Jurisdictional Breakdown
Under the St. Francis County District Court's standing order, the district court has original civil jurisdiction as follows:
- Exclusive jurisdiction over contract matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $100.00
- Concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Court for contract matters and recovery of personal property up to $25,000.00
- Concurrent jurisdiction over personal property damage claims up to $25,000.00
The Circuit Court retains full jurisdiction over larger civil claims and all matters beyond the district court's reach.
Searching Civil Records
- Online: The Search ARCourts portal provides free access to civil case docket information by name or case number.
- In person: Visit the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk's Office at 313 S. Izard Street, Suite 8, Forrest City, or the relevant district court division. Staff will locate the file; copies are available at standard per-page rates.
- By mail: Submit a written request to the Circuit Clerk's mailing address at P.O. Box 1775, Forrest City, AR 72336, identifying the parties, approximate filing year, and documents needed. Include payment for copy fees.
Property Records
The Circuit Clerk's Office records all land instruments for St. Francis County, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. The St. Francis County Assessor's Office handles property appraisals and assessment records, with free online real estate search available through ARCountyData.com. The Assessor is Ginadell Adams.
St. Francis County Assessor
Address: 313 S. Izard Street, Forrest City, AR 72335
Phone: (870) 261-1710
Fax: (870) 261-1714
For tax payment records, the St. Francis County Tax Collector Record Search provides a public lookup of personal property and real estate tax data.
St. Francis County Family Court Records
Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic abuse, and related family law matters are filed in the Circuit Court's domestic relations division, with all case files maintained by the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk. New domestic relations circuit court filings carry a $165.00 fee; modifications to existing domestic orders cost $50.00.
Divorce decrees and domestic relations records that haven't been sealed can be searched through the Search ARCourts portal or accessed in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office. Under the district court's standing order, the district judge may also hear pre-divorce agreed temporary orders, post-divorce agreed modifications to decrees, and ex parte petitions for temporary protection orders — making the district court a useful resource for certain uncontested or emergency family matters.
Marriage Records
Marriage records from January 1917 to the present are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records Division. A copy of a marriage certificate costs $10.00, plus a $5.00 standard processing fee for online orders. Requests are accepted online, by mail, or in person at the ADH office (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM). Phone orders are accepted toll-free at (866) 209-9482.
The St. Francis County Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses in the county and also maintains marriage records. Informational copies of marriage records can be searched using the Marriage Record Search portal provided by ARCountyData.com. The County Clerk is Brandi H. McCoy.
St. Francis County Clerk's Office
Address: 313 S. Izard Street, Suite 2, Forrest City, AR 72335
Phone: (870) 261-1725 / (870) 261-1729
Fax: (870) 630-1210
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Pre-1917 marriage records are held locally by the County Clerk, with records dating from 1875 available in the office. Historical records going back to 1862 may also be accessible through genealogical repositories.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees are filed with the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk. Divorce certificates — confirming the dissolution of a marriage, available for divorces finalized after 1923 — can be obtained from the ADH Vital Records Division. Each copy costs $10.00. Mail requests require a completed Divorce Coupon Application, valid ID, and a check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health, sent to: Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are issued exclusively by the Arkansas Department of Health. Birth records cost $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously; online orders also carry a $5.00 processing fee and a $1.85 non-refundable identity verification fee. Death records cost $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Both record types are restricted under Arkansas State Board of Health Rule 15 to eligible individuals. Requests may be submitted online through the Arkansas Vital Records portal, by phone at (866) 209-9482, by mail using the Birth Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application, or in person at the ADH office or the St. Francis Local Health Unit in Forrest City.
St. Francis County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in St. Francis County — decedent estate administration, the probation of wills, guardianship appointments, conservatorships, and adoptions — are administered through the county court system. The St. Francis County Clerk's Office acts as clerk to the probate court and is the primary keeper of probate case files. The County Clerk files all instruments in decedent estate cases, maintains adoption and guardianship records, and keeps the permanent official record of all probate court proceedings. Records dating from 1910 are on file at the County Clerk's Office, with historical probate records extending back to 1862 available through genealogical archives.
How to Request Probate Records
- In person: Visit the County Clerk's Office at 313 S. Izard Street, Suite 2, Forrest City, AR 72335, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Bring the decedent's name and approximate filing year. Copy fees apply.
- By mail: Write to the County Clerk at the same address, identifying the decedent, approximate year of filing, and specific documents needed. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for copies.
- Online search: Probate cases appearing in the circuit court case management system may be searched at no cost through the Arkansas Judiciary case search portal by name or case number.
Common Probate Filings in St. Francis County
- Administration of testate and intestate decedent estates
- Filing and probation of wills
- Appointment of personal representatives and executors
- Adult guardianship petitions for incapacitated persons
- Minor guardianship petitions
- Conservatorship appointments for property management
- Involuntary commitment probable cause hearings (also handled by the district pilot court judge under the standing order)
For additional historical research, the Arkansas State Archives holds microfilmed and digitized collections from Arkansas county courts that may supplement records held at the county level — particularly useful for genealogical or estate research involving older filings.