Find Court Records in Ashley County
Ashley County court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the county courthouse in Hamburg. These records cover civil cases, criminal proceedings, domestic relations filings, probate matters, and juvenile cases heard in the circuit court. You can search many records online through the state's free case search portal, or you can visit or write to the clerk's office for copies. One important thing to know about Ashley County: a courthouse fire in 1921 destroyed some older records, so very early documents may not be available. This guide covers how to find and request court records in Ashley County today.
Ashley County Court Records Overview
Ashley County Circuit Clerk
The Ashley County Circuit Clerk is located at the county courthouse in Hamburg and maintains all official circuit court records. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk handles records for civil cases, criminal cases, domestic relations matters, probate filings, and juvenile proceedings. This office is the primary source for any certified court document in Ashley County.
To request records in person, visit the courthouse during business hours. Bring the case number or the names of the parties if you have them. Plain copies cost $0.25 to $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document plus the per-page copy fee. For mail requests, send a written letter with the case details and a check or money order payable to the Ashley County Circuit Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the documents.
The Circuit Clerk is an elected position with a four-year term. In addition to court records, the clerk serves as the recorder of real estate documents for the county. All deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded in Ashley County go through this office.
Note: Ashley County courthouse fire in 1921 destroyed some early records, so court documents from that era or earlier may be incomplete or unavailable through the clerk's office.
Search Ashley County Court Records Online
The state of Arkansas offers a free online case search system called Search ARCourts at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Ashley County circuit court cases are included in this database. You can search by party name, business name, case number, or filing date. The system shows case type, filing date, parties, assigned judge, scheduled hearings, and current case status. Some case types also include links to publicly available documents.
The Search ARCourts portal is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge. Records from before January 1, 2009 may not be fully available in the online system. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile cases are excluded under Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19. For any record not found online, contact the Circuit Clerk directly during business hours.
The image below shows the Ashley County Circuit Clerk website, your direct link to local court office details.
The Ashley County Circuit Clerk website lists contact information, courthouse address, and guidance for requesting court records in Hamburg.
Check this site for current office hours and any updates to the clerk's procedures before your visit.
Ashley County Circuit Court Case Types
The Ashley County Circuit Court is a general jurisdiction trial court. It has authority over the most serious and most complex cases in the county. Knowing what types of cases go through circuit court helps you decide where to look for a specific record.
The circuit court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $25,000, all domestic relations matters including divorce and child custody and support, probate and estate administration, and juvenile cases. Appeals from the district court also go to circuit court. These case types make up the bulk of the records held by the Circuit Clerk.
For lower-stakes matters, Ashley County District Courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, preliminary hearings for felony charges, civil claims under $25,000, and small claims. District court records are also accessible through the statewide Search ARCourts system for counties that participate.
The screenshot below shows the statewide case search interface where you can find Ashley County court case information.
Through Search ARCourts, you can look up Ashley County civil, criminal, probate, and domestic cases filed in the circuit court in Hamburg.
Results may include docket entries, attorney information, and case disposition details.
Land Records in Ashley County
Land and property records for Ashley County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk as part of the recorder function. This includes deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, and other documents that affect real property ownership. Records go back to county formation in 1848, though some early records were lost in the 1921 courthouse fire.
You can search Ashley County property records online through ActDataScout. The database covers current ownership, assessment data, and recent property transfers. It is a good starting point for title searches or ownership verification. For official certified copies of recorded documents, you will need to contact the Circuit Clerk's office directly.
Recording fees for new documents are $15 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. These fees apply when recording deeds, mortgages, or other instruments with the clerk.
The image below shows the ActDataScout land records portal for Ashley County property data.
The ActDataScout Ashley County land records system lets you search ownership history, tax assessments, and real estate transfers online.
Use this as a starting point before contacting the clerk for certified official copies.
Note: Some Ashley County land records from before 1921 may be missing or incomplete due to the courthouse fire that damaged earlier county documents.
Your Rights Under Arkansas FOIA
Court records in Ashley County are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. ยง 25-19-101 et seq. Any Arkansas citizen can request access to public records. The office must respond within three working days. There is no requirement that you explain why you want the records. You do have to pay the actual cost of reproduction.
Some records are exempt. Grand jury materials, sealed cases, certain law enforcement investigations, and records protected by court order are not subject to public disclosure. Under Administrative Order 19, court records must have social security numbers, financial account numbers, and names of minor children redacted before release.
If you believe a request was wrongly denied, contact the Arkansas Attorney General's FOIA Hotline at 1-800-482-8982. The Arkansas Judiciary website also provides guidance on court records access and what types of information are public.
Legal Aid and Court Help
Several organizations offer free or low-cost legal help for Ashley County residents. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services serves clients statewide at (501) 376-3423. Legal Aid of Arkansas can be reached at (870) 972-9224. For attorney referrals, call the Arkansas State Bar Association at (501) 375-4606.
The Administrative Office of the Courts operates courthouse kiosks at circuit court locations statewide. These kiosks let you search case records, print court forms, and find legal aid resources without help from court staff. There is a kiosk at the Ashley County courthouse in Hamburg.
The Arkansas Judiciary website has self-help guides for people who represent themselves, a directory of all courts, and downloadable forms for common case types. This is a good first stop if you are not sure where to begin with a court records search in Ashley County.
Nearby Counties
Ashley County sits in the southeastern part of the state. Neighboring counties may be relevant if you are searching for cases or property records that cross county lines.
Counties near Ashley include Bradley County, Drew County, Union County, and Chicot County. Each has its own Circuit Clerk and is part of the statewide Search ARCourts system.