Search Benton County Court Records

Benton County court records are held by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Bentonville and cover all circuit court cases filed in the county. As one of Arkansas's fastest-growing counties, Benton County handles a high volume of civil, criminal, domestic, and probate filings every year. Multiple district courts also serve the area, adding to the scope of available public records. You can access many Benton County court records for free online, or you can contact the clerk's office directly for copies, certified documents, and in-person assistance. This page explains both paths.

Benton County Circuit Clerk

The Benton County Circuit Clerk is located at 102 Northeast A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. For civil matters, call (479) 271-1015. For criminal matters, call (479) 271-1016. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk maintains all circuit court records including civil cases, criminal proceedings, domestic relations filings, probate matters, and juvenile cases.

For in-person requests, visit the courthouse and provide the case number or party names. Plain copies cost $0.25 to $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document plus the copy fee. Mail requests are accepted. Include a written request with case details, your contact information, and payment by check or money order payable to the Benton County Circuit Clerk.

Attorneys practicing in Benton County must use mandatory e-filing through the statewide eFLEX system at efile.arcourts.gov. This applies to all circuit court filings. Pro se litigants may also use the e-filing system after registering and completing the required training.

Online Case Search for Benton County

The state's free online search tool, Search ARCourts, is available at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Benton County circuit and district court cases are included in this system. You can search by party name, business name, case number, or citation number. Results include case type, filing date, parties, assigned judge, attorney of record, scheduled hearings, and case status.

The Search ARCourts portal runs around the clock at no cost. Records before January 1, 2009 may not be fully available online. Sealed cases, expunged records, and juvenile matters are restricted under Administrative Order 19. For missing records or older cases, call the Circuit Clerk during business hours. Technical support is available at (501) 410-1900 or toll-free (866) 823-5778.

Benton County also has multiple district courts serving Bentonville, Rogers, Bella Vista, Centerton, and Gravette, among other communities. The Benton County District Courts page lists contact details for each location.

What Cases the Circuit Court Handles

Benton County Circuit Court hears felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $25,000, domestic relations matters including divorce and child custody, probate and estate proceedings, and juvenile cases. It also handles appeals from district court. These case categories cover the most serious and complex legal matters filed in the county.

District courts in Benton County handle misdemeanors, traffic offenses, preliminary felony hearings, small claims, and civil matters under $25,000. Each district court serves its own geographic area. Records from participating district courts also appear in the statewide Search ARCourts database.

The image below shows the Benton County Government portal where you can find clerk contact details and online service links.

The Benton County Government website provides links to the Circuit Clerk, district courts, and other county offices that deal with public records and filings.

From this site you can find phone numbers, office locations, and links to online record tools for the Bentonville area.

Benton County Land Records and Electronic Recording

The Benton County Circuit Clerk records all real estate documents including deeds, mortgages, releases, and liens. Benton County is one of the counties that offers electronic recording of land records. You can submit documents through vendors such as Simplifile, ePN, and CSC without visiting the courthouse. Details and recording vendor information are listed on the Benton County land records page.

Recording fees are $15 for the first page of any recorded instrument and $5 for each additional page. In addition to recording services, Benton County provides a property fraud alert program that notifies landowners if someone files documents in their name. This is a voluntary service you can sign up for through the clerk's office.

For online research, Benton County property data is also searchable through the statewide Search ARCourts system for any court-related property liens or judgment entries attached to real estate records.

Public Access and Arkansas FOIA

Benton County court records are open to the public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101. Any state citizen can request access to public records. The office must respond within three working days. Fees can only reflect the actual cost of reproducing documents.

Personal data that must be redacted under Administrative Order 19 includes social security numbers, financial account numbers, minor children's names, and certain medical information. Sealed and expunged cases are not available to the public. If a request is denied, you can contact the Attorney General's FOIA Hotline at 1-800-482-8982.

• Plain copies: $0.25 to $0.50 per page
• Certified court copies: $5.00 plus per-page copy fee
• New case filing fee: $165.00 standard
• Electronic filing surcharge: $20.00 per new case
• Land recording: $15 first page, $5 each additional

Legal Resources in Benton County

Several legal aid organizations serve Benton County residents. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services handles civil legal matters at (501) 376-3423. Legal Aid of Arkansas provides services at (870) 972-9224. The Arkansas State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral line at (501) 375-4606. These organizations can help with court record access questions and legal proceedings.

The Administrative Office of the Courts runs courthouse kiosks at circuit court locations statewide, including Benton County. You can use the kiosk to search records, print court forms, and find legal aid resources on your own. The Arkansas Judiciary website also has self-help guides, forms, and a full court directory.

Nearby Counties

Benton County is located in the far northwest corner of Arkansas. Cases or property records may involve adjacent counties in the same region.

Neighboring counties include Carroll County, Madison County, and Washington County. Each has its own Circuit Clerk and is part of the statewide Search ARCourts system.