Sebastian County Court Records
Sebastian County court records are accessible through two courthouse locations and multiple online portals. The county operates dual circuit court offices in Fort Smith and Greenwood, and provides two separate online systems for different record types. Court records in Sebastian County go back to 1851, and marriage records date from 1865. Whether you're searching for a criminal case, a civil judgment, or a domestic relations filing, this page explains how to find what you need in Sebastian County.
Sebastian County Court Records Overview
Dual Courthouse Locations
Sebastian County operates two circuit court locations. The Northern District courthouse is in Fort Smith at 901 South B Street, Room 205, Fort Smith, AR 72901. Phone: (479) 782-1046, fax (479) 784-1580. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Southern District courthouse is in Greenwood at 301 East Center Street, Room 103, Greenwood, AR 72936. Phone: (479) 996-2817 or (479) 996-6885.
Both offices handle circuit court records for their respective districts. If you're not sure which location has the record you need, start with the Fort Smith office since it covers the larger northern district. Staff at either location can confirm whether a case is in their system or redirect you to the right office.
The Sebastian County Circuit Clerk page has current contact details for both locations, along with general information about the clerk's services. The County Clerk's office, which handles separate matters like marriage licenses, is at 35 South 6th, Room 102, Fort Smith, phone (479) 782-5065.
Note: Filing fees in Sebastian County include $0.25 per page for copies, with certified copies at $5.00; call the Fort Smith office for specific fee schedules before mailing a payment.
JusticeWeb - Criminal Case Search
Sebastian County has its own online criminal case portal called JusticeWeb. The Sebastian County JusticeWeb Portal covers criminal cases filed from June 2015 to the present. You can search by defendant name, case number, or other available fields. This is the primary tool for looking up recent criminal cases in Sebastian County circuit court.
The screenshot below shows the JusticeWeb portal for Sebastian County criminal records.
For criminal cases filed before June 2015 and prior to 2015 specifically, you'll need to contact the circuit clerk's office directly. Pre-2015 criminal records are stored in an older iSeries system that requires manual retrieval by staff.
Court Connect - Civil and Non-Criminal Cases
For civil, domestic relations, probate, and other non-criminal circuit court cases, Sebastian County uses a separate Court Connect portal. As of April 1, 2022, the Sebastian County Court Connect system handles all cases except criminal filings. This split between JusticeWeb for criminal and Court Connect for civil cases is specific to Sebastian County and differs from most other Arkansas counties.
The screenshot below shows the Sebastian County Court Connect inquiry page for civil and non-criminal case searches.
If you're not sure which portal to use, start with Court Connect for civil cases and JusticeWeb for any criminal matter. Between the two systems, most recent Sebastian County court records are accessible online without visiting the courthouse.
Note: Sebastian County's dual-portal system means you may need to check both JusticeWeb and Court Connect to get a full picture of all case types for a given party or case number.
Circuit Clerk Website
The Sebastian County Circuit Clerk website is the main resource for information about both courthouse locations. It links to both JusticeWeb and Court Connect, provides contact information for Fort Smith and Greenwood offices, and lists filing fees and procedures.
The screenshot below shows the circuit clerk's department page on the Sebastian County government website.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys practicing in Sebastian County circuit court. The statewide eFLEX system is used for all mandatory electronic filings. Pro se litigants may still file paper documents in many cases, but should confirm current requirements with the clerk's office.
District Courts in Sebastian County
Sebastian County has two district courts. Fort Smith District Court is at 901 South B Street, Fort Smith, phone (479) 783-1103. Greenwood District Court is at 30 Bell Road, Greenwood, AR 72936, phone (479) 996-4151. District courts handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters. These records are separate from circuit court filings.
If you need a traffic citation, misdemeanor record, or small claims judgment from Sebastian County, contact the appropriate district court directly. Some district court cases also appear in the state's Search ARCourts portal, but coverage at the district level is less complete than at the circuit level.
Historical Records in Sebastian County
Sebastian County has one of the older court record archives in Arkansas. Court records date from 1851 and marriage records from 1865. Probate records also go back to 1866. These historical files are not available through the online systems and require in-person visits or written requests to the circuit clerk.
For genealogy research or historical legal matters, visiting the Fort Smith courthouse is often necessary. Bring as much identifying information as you can, including approximate dates and all party names you have. Staff will conduct a manual search and advise you on what they find and what the copy fees will be.
Under Arkansas FOIA, historical court records that are not sealed or otherwise restricted are considered public records. The office must respond within three working days of a written request.
Legal Aid for Sebastian County Residents
Qualifying residents can get free civil legal assistance from the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 or Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224. Both groups help with family law, housing, and other civil matters filed in Sebastian County circuit court.
The Arkansas Judiciary website has court forms, self-help guides, and links to resources for people who represent themselves. Court kiosks at both Sebastian County courthouses provide walk-in access to these tools at no charge.
Nearby Counties
If you need court records from counties near Sebastian, these pages can help: