Faulkner County, Arkansas State Court Records

A "court record" in Faulkner County, Arkansas, is simply a judicial record maintained by the court in connection with its adjudicative function. Court records serve important functions within the judiciary, including serving as an accurate and permanent account of the court proceedings, which promotes transparency and accountability within the judicial system. Court records also enable appellate review, historical research, and simplified case review.

In Faulkner, the clerks of the court (e.g., the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk and the Faulkner County County Clerk) are the designated custodians of court records, and they manage and provide access to such records in accordance with the Arkansas legislature and applicable court rules.

Interestingly, court records can often be cross-referenced with other public records (arrest, property, vital, federal, etc.) to provide a more comprehensive perspective on a legal matter. For example, combining federal and state/local court records provides a person’s nationwide litigation history. Similarly, property records may list encumbrances, such as liens and easements, that often arise from court-issued judgments. Finally, arrest records from law enforcement and conviction records from the court are critical components of a person’s criminal history record (or RAP sheet).

Are Faulkner County Court Records Public?

Yes. Members of the public can inspect (examine) or copy court records in Faulkner County; this access is both governed and permitted by the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19.

However, exemptions exist regarding certain information or documents deemed confidential by law, court order, or court rule. In such instances, the public disclosure is strictly restricted, and only legally authorized entities, such as the case parties, attorneys of record, court personnel, and court service providers, are granted access. Examples of confidential information include

Adoption files
Sealed or expunged records
Personal identification numbers (PINs) and account numbers for specific assets, liabilities, accounts, and credit cards.
Social Security numbers
Judicial work product, including notes, communications, and deliberative materials
The home and business addresses of petitioners seeking a domestic order of protection when the petitioner requests anonymity
Juvenile records

What Information is Available in Faulkner County Court Records?

Under Admin. Order No. 19, Section V, courts in Arkansas, including the Faulkner County courts, are encouraged to make certain case metadata available to the public in electronic form, including

Party Information: The names of the plaintiffs/petitioners, defendants/respondents, and their attorneys.
The Register of Actions or Docket Sheets: A chronological log of case activity.
Court Calendars: Listings of scheduled hearings/proceedings, including the case numbers and captions, dates and times of hearings, and locations of hearings.
Judgments, Orders, or Decrees: The temporary and final decisions issued by the court.

This information can be accessed from the ARCourts portal, as explained in the next heading.

Beyond the information delivered electronically, the public can examine the actual documents filed in a court case. The quantity and size of these filings typically vary based on the case’s complexity. Typical documents include

Initial pleadings (the complaints or petitions that start cases)
Responsive pleadings, such as answers, counterclaims, or crossclaims
Motions and supporting affidavits
Agreements and settlements
Notices and certificates (e.g., proof of service, notice of appeal)

Faulkner County Court Records Search

To inspect or copy Faulkner County court records, an individual has the following avenues:

Online Access: Online (remote) access to Faulkner County court records is provided through the ARCourts portal, the Arkansas judiciary’s unified case management portal. Through this system, members of the public can view cases and download/print open court records from Faulkner County. The portal is free to use and can be searched by name (i.e., Participants) or by case/citation number (i.e., Cases).

It should be noted, however, that some records are not disseminated through this portal (instead requiring a direct request for review through the relevant clerk’s office) and some are strictly confidential (released only to qualified entities upon request).

In-Person Access: If remote access is unavailable or physical copies are required, an in-person visit to the courthouse where the case was filed may be necessary. Visitors will need to submit inquiries directly to the clerk’s office and pay any requisite fees for access.

For example, the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk processes requests for circuit court and juvenile court records, and the Faulkner County Clerk does the same for probate records. Meanwhile, the Faulkner County District Court clerks manage records for their individual courts.

For information on availability and procedures for mail-in record requests, one may contact the relevant clerk’s office.

Fees for Court Records in Faulkner County

As the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19 provide public access to court records in Faulkner County, they remove any fee requirement for inspecting the records. However, when the inquiry is to make a physical or electronic copy of a record through a clerk’s office, certain fees may apply to cover reproduction costs. These costs vary by court.

In the Faulkner County Circuit Court, the following fees are incurred for court record requests:

Regular Copies (per page, not certified): 25 cents
Certified or Authenticated Copies: $5 per document
Fax Charges: $1, plus regular copy cost

Meanwhile, the Faulkner County Clerk charges the following costs for probate-related records:

Regular Copies (per page, not certified): 50 cents
Certified Copies: $5 per document

The County Clerk is also charged with issuing marriage licenses to couples wishing to wed, and also issues certified copies for $5 per document. For vital records (e.g., birth and death certificates), an inquiry can be made at the Arkansas State Bureau of Vital Records.

Faulkner County Courthouse Locations

Faulkner County’s legal system is managed by its circuit court (Divisions 1 through 5) and state district courts (formerly municipal courts), each with specific, legally defined jurisdictions.

The circuit court serves as the county’s general trial jurisdiction court, holding the broadest authority. To manage its large workload, it is organized into five specialized divisions: criminal, civil, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile.

In contrast, the state district courts have limited jurisdiction, confined to their respective territorial jurisdictions (which may be citywide, countywide, or encompass multiple counties). Their authority surrounds

Civil claims up to a maximum of $25,000 in damages.
Small claims cases not exceeding $5,000.
Traffic and minor criminal offenses.
Referred matters from the circuit court (e.g., unlawful detainers, emergency protective orders, forcible entry).

The courts are located at these addresses:

Faulkner County Circuit Courts

Faulkner County Circuit Court

510 South German Lane

Conway, AR 72034

Phone (1st Division): (501) 450-4904

Phone (2nd Division): (501) 450-4931

Phone (3rd Division): (501) 450-4970

Phone (4th Division): (501) 328-4156

Phone (5th Division): (501) 450-4925

District Courts in Faulkner County

Faulkner County District Court - Conway

810 Parkway Street

Conway, AR 72031

Phone: (501) 450-6112

Fax: (501) 450-6184

Faulkner County District Court - Greenbrier

Greenbrier City Hall

11 Wilson Farm Road

PO Box 415

Greenbrier, AR 72058

Phone: (501) 679-0538

Fax: (501) 679-0893

Faulkner County District Court - Guy

PO Box 12

Guy, AR 72061

Phone: (501) 679-4585

Fax: (501) 679-8907

Faulkner County District Court - Mayflower

5 Ashmore Drive

PO Box 69

Mayflower, AR 72106

Phone: (501) 470-0948

Fax: (501) 470-9864

Faulkner County District Court - Vilonia

Vilonia City Hall

18 Bise Street

PO Box 188

Vilonia, AR 72173

Phone: (501) 796-2534

Fax: (501) 796-2513

Faulkner County District Court - Damascus

Damascus Municipal Building

17319 Highway 65 South

Damascus, AR 72039

Phone: (501) 335-7203

Fax: (501) 335-7206

A Crucial Note: Faulkner County also has a Quorum Court, whose records are managed by the County Clerk. However, this is not a court of law in the conventional sense, and it does not preside over lawsuits or trials. The court is the legislative body of county government, responsible for establishing ordinances and resolutions on county issues, levying county taxes, and approving the county budget.

Criminal Records Access in Faulkner County

Members of the public generally have two primary channels for accessing Faulkner County criminal records: through the courts or through law enforcement.

Access to criminal court records can be obtained through the ARCourts platform or by submitting a formal request to the clerk’s office of the court that heard the matter (this may be the circuit court or a district court). On the other hand, the Arkansas State Police, the state’s central repository of criminal information, can be contacted for statewide criminal history records, which will include arrest and conviction information reported to the State Police by Faulkner County criminal justice departments.

The State Police releases open criminal histories to the general public for $24 per search and criminal background checks for $22 per search, provided the requester has the record subject’s signed consent.

Faulkner County Probate Records

Probate proceedings involve validating a deceased person’s will, settling creditors’ claims, and distributing the remaining assets to the legal beneficiaries. In Faulkner County, the Probate Division of the Circuit Court presides over these cases, as well as special proceedings such as guardianships, trusts, mental health commitments, adoptions, and conservatorships. The resulting documentation, officially maintained by the Faulkner County Clerk, is referred to as the probate court records.

To access probate court records in Faulkner, one can inquire directly at the County Clerk’s Office at 801 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034, or search the ARCourts portal. The clerk can also be reached at (501) 450-4909 for document retrieval processes. Requesters should keep in mind, however, that only open records are released publicly. If a matter is confidential-such as an adoption-the associated records will be too, and only persons legally authorized or bearing an appropriate court order will be granted access.

Older wills and probate filings may require a personal visit to the County Clerk’s Office in Conway, as only indexes or docket entries may be available remotely on ARCourts.

Faulkner County Family Court Records

Family law covers various aspects of domestic and familial relationships, such as divorce, paternity, child support, and spousal support. These proceedings are heard in the Domestic Relations Division of the Faulkner County Circuit Court, and the corresponding documentation is maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s Office.

To inspect or copy Faulkner County family court records, one can access the ARCourts portal or request the records at the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 724 Locust Avenue, Conway, AR 72034. The clerk can also be reached at (501) 450-4911 with inquiries. However, given that family law addresses sensitive matters, certain records-financial account identifiers, medical records, paternity documents-are unavailable to the general public.

Federal Court Records in Faulkner County

Federal cases in Faulkner County are not under the jurisdiction of the Arkansas circuit or district courts. Instead, they are handled by the separate federal court system. Specifically, federal cases originating in Faulkner are processed by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas in Little Rock.

Richard Sheppard Arnold United States Courthouse

500 West Capitol Avenue

Little Rock, AR 72201

Phone (Clerk): (501) 604-5351

Federal case access can be obtained through PACER, the electronic federal case finder, for a fee (or for free if usage amounts to $30 or less within a 3-month period). Where remote access is not possible, individuals can visit any federal court location within the Eastern District of Arkansas to use free public terminals for record inspection. Printing copies at terminals costs 10 cents per page. However, visiting the Little Rock courthouse may be a necessary step if searching for court records in paper form (see applicable fees).

Note that for bankruptcy cases originating in Faulkner, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas in Little Rock is the proper venue. Although the court is technically a unit of the district court, it maintains a separate clerk’s office and physical location.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court

300 West 2nd Street

Little Rock, AR 72201

Phone (General): (501) 918-5500

Phone (Clerk): (501) 918-5509