Perry County Court Records
Perry County court records are kept at the combined Circuit and County Clerk office in Perryville, Arkansas. The office maintains case files for civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile matters in the county. You can search Perry County court records online through the statewide Arkansas portal, visit the office during business hours, or send a written request by mail. This page walks you through the process of finding and getting Perry County court records.
Perry County Court Records Overview
Perry County Combined Clerk Office
Perry County uses a combined Circuit and County Clerk position. Both court records and county-level documents are maintained in one office. The office is at 310 W Main St, Perryville, AR 72126. The phone number is (501) 889-5126. Perry County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit, which determines which circuit judge oversees cases filed in the county.
Because this is a combined office, the clerk handles circuit court filings alongside county records like marriage licenses, deed recordings, and county court orders. If you are looking for a marriage license or need to record a property document, this is also the place to go. For court cases, the clerk keeps files for civil matters, criminal charges, domestic relations cases, probate proceedings, and juvenile matters.
Perry County was established in 1840. The courthouse in Perryville is the central location for all court-related activity in the county. Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you plan to visit, bring the case name or case number to help the staff locate your records quickly.
Note: Perry County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit, and all circuit court matters are overseen by the circuit judge assigned to that district.
Search Perry County Court Records Online
The best free option for finding Perry County court records online is Search ARCourts, the official Arkansas Judiciary case search system. You can search by party name, business name, case number, or case type. No login is required. Results include the case ID, filing date, judge, case status, party information, attorneys, upcoming events, and dispositions. Some results include links to filed documents.
Records that are sealed by court order, juvenile case files, and expunged records are not available through the portal. Cases filed before January 1, 2009, may appear with limited detail due to redaction rules under Administrative Order 19. If you cannot find a case online, call the Circuit Clerk at (501) 889-5126 to check in person. Staff can also assist if you need to look up a case by a party's old name or other non-standard search criteria.
The Perry County CourtConnect portal on Search ARCourts provides free public access to circuit court case information statewide.
Search ARCourts is the fastest way to find Perry County court records online without driving to Perryville.
Note: Searching Search ARCourts does not produce certified documents. Only the Circuit Clerk can issue certified copies with the official court seal.
Types of Cases Handled in Perry County
Perry County Circuit Court is a general jurisdiction court. It handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $25,000, divorce cases, child custody and child support matters, adoption proceedings, probate filings for wills and estates, and juvenile cases. Each type of case has its own docket and set of records maintained by the clerk's office.
District court handles the smaller cases. Misdemeanor charges, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000 go to district court. Some district courts in Arkansas participate in the online Search ARCourts system and some do not. If you are looking for a smaller Perry County case, call the clerk's office to find out where those records are kept and whether they are available online.
For federal cases involving Perry County, the relevant court is the Eastern District of Arkansas. Federal records are accessed through PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov. Federal cases include things like bankruptcy proceedings and federal criminal charges, which are entirely separate from state circuit court records.
Fees for Perry County Court Records
Standard copy fees in Perry County follow Arkansas guidelines. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus the per-page fee. If you need a certified copy for use in a legal proceeding or another court, the Circuit Clerk's office will prepare the document and attach the official court seal.
To request records by mail, write to the Perry County Combined Clerk at 310 W Main St, Perryville, AR 72126. Include the case name and number if you have it, the type of record you need, and a check or money order for the fees. If you are unsure of the cost, call (501) 889-5126 before sending your payment. Requests without payment may be delayed.
Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, fees for records can only cover the actual cost of making copies. Agencies cannot charge for the time staff spends searching during the first hour. After that, additional staff time may be billed at the employee's hourly rate.
Arkansas FOIA and Public Access
Most court records in Arkansas are public under Arkansas Code Annotated ยง 25-19-101 et seq. Any Arkansas citizen has the right to request and review public records. Agencies must respond within three working days. Some records are exempt from disclosure, including sealed case files, juvenile records, expunged matters, grand jury transcripts, and documents protected by court order.
Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19 also requires the redaction of certain personal information from court records released to the public. This includes social security numbers, financial account numbers, and home addresses in some domestic violence matters. If your request is denied, you can call the Attorney General's FOI Hotline at 1-800-482-8982 for guidance.
The Arkansas Judiciary official website provides court rules, forms, and general information about circuit courts statewide including Perry County.
The Arkansas Judiciary website at arcourts.gov links to the statewide case portal, court forms, self-help guides, and court directories for Perry County and all other Arkansas counties.
Self-Help and Legal Aid in Perry County
If you need help with a court case in Perry County and cannot afford an attorney, free legal aid services may be available. Legal Aid of Arkansas is reachable at (870) 972-9224. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services covers other parts of the state at (501) 376-3423. These organizations help with civil matters including family law, housing, and public benefits for income-qualifying residents.
The Arkansas Judiciary website at arcourts.gov has self-help guides and downloadable court forms for people who represent themselves. Court forms for circuit court filings are also at courts.arkansas.gov/directories/resources. A courthouse kiosk in Perryville provides on-site access to case records, forms, and legal aid applications as part of the statewide program run by the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation.
The Arkansas Circuit Courts page explains how the circuit court system works and how to access records across all 28 judicial circuits.
The circuit courts page at arcourts.gov covers jurisdiction, record access, and contact information for Arkansas courts including those in Perry County.
Nearby Counties
Perry County is in central Arkansas. If you need court records from a neighboring county, use the links below.