White County Court Records Search
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White County is situated in central Arkansas with the city of Searcy serving as the county seat. The county’s judicial operations fall within the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, which also covers neighboring Prairie County. Court records produced by the circuit and district courts in White County — encompassing criminal case files, civil litigation documents, domestic relations filings, juvenile proceedings, and probate matters — are preserved and maintained by the designated clerk offices at the White County Courthouse and associated court locations.
For individuals seeking court records in Arkansas, several channels are available. Official clerk offices, in-person visits to the courthouse, and online databases maintained by the state judiciary all provide access to case information. ArkansasCourts.us can help users identify court locations, directories, and publicly accessible case data across the state. Within White County specifically, the Circuit Clerk’s office and the County Clerk’s office serve as the two principal custodians of court and probate records. The Arkansas Judiciary also operates an online case-search portal that covers courts using the statewide Contexte Case Management System, giving remote users the ability to look up case dockets, party information, and scheduling details without visiting the courthouse.
How to Look Up a Court Case in White County?
White County’s court system consists of one circuit court and multiple district courts spread across the county’s municipalities. The Circuit Court is divided into five subject-matter divisions — criminal, civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and probate — as established by Arkansas law. Circuit judges for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit include Hon. Daniel Brock (Division 1), based at the White County Justice Center at 2121 Benton Street, Searcy, AR 72143, Phone: (501) 203-0323 District court matters — including minor criminal offenses, traffic violations, and small claims — are handled by courts in several White County cities.
White County Circuit Court
Address: 300 North Spruce, Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: (501) 279-6203
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Circuit Clerk: Sara Brown-Carlton
White County District Courts:
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Searcy District Court | 1600 East Booth Road #600, P.O. Box 958, Searcy, AR 72145 | (501) 268-7622 | (501) 305-4638 |
| Beebe District Court | 201 West Illinois, Beebe, AR 72012 | (501) 882-8110 | (501) 882-8113 |
| Bald Knob District Court | P.O. Box 1119, Bald Knob, AR 72010 | (501) 724-5701 | (501) 724-2909 |
| Judsonia District Court | P.O. Box 306, Judsonia, AR 72081 | (501) 729-5222 | (501) 729-4431 |
| Kensett District Court | 202 South East 1st Street, P.O. Box 305, Kensett, AR 72082 | (501) 742-5156 | — |
| Bradford District Court | 308 West Walnut Street, Bradford, AR 72020 | (501) 344-2252 | (501) 344-2787 |
| McRae District Court | P.O. Box 189, McRae, AR 72012 | (501) 726-3621 | (501) 726-3013 |
| Pangburn District Court | P.O. Box 577, Pangburn, AR 72121 | (501) 728-4611 | (501) 728-4250 |
| Rose Bud District Court | P.O. Box 219, Rose Bud, AR 72137 | (501) 556-4967 | (501) 556-4209 |
Searching for a case online. The Arkansas Judiciary’s Search ARCourts portal allows users to look up case records by case ID, citation number, or participant name. The database covers circuit court filings for participating counties, including White County, and displays docket entries, hearing dates, parties, and disposition data. No account is required for basic searches.
Requesting records by mail or email. Written requests can be directed to the Circuit Clerk at 300 North Spruce, Searcy, AR 72143. Include the case number (if known), full names of the parties, and a description of the documents sought, along with payment for any applicable copy fees.
E-filing. White County accepts electronic filings through eFlex, the Arkansas Judiciary’s e-filing platform.
Are Court Records Public in White County?
Arkansas law strongly favors public access to government records. The Freedom of Information Act (Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq.) classifies records created by government entities — including court documents — as open records available for public inspection and copying. For court-specific records, Administrative Order No. 19, issued by the Arkansas Supreme Court, provides the governing framework. Under this order, court records are presumed accessible unless another law, statute, or court directive restricts them. Requesters do not need to state a reason for seeking records or obtain prior permission from a judge.
Records generally open to the public include:
- Criminal case filings, charges, and dispositions
- Civil complaints, motions, orders, and judgments
- Domestic relations docket information
- Probate petitions, inventories, and court orders
- Case and party indexes
- Administrative records such as court budget and fiscal documents
Records that are excluded from public access or confidential include:
- Social Security numbers and tax information contained in case files
- Adoption records
- Medical details and certain health-related information
- Juvenile court records (with limited exceptions)
- Grand jury minutes
- Sealed records pursuant to a court order
- Preliminary drafts of judicial opinions not yet published
- Personal notes, communications, and deliberative materials of judges, jurors, and court personnel
- Ongoing criminal investigation files
Administrative Order No. 19 also addresses remote electronic access, requiring that any court records made available online must have confidential information redacted, even if those records predate the order’s effective date. Records created before January 1, 2009, may still be redacted or restricted at the discretion of the clerk or court.
Anyone seeking access to records otherwise excluded from public inspection must file a written, notarized request demonstrating that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the potential harm. The court will hold a hearing within 30 days, and the standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence.
White County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in White County are prosecuted at the circuit court level for felonies and at the district court level for misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and lesser charges. The Circuit Clerk’s office maintains the official criminal case files, including complaints, warrants, arrest records tied to court proceedings, plea entries, sentencing orders, and disposition records.
How to search criminal court records:
- Online — Use Search ARCourts to look up a defendant by name, case number, or citation. Results include charges, hearing dates, and disposition information for circuit court cases.
- In person — Visit the Circuit Clerk’s office at 300 North Spruce, Searcy, during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).
- By mail — Send a written request to the Circuit Clerk with the defendant’s name and any identifying details.
Arrest and booking records are maintained by the White County Sheriff’s Office:
White County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 1600 East Booth Road, Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: (501) 279-6279
Jail: (501) 278-8050
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The Sheriff’s detention center provides inmate information through (501) 278-8050. For individuals incarcerated in state facilities, the Illinois Department of Corrections’ Individuals in Custody tool does not apply; instead, the Arkansas Department of Correction maintains its own inmate search systems.
Statewide criminal background checks are processed through the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Identification Bureau. Two methods are available:
- Online — The Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) search tool requires the subject’s full legal name, date of birth, and sex, plus a $24 fee. Users must have an account with the Information Network of Arkansas.
- By mail — Complete the ASP 122 form and mail it with a $25 check or money order (payable to Arkansas State Police) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau
1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209
Questions about criminal history requests can be directed to ACIC.Criminal.HistoryQuestions@DPS.Arkansas.Gov.
Under the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act — which applies only in Illinois — public dissemination is limited to conviction data. In Arkansas, however, criminal history access is governed by state law, and the ARCH system provides conviction information to the general public. Full RAP sheets remain restricted to the record subject and authorized criminal justice agencies.
White County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in White County is handled primarily by the Circuit Court for cases involving larger monetary claims, contract disputes, personal injury, property actions, and equity matters. The district courts manage small claims and certain lesser civil matters within their respective municipal jurisdictions.
Where civil records are kept. The Circuit Clerk’s office at the White County Courthouse (300 North Spruce, Searcy) maintains all circuit court civil filings. District court civil records are held at the respective district court locations listed earlier in this guide.
Searching civil records online. The Search ARCourts database covers civil case records, allowing searches by case ID, citation number, or participant name. The system displays complaint filings, motions, court orders, and judgment entries.
Filing fees. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403, the uniform filing fee for initiating a cause of action in circuit court is $150.00 (counties may charge up to $165.00 including local assessments). Other common fees include:
- Reopening a cause of action: $50.00
- Summons/subpoena: $2.50 per person
- Writs: $20.00
- Certified copies: $5.00 per page (per Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-413)
- Standard copies: $0.50 per page
Requesting records in person or by mail. Requesters can visit the Circuit Clerk or County Clerk during business hours. Mail requests should specify the case number or party names, identify the documents needed, and include payment. The Circuit Clerk also serves as the ex-officio county recorder, maintaining deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds — so property-related civil records and land filings may also be obtained through this office.
Property records. The White County Assessor’s Real Estate Department provides property data, and online searches can be conducted through the county’s approved data provider at ARCountyData.com, which offers free parcel searches by owner name or parcel number.
White County Family Court Records
Domestic relations cases in White County — including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and orders of protection — fall under the domestic relations division of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk maintains these case files, while the County Clerk handles marriage license issuance and probate-related guardianship records.
Divorce. Arkansas is a mixed-ground divorce state, recognizing both fault and no-fault grounds. Divorce filings and final decrees are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and are accessible through the Search ARCourts portal. Dissolution records can also be verified through the Arkansas Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records using the divorce record request form or the online request portal. The fee for a divorce certificate from the state is $10.00, plus a $5.00 processing fee and $1.85 identity verification fee.
Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk’s office:
White County Clerk
Address: 300 North Spruce (listed address at courthouse); primary office at 315 North Spruce, Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: (501) 279-6204
Fax: (501) 279-6260
Email: wcclerk@whitecountyclerk.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The marriage license fee in Arkansas is $60.00. Both applicants must appear in person with valid government-issued photo identification. The minimum age without parental consent is 18. The County Clerk maintains marriage records dating from the late 1800s to the present.
Certified copies of a marriage license from the County Clerk can be obtained for $10.00 (the fee for the state vital records office). For copies from the Arkansas Vital Records office, which maintains records dating to 1917, the cost is $10.00 plus the $5.00 processing fee and $1.85 verification fee. Requests can be submitted online through the marriage certificate request form, by mail using the paper application, or by phone at (866) 209-9482.
Vital records access restrictions. Under Rule 15.0 of the Rules for Administration of Vital Records, marriage, death, and divorce records become publicly available 50 years after the event date. Birth records are restricted for 100 years. Before those periods expire, access is limited to the record subject, spouse, parents, legal guardians, direct descendants, attorneys, or authorized agents. Applicants must present a valid driver’s license (or two alternate forms of ID) along with proof of their relationship to the record subject.
Birth and death certificates are maintained by the State of Arkansas, not the county. Certified copies can be ordered from the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, or online through the birth record request or death record request portals. Fees are $12.00 for the first birth certificate ($10.00 for additional copies) and $10.00 for a death certificate.
Adoption records are sealed and confidential under Arkansas law. They are maintained by the County Clerk’s office as part of probate records but are not available for public inspection.
White County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in White County are handled through the probate division of the Circuit Court, but the County Clerk serves as the probate clerk and maintains the official records. County Clerk Carla Barnett’s office manages:
- Decedent estates (both testate and intestate)
- Small estate proceedings
- Guardianship cases
- Civil commitments
- Adoption filings (sealed)
White County Clerk (Probate)
Address: 315 North Spruce, Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: (501) 279-6204
Fax: (501) 279-6260
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
How to search probate records. The Search ARCourts portal includes probate case information. Users can search by the decedent’s name or case number to review docket entries, filings, and scheduled hearings. In-person inspection of probate files is available at the County Clerk’s office during business hours.
Requesting copies. Contact the County Clerk’s office by phone, mail, or in person. Provide the case number or the decedent’s name and date of death. Copy fees follow the standard schedule: $0.50 per page for uncertified copies and $5.00 per page for certified copies.
Probate forms. The Arkansas Judiciary publishes official probate division forms, including petitions for appointment of personal representative, demand for notice of proceedings, reports, and inventory forms. These standardized forms are accepted in White County.
Filing fees. Initiating a probate case in circuit court follows the uniform fee schedule under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403. The base filing fee is $150.00, though the total may be higher depending on local assessments. Specific fees for small estates and guardianship filings should be confirmed directly with the County Clerk.
Most probate records — including estate petitions, inventories, accountings, and distribution orders — are publicly accessible. However, guardianship reports containing sensitive medical or financial data about a ward may be restricted, and adoption records processed through the probate docket remain sealed and confidential under Arkansas law. Researchers seeking historical probate records from the 19th and early 20th centuries may find indexed records through genealogical archives, but current records are best accessed through the County Clerk’s office or the Search ARCourts database.