Drew County Court Records
Drew County court records are maintained at the Monticello courthouse and are open to the public through the statewide online case search and in-person visits to the Circuit Clerk's office. Circuit Clerk Beverly Burks manages civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile case files for the county. This page covers how to search Drew County court records online, what copies cost, how to submit mail requests, and where to get legal help in the area.
Drew County Court Records Overview
Drew County Circuit Clerk
Circuit Clerk Beverly Burks maintains all official Drew County court records at the Drew County Courthouse in Monticello, Arkansas. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk processes new case filings, maintains the case docket, issues certified copies, and records real property instruments for the county. All circuit court records in Drew County go through this office.
The Circuit Clerk's office handles several categories of case records. Civil cases involve disputes between parties when the amount at issue is above $25,000. Criminal cases range from felonies down to misdemeanor matters at the district court level. Domestic relations records cover divorce, child custody, support orders, and adoptions. Probate records deal with wills, estates, and guardianships. Juvenile records are maintained but are not open to the general public under state law.
The Drew County Circuit Clerk page at drewcounty.arkansas.gov has current contact information and guidance on requesting copies or certified documents. The county is also in the process of implementing a new land records system, which may affect how older property records are accessed. The clerk's office can give you the most current information on what is available and in what format.
Note: Drew County is implementing a new land records system, so older property record searches may require direct contact with the Circuit Clerk's office during the transition.
Search Drew County Cases Online
Drew County participates in the Arkansas statewide Search ARCourts portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. This free tool lets you search circuit court cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The system shows case type, presiding judge, status, hearing dates, and party details. Many cases include links to filed documents you can view without visiting the courthouse. The portal is available around the clock and requires no login for basic public searches.
Search ARCourts gives free access to Drew County case filings from 2009 forward, covering civil, criminal, domestic, and probate matters in circuit court.
The limits on online access follow Administrative Order 19 of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Juvenile records are not public. Sealed and expunged files do not appear in results. Cases from before January 2009 may require in-person or mail requests. If you get no results for a name you expect to find, it could mean the case is older than the database covers, is in a restricted category, or was filed in a different county.
Drew County Property Records
Real property records in Drew County are recorded through the Circuit Clerk's office. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases filed in Drew County all go through the clerk for recording. You can search Drew County land records through ActDataScout, which provides searchable ownership data, assessment values, and transfer history for the county.
The ActDataScout database includes Drew County property ownership and document transfer records recorded through the Circuit Clerk's office.
Because a new land records system is being rolled out in Drew County, some data may not yet be fully migrated to the online database. For any records question you cannot resolve online, call or visit the clerk's office during business hours. The clerk can confirm what is available and how to get it, including for certified copies of recorded property documents.
Drew County Court Fees and Copy Requests
Copy fees at the Drew County Circuit Clerk follow state rules. Standard copies cost $0.25 to $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the certification fee plus copying costs. New civil case filings require a $165.00 filing fee. Document recording costs $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for additional pages.
For mail requests, write to the Drew County Circuit Clerk at the Monticello courthouse. Your request should include the case number or party names, a description of the documents you need, whether you want certified or standard copies, and payment by check or money order. Under Ark. Code Ann. ยง 25-19-101, public records must be provided within three working days. The Arkansas Attorney General's FOIA page explains your rights and what agencies are required to provide under state law.
Court Resources and Legal Aid
The Arkansas Judiciary website at arcourts.gov covers all state courts and provides rules, forms, and resources for both attorneys and the public. If you need court forms for a Drew County case, the forms library at courts.arkansas.gov/directories/resources has downloadable forms for many case types.
The Arkansas circuit courts overview covers jurisdiction, case types, and procedures that apply to Drew County and all other counties in the state.
The Drew County Government website lists all county offices and services. Courthouse kiosks in Drew County allow self-represented parties to search records, access forms, and find legal aid referrals without needing direct clerk assistance. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services is at (501) 376-3423, and Legal Aid of Arkansas serves the southeast region at (870) 972-9224. Both offer free legal assistance to qualifying residents.
Nearby Counties
Drew County is in southeast Arkansas. These nearby counties also provide court records through the statewide online system.