Administrative Office of the Courts 625 Marshall Street Little Rock, AR 72201. The requester will also need to state the purpose of their request if they wish to obtain a waiver of applicable fees. They consist of State District Courts and Local District Courts. Arkansas criminal court records are available online through the CourtConnect system and the Public Access Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. This document contains information from the divorce certificate, decree, and every file throughout the procedure. Inquiry/Payment for Tax and Trash. On this platform, you can find the decisions of the Arkansas Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. Another way to find criminal records is through a third-party website. The custodian of the requested record would respond promptly to any request to access the record. Search by person name, business name or case type Search for judgments against a person or business Display case information and activities Cases filed by date search Exempted records include income tax records, ongoing law enforcement investigations, personnel records such as an individuals birth certificate, certified copies of some Arkansas vital records, adoption records, and so on. All of these factors are included in the determination of which court has specific jurisdiction over a case. Land Records. In Arkansas, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Department of Transportation (ArDOT), the state courts, and the Office of Driver Services, which is part of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), are all in charge of making and keeping these records. These are traffic violations that only have non-criminal penalties. Records of some District and Circuit Courts are also fully accessible on the CourtConnect platform, while others only have partial records maintained. After signing up, you can look at, download, and print the case and docket information you want. Find out how to easily search in our CourtConnect system. In courthouses, district court clerks preserve these records. By clicking I Agree, you acknowledge and agree to our Terms of Service, and agree not to use any information gathered through this website for any purpose under the FCRA, including but not limited to evaluating eligibility for personal credit, insurance, employment, or tenancy. They are often used in the adjudication of local misdemeanor charges, and to set bonds in felony cases that will be heard in higher courts. The FOIA was passed to deepen the confidence of Arkansans in public officials. The Arkansas Supreme Court is not mandated to review every decision of the Court of Appeals. Furthermore, other laws outside the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act may exempt records from disclosure to the general public. The state of Arkansas has been divided into two separate federal districts. You will need either the case number or party name. 201 S Broadway, Ste. The law gives the citizens of the state access to public records and meetings with certain exemptions. The judges are elected to serve an eight-year term, while the Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court appoints a Chief Judge among the twelve elected Judges. Little Rock AR. (501) 682-6849. This guide is indented to show users how to use the AOC court connect website. Only 9 out of 12 jurors must agree to decide on a small claims case. In addition, the court hears special sessions for mental health and civil appeals. CourtConnect is how the public may access court records online for those courts in Arkansas using the software. Generally, judgments specify an individual's legal rights, compels a party to fulfill certain obligations, or bear the penalties for a crime, depending on the case type. In addition to these two courts, there is also the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas which hears all bankruptcy cases filed in both districts. The notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the decision of the court has been entered. Arkansas Bankruptcy Records provide accounting information on individuals and businesses who have filed at the bankruptcy court because they are unable to meet their financial obligations to creditors. Skip to Main Content. The Arkansas Legal Judgment Records detail a court's ruling in criminal and civil matters filed within its jurisdiction. Yes, .css-9c6ohv{font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;font-family:"Arial",serif;color:#1b395e;text-transform:none;font-style:normal;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-9c6ohv:hover{color:#d30000;}Arkansas public records are documents pertaining to official government functions or state citizenry. In Arkansas, a judgment lien remains active on a debtor's property for about ten years, regardless of changes in property ownership. If only some parts of the record are confidential, the custodian has a duty to separate and redact the confidential part. Criminal Records. When filed against a debtor's property, a lien requires the debtor to repay a debt to clear the title of their property. Agents of such a person also cannot make requests, except if it is their attorney requesting a record that is subject to disclosure. The information retrievable from Arkansas Property Lien Records typically includes the following: In most instances, liens remain on a debtor's property until the payment of the obligation. 2900 South Woodrow You can also send a letter by mail to the county clerk or clerk of the circuit to obtain copies of these records. However, conducting a free public records search would depend on some factors such as the person who makes the request, the custodian of the record, how the record is stored, and the record sought. Fees may be charged for making copies and mailing records to a requester. Residents aren't required to state a purpose when requesting public records in Arkansas. Currently, Arkansas has 77 Local District Courts with 178 departments and are served by 90 part-time judges. District Courts in Arkansas have limited jurisdiction. Lawsuits of broken written contracts must be filed within five years after the offense, while slander expires after one year. Currently, there are about 28 Circuit Courts in Arkansas, with a total of 121 Circuit Court judges who are elected for a six-year term each. Also, it is only available to qualified persons such as the members of the jury. Go to the Arkansas CourtConnect portal. The type of dispute at hand and the magnitude of the offense committed determines the court that will try a case. Notwithstanding, they easily and expeditiously provide information pertaining to sex offenders, property records as well as uncertified death records, marriage records and divorce records. They have exclusive jurisdiction over all lower court decisions. The information in the registry includes names, photographs, offences, and physical descriptions. These include: Arkansas Code Annotated 16-90-1405 allows the sealing of misdemeanours 60 days after all conditions and court orders pertaining to the conviction have been fulfilled. The circuit courts are trial courts with general jurisdiction that preside over 28 separate judicial circuits. Clerks of courthouses are the custodian of court records, and they can make requested records available to interested persons in both paper and electronic forms. AOC Public CourtConnect provides online access to these records through the Contexte Case Management System. The requester would need to disclose the purpose of the request for the custodian to ascertain that it is a noncommercial purpose in the interest of the public. Counties also have records of court cases available online. No fees should be charged for the separation and redaction. Individuals using these third-party sites may have their personal data mined and used for unintended purposes. Find tips for how to best search for judgments against a person or business. In order to be eligible to serve as a circuit judge, the candidate must have already been licensed to practice law in the state for a minimum of 6 years. However, requestors must provide enough information that will help the clerks of courthouses find their case files. Custodians of public records may waive fees for requested records if the purpose of the request is non-commercial or in the public interest. Arkansas Code Annotated 25-19-105(b)(13). If you are interested in searching other types of public records in Arkansas you can view our court records search guide as well. In this system, the counties of Benton, Baxter, Calhoun, Boone, and Carrol provide online Arkansas civil court records for their Circuit Courts. There are four different levels of courts in Arkansas: the District Courts, Circuit Courts, Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. This will provide a basic way to see filings, vents and other public and criminal data. The Arkansas Judiciary makes records of criminal cases determined within the judicial system available to the public. The county charges $0.03 per page to make black and white copies of court records, while colored copies are available for $0.20 per page. The PACER system is not free to use and requires registration. Oral agreements have a limit of three years, and cases involving damages to personal properties must be filed within three years. The requester may use the name of the parties or the case number. The court staff will require details to search and retrieve the case record, such as the case number and litigants names. Director Marty Sullivan 501-682-9400. Therefore, any individual in Arkansas State can search public data for a free public record search. Arkansas Public Vital Records. Our Terms of Service prohibit the use of CourtCaseFinder.com to determine an individual's eligibility for personal credit or employment, tenant screening, or other business transactions, or for any unlawful purposes such as stalking or harassing others. The White County Courthouse was first built in 1871 and enlarged in 1912. The fact that the information is contained in employer records does not affect its confidentiality. Who should I contact if I have other questions? Some other free public records that may be examined physically include arrest records, incidence reports, sex offender registry, and inmate records. CourtConnect is the online public access to case information in Arkansas. The Arkansas Court of Appeals is the appellate court for Arkansas that acts as the intermediate step between lower courts such as Division Courts and Circuit Courts, and the state's higher court, the Arkansas Supreme Court. There is also an option to view a list of sex offenders who cannot be found by location due to failure to comply with registration requirements. The Supreme Court has to agree to review a case before the appeal is brought before the court. Such use of CourtCaseFinder.com may subject you to civil and criminal litigation and penalties. It lists the divorced parties, the date, and the place of separation. To be available on CourtConnect, a court must first be using the Contexte Case Management System. This will give you much more information on the case at hand like case description, and case parties that were involved. However, a 10 cents fee is charged for each subsequent page. Garland County Courthouse 501 Ouachita Avenue Hot Springs, AR 71901 Phone: 501-622-3600 Quick Links. The main legal objective in obtaining this record in the state is to appeal divorce judgments. Online case info for most Arkansas court cases can be found at the AOC CourtConnect portal. There are a total of four different types of courts that may render decisions on civil, criminal, tax, or domestic law. Mechanic's lien covers unpaid labor and material expenditures associated with building projects. The Internal CourtConnect portal allows Contexte users to find information on cases using their Contexte security if they know the name of a person on the case or the Case ID. CourtConnect is the online public access portal to case information for courts using Contexte. The first step to take when trying to obtain court records in Arkansas is to determine the court that tried the particular case requested and then approach the clerk of that court. The court personnel will need the case number and litigants' names to locate and acquire the case file. Government entities that allow the inspection of records usually provide terminals and lobbies for the inspection. CourtConnect is the online public access to case information in Arkansas. AOC CourtConnect We are experiencing intermittent issues. But note that most statutory liens in the state are renewable before the expiration date. Public records, according to the law, are records maintained by public employees within the scope of their employment. Finance & Administration Division Sam Kauffman 501-682-9400. A requester is not expected to explain the purpose of requesting a public record, and the requester has grounds to petition the agency if their request for a record is denied. Contexte is a web-based system that was chosen and adopted by the Arkansas Supreme Court and has been successfully implemented in both circuit and district courts in Arkansas. Persons who are being incarcerated for a felony are also prevented from successfully making requests for public records. Constitutional Amendment 80 eliminated the existence of separate courts for disputes that involve the determination of guilt and those that involve finding equity among parties to a case. Any qualified person can find public records in Arkansas state by identifying the state department that is the custodian of the record sought and making a request to the custodian. . In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide: While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources. This includes home and mobile telephone numbers, personal email addresses, and home addresses of public officials who are not elected. If you want to look up Arkansas Small Claims Records, contact the Court Clerk's Office or the records department of the court where the case began.