Courts in Arkansas include district as well as city courts. Arkansas court records are available at both levels for property and contract rights. Court records on this particular level will also include DWI/DUI court records, misdemeanor case records, traffic violation and preliminary hearings. In addition, Arkansas court records pertaining to small claims cases up to $50,000 are also included in those available through the district court.

For Arkansas court records that involve contracts, tort or property over $100, in addition to miscellaneous civil cases, you will need to look to the circuit court in the state. The circuit court in Arkansas is responsible for maintaining records related to mental health, estate and civil appeals. This is also where you need to go if you need information on domestic relations, as well as exclusive juvenile, criminal appeal and felony records.

In Arkansas, Supreme Court records and records from the court of appeals will include information related to jurisdictions in civil, juvenile, administrative agency and interlocutory decision cases. You will also need to go through the court of appeals to find Arkansas court records related to non-capital criminal cases.

The only place to find Arkansas court records related to capital criminal cases, certified questions from federal courts and lawyer disciplinary actions is through the Supreme Court in the state.

 Know Your Rights

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act passed in 1967 with amendments added in the following years to define the law. According to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, "a record of the performance or lack of performance of official functions, which are or should be carried out by a public official or employee, a governmental agency, or any other agency wholly or partially supported by public funds or expending public funds" is considered open to public domain. This includes any form of data kept in public offices or by public employees, including recordings such as tapes, films or CDs.

The law also states, "All public records (except those with specific exemptions) shall be open to inspection and copying by any citizen of the State of Arkansas during the regular business hours of the custodian of the records." However, records that are unavailable because they are in storage or actively in use do not have to be supplied to the requester immediately, yet there is only a three-day limit on the notification of availability of Arkansas court records.

Arkansas court records that may not be available to the public include:

·         Ongoing investigations by any law enforcement agency

·         Unpublished drafts of judicial opinions

·         Grand jury minutes

·         State income tax records

·         Identities of law enforcement workers who are currently working undercover

·         Court documents that are closed

·         Documents deemed an invasion of privacy, such as student records, adoption records, medical records or personal records

Additional information related to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Arkansas court records can be found easily on the state's official website, in addition to a great deal of other valuable information that may help you find all of the details that you seek.

• Arkansas State Court Districts

• Arkansas State Legislature