Court Records in Monroe County
Monroe County court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Clarendon, Arkansas. These records include civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile case filings. You can search for Monroe County court records online through the statewide Arkansas portal, visit the clerk's office in person during business hours, or send a written request by mail. This page covers what you need to know to find and request records from Monroe County.
Monroe County Court Records Overview
Monroe County Circuit Clerk
The Monroe County Circuit Clerk is Alice Smith. Her office is at 123 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029. The main phone number is (870) 747-3615. Fax is (870) 747-3710. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, divorce, custody, child support, eviction matters, and contract disputes. The Circuit Clerk maintains all official case files and court documents for these proceedings.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you need to visit in person, arrive with the case number or party name ready to speed up the search. For mail requests, send a written request to the Circuit Clerk at 123 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029. Include the case name, case number if known, the type of record you need, and payment for copying fees.
The County Clerk in Monroe County is Tina Wofford, located at the same address: 123 Madison St., Clarendon, AR 72029. The County Clerk's phone is (870) 747-3632. That office handles marriage licenses, county court orders, and other county-level documents. The County Judge is P.K. Norman, reachable at (870) 747-3921.
Note: The Circuit Clerk and County Clerk share the same courthouse address in Monroe County but handle different categories of records and services.
Search Monroe County Court Records Online
The best free tool for finding Monroe County court records online is Search ARCourts, the official Arkansas Judiciary case search portal. The system was updated from the older CourtConnect platform and now provides a cleaner search experience. You can search by party name, business name, case number, or case type. Each result shows the case ID, filing date, judge assigned, case status, attorneys of record, future court events, and disposition details.
Some records are not publicly viewable online. Juvenile cases, sealed records, expunged files, and cases filed before January 1, 2009, may be restricted or may need to be reviewed in person at the courthouse. If you cannot find what you need online, the Circuit Clerk's office can help you locate older or restricted records.
The Monroe County CourtConnect portal on Search ARCourts provides free public access to circuit court case records.
The online portal covers Monroe County circuit court filings and can be accessed at no cost from any computer or mobile device.
Types of Records Kept by Monroe County Courts
Monroe County Circuit Court maintains records across several categories. Civil records cover disputes involving property, contracts, personal injury, and money claims over $25,000. Criminal records include felony charges and related court proceedings. Domestic relations records cover divorce decrees, child custody orders, child support agreements, and adoptions. Probate records include wills, estate inventories, guardianship petitions, and the appointment of personal representatives.
District courts in Monroe County handle smaller civil matters, misdemeanor crimes, and traffic offenses. If the case involves less than $25,000 or a non-felony charge, it may be in district court rather than circuit court. Some district court cases also appear in Search ARCourts, but not all district courts participate in the online system. Contact the Monroe County courthouse to ask about district court records specifically.
Historical records go back to the county's founding in 1829. For very old records or genealogical research, the Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds pre-1917 marriage records and other historical county documents. Their collections also include court records from the early years of Arkansas statehood.
Fees for Monroe County Court Records
Standard copy fees follow Arkansas guidelines. Plain photocopies typically cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus the per-page copying fee. If you need a document certified for legal use, the Circuit Clerk's office will add an official court seal and a certification statement.
When requesting records by mail, include a check or money order payable to the Monroe County Circuit Clerk. Cash is accepted in person. If you are not sure of the total fee, call (870) 747-3615 before sending your request. Staff can give you an estimate based on the type and number of documents involved. Requests that arrive without payment may be returned or held until payment is received.
The Arkansas Judiciary official site provides information on court rules, forms, and the statewide case search system.
The Arkansas Judiciary website links to court directories, fee schedules, and the Search ARCourts portal used for Monroe County records.
Note: Certified copies require the court seal and are typically needed for legal proceedings, while plain copies are sufficient for personal research or reference.
Public Access Rights and FOIA in Arkansas
Arkansas's Freedom of Information Act (ยง 25-19-101 et seq.) gives citizens the right to inspect and copy most public records, including court documents. Any Arkansas resident can make a records request. The response deadline is three working days. Fees may only cover the actual cost of reproducing records; agencies cannot charge for staff time during the first hour of searching.
Not all records are open to the public. Sealed case files, juvenile records, expunged matters, grand jury transcripts, and records protected by court order are exempt. Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19 also sets rules about what must be redacted from court records that are made available online. Social security numbers, financial account numbers, and home addresses in certain sensitive cases must be removed before documents are released.
For questions about your rights under the Arkansas FOIA, the Attorney General's FOI Hotline is 1-800-482-8982. The 21st Edition FOIA Handbook is also available online and covers the most recent updates from the 94th General Assembly in 2024.
Circuit Court Information and Self-Help
Arkansas circuit courts are the general trial courts in the state. They are organized into 28 judicial circuits that cover all 75 counties. Monroe County falls within one of these circuits, and the Circuit Clerk's office can tell you the specific circuit number if you need it for a filing or legal matter.
The Arkansas Circuit Courts page at arcourts.gov gives an overview of how the court system works, what types of cases circuit courts handle, and how to access records. If you are filing your own paperwork without an attorney, court forms are available at courts.arkansas.gov/directories/resources. Courthouse kiosks are also available at the Monroe County courthouse for self-help access.
For free legal assistance in Monroe County, contact Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224 or the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423. Both organizations serve income-qualifying residents and can help with family law, housing, and civil legal matters.
The Arkansas Circuit Courts page explains jurisdiction, how to access records, and the structure of the statewide court system.
The circuit courts page at arcourts.gov covers all 28 judicial circuits and explains how to find records in any Arkansas county including Monroe.
Nearby Counties
Monroe County is in the Arkansas Delta region. If your records search extends to a neighboring county, use the links below.