Search Phillips County Court Records

Phillips County court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Helena, Arkansas. Records cover civil cases, felony criminal charges, domestic relations matters, and probate filings for the county. You can search Phillips County court records online through the statewide Arkansas Judiciary portal, visit the clerk's office in person, or submit a written request by mail. Property records are also available online through free public databases. This guide explains the main ways to find and request Phillips County court records.

Phillips County Circuit Clerk Office

The Phillips County Circuit Clerk's office is located at 620 Cherry Street, Helena, AR 72342. The main phone number is (870) 338-5515. The county website is at phillipscounty.arkansas.gov. The Circuit Clerk handles all circuit court filings for Phillips County, including civil cases, criminal proceedings, domestic relations matters like divorce and custody, probate records, and juvenile cases. This office is the official repository for all court documents and orders issued by the circuit court.

Phillips County is one of Arkansas's oldest counties, established in 1820. The county seat, Helena, sits on the Mississippi River in the Arkansas Delta. Because of the county's age, historical court records extend back many years. For very old documents or genealogical research, the Arkansas State Archives may have materials from early periods that are not available at the courthouse.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Come in person with your case name or number ready. Mail requests go to the Circuit Clerk at 620 Cherry Street, Helena, AR 72342. Include the case details and payment for any copying fees you expect to incur.

Search Phillips County Case Records Online

The Search ARCourts portal is the primary free tool for looking up Phillips County court records online. This Arkansas Judiciary system lets you search by party name, business name, case number, or case type without creating an account. Each result shows the case ID, filing date, assigned judge, parties involved, case status, upcoming hearings, attorneys, and dispositions. Some records include direct links to filed documents.

Cases before January 1, 2009, may have limited online detail due to redaction requirements. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and expunged files are not viewable online. If a case does not appear in the portal, the Circuit Clerk's office can look it up manually. Call (870) 338-5515 to ask about specific records or to confirm whether a file is available before making a trip.

The actDataScout portal for Phillips County allows property searches by owner name, parcel number, or legal description at no charge.

Property Records and Recording Fees

Phillips County offers free online access to real property records through actDataScout. This public database lets you search by owner name, parcel number, or other criteria. It is useful for title searches, verifying ownership, or checking for recorded liens and mortgages. No account is required to use the basic property search.

Recording fees for property documents at the Phillips County Circuit Clerk's office 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, releases, and other instruments recorded with the county.

The recording function of the Circuit Clerk's office is separate from the court records function, but both are handled by the same office at 620 Cherry Street. If you need to record a document or search for recorded instruments, you can do so at the same location where court records are kept.

Types of Cases in Phillips County Circuit Court

Phillips County Circuit Court handles the full range of general jurisdiction matters. Felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $25,000, divorce proceedings, custody and child support cases, adoption petitions, probate filings for wills and estates, and juvenile matters all come through the circuit court. Arkansas circuit courts also hear appeals from district courts for cases that were decided below.

District courts in Phillips County handle smaller civil matters, misdemeanor charges, and traffic cases. If you are looking for a traffic ticket or a misdemeanor matter, those records may be at a separate district court office. Contact the main circuit clerk at (870) 338-5515 to ask about district court records and where to find them.

For federal cases involving Phillips County, the relevant court is the Eastern District of Arkansas. Federal records are accessed through PACER. Federal and state court records are entirely separate systems, so you won't find federal cases through Search ARCourts.

Fees and Requesting Copies

Standard copy fees for Phillips County court records are $0.25 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus the per-page fee. These fees are consistent with most other Arkansas counties and follow state guidelines for circuit clerk offices. Payment options include cash, check, or money order. Call ahead to confirm whether credit cards are accepted before visiting.

For mail requests, write to the Phillips County Circuit Clerk at 620 Cherry Street, Helena, AR 72342. Include the full case name, case number if known, the document type you need, and a check or money order for the fee. If you are unsure of the cost, call (870) 338-5515 first. Requests without proper payment may be returned or held pending payment.

The Arkansas FOIA at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. governs public access to records. Agencies must respond within three working days. Fees for copies can only cover actual reproduction costs, not staff time for the first hour of searching.

Legal Aid and Self-Help in Phillips County

Free legal help in Phillips County is available through Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224. This organization assists income-qualifying residents with civil legal matters including family law, housing, and public benefits. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 covers other areas of the state. If you are unsure which organization serves Phillips County, either office can direct you.

The Arkansas Judiciary's self-help section at arcourts.gov has court forms and guides for self-represented litigants. Court forms for circuit court cases are at courts.arkansas.gov/directories/resources. A courthouse kiosk in Phillips County allows on-site access to case records, forms, and legal aid resources as part of the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation's statewide program at arkansasjustice.org.

Search ARCourts provides free access to Phillips County circuit court case information including filing dates, case status, and party details.

Nearby Counties

Phillips County is in the Arkansas Delta along the Mississippi River. If you need records from a neighboring county, the links below will help.

• Monroe County
• Lee County
• St. Francis County
• Crittenden County