Montgomery County Court Records
Montgomery County court records are kept by the combined County and Circuit Clerk in Mount Ida, Arkansas. This single office handles both court filings and county-level records, making it a central resource for anyone searching civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases. You can find case information online through the statewide portal, visit the courthouse in person, or send a request by mail. This guide covers the key steps to access court records in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Court Records Overview
Montgomery County Combined Clerk Office
Montgomery County uses a combined County and Circuit Clerk position. The current clerk is Regina Powell. The office is at 105 Hwy. 270 East, #10, Mount Ida, AR 71957. Phone is (870) 867-3521. Fax is (870) 867-2177. Because this is a combined office, it handles both circuit court records and county-level documents in one place. That includes civil case files, criminal court filings, domestic relations matters, probate records, and county court orders.
The County Judge for Montgomery County is Bart Williams. The District Court Judge is Treva Lambert. District Court handles misdemeanor crimes, traffic violations, and small claims cases. Circuit Court handles the heavier caseload: felonies, divorces, custody disputes, and civil cases over $25,000.
Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you plan to come in person, call ahead to confirm the office is open and to ask what you need to bring. For mail requests, send a written letter to Regina Powell's office at the address above with the name of the case, the approximate date, and the record type you need.
Note: Because the Circuit and County Clerk roles are combined in Montgomery County, one office handles both court records and property or marriage records.
Search Montgomery County Court Records Online
The Search ARCourts portal is the free official tool for finding Montgomery County court records online. This system is run by the Arkansas Judiciary and gives public access to circuit court case information across the state. You can search by party name, business name, case number, or case type without creating an account or paying a fee.
Search results include the case ID, filing date, judge, party information, case status, attorney information, future hearings, and dispositions. Some cases also include links to documents. Records from before January 1, 2009, may require redaction of confidential details. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and expunged filings are not available through the portal. For those, you must visit the clerk's office directly.
The Montgomery County CourtConnect portal on Search ARCourts gives free access to circuit court case records statewide.
The portal lets you search Montgomery County cases by name or case number without visiting Mount Ida in person.
Note: If a Montgomery County case does not appear in Search ARCourts, it may predate the online system or involve restricted information that requires an in-person request.
Property Records and Recording Fees
The combined clerk's office in Montgomery County also serves as the recorder for property documents. Recording fees are $15 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. The real property transfer tax is $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration over $100. These fees apply to deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments recorded with the county.
Property records are important for title searches, lien checks, and real estate transactions. If you need to verify ownership or check for recorded documents on a piece of land, the combined clerk's office in Mount Ida holds those records. You can request them in person or by mail. Some counties in Arkansas have online property search tools, but Montgomery County's property records may require a direct visit or written request.
The Montgomery County Government Services page lists county departments and services. This can help you find the right contact for specific record types or government questions outside of court records.
Arkansas FOIA and Public Records Access
Arkansas residents have the right to request public records under Arkansas Code Annotated ยง 25-19-101 et seq. The law covers all records maintained in public offices, including court filings held by the Montgomery County clerk. Agencies must respond within three working days. The first hour of staff time spent on a request is free.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. These include sealed case files, juvenile records, grand jury minutes, expunged records, and documents covered by a court order restricting access. Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19 also requires that certain personal information, such as social security numbers and financial account numbers, be redacted from publicly released court records.
If you have trouble getting records or believe a request was improperly denied, the Attorney General's FOI Hotline at 1-800-482-8982 can provide guidance. The full FOIA Handbook is available online from the Arkansas Attorney General.
Electronic Filing and Court System
Montgomery County circuit court cases are part of Arkansas's mandatory electronic filing system called eFLEX. Attorneys and pro se litigants must file new cases through efile.arcourts.gov. The system handles all circuit court filings statewide. Filing fees include the statutory filing fee plus a $20 electronic filing fee for new cases. Payments are processed through the Information Network of Arkansas.
The Administrative Office of the Courts at 625 Marshall Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 manages the eFLEX system and other court automation programs. Their help line for technical issues is (501) 410-1900 or toll-free (866) 823-5778. The email for e-filing support is courts.efiling@arcourts.gov.
For court rules and forms, visit courts.arkansas.gov/rules-and-administrative-orders/court-rules. Arkansas circuit court forms are also available at courts.arkansas.gov/directories/resources and can be printed or completed online before filing.
Legal Aid in Montgomery County
Free legal help is available for qualifying residents in Montgomery County. Legal Aid of Arkansas serves this region at (870) 972-9224. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services handles other parts of the state and can be reached at (501) 376-3423. Both organizations assist with civil legal matters including family law, housing, and benefits.
Courthouse kiosks are also available in the Montgomery County courthouse through the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation's statewide program. These kiosks let you access case information, find and print court forms, and apply for legal aid. The kiosk program has 112 units installed across all 75 Arkansas counties. More information is at arkansasjustice.org and ARCourtKiosk.org.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County is in west-central Arkansas. If you need records from a neighboring county, the links below will help.