Bentonville Family Court Records

Bentonville family court records are maintained by the Benton County Circuit Clerk, which handles all domestic relations filings for Bentonville and the rest of Benton County. Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse protective orders filed by Bentonville residents are part of the Benton County Circuit Court's domestic relations docket in the 19th Judicial Circuit. Search these records for free through the statewide Search ARCourts portal or visit the clerk at 102 NE A Street in Bentonville.

Benton County Circuit Clerk - Bentonville

The Benton County Circuit Clerk handles all family court filings for Bentonville residents, as the clerk's main office is located in Bentonville at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Call (479) 271-1015 to reach the clerk. Bentonville is the county seat of Benton County, so the circuit courthouse is in the city -- a convenience for Bentonville residents compared to other cities in the county who must travel to Bentonville to file. Benton County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Arkansas.

The Benton County Circuit Clerk processes and maintains all family law filings, dockets motions and orders, issues summonses and subpoenas, and maintains the court registry for child support payments. Benton County has grown dramatically over the past two decades, driven largely by the Walmart corporate headquarters and the broader retail and logistics economy. This growth has made Benton County one of the more populous in Arkansas and has significantly increased the volume of domestic relations filings in the 19th Circuit.

The clerk also serves as ex-officio recorder for real property instruments in Benton County. All non-sealed court records are public under Arkansas Code § 16-10-105. You can inspect records without being a party to any case and without giving a reason. Bentonville also has a District Court at 2706 S Walton Boulevard, reachable at (479) 271-3120, which handles traffic violations and misdemeanor offenses -- not family law. All divorce, custody, and child support matters go to the circuit court.

The Benton County Circuit Clerk at 102 NE A Street in Bentonville is the official keeper of all family court records for Bentonville residents, including divorce filings, custody orders, child support dockets, and protective order records in the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Online Search for Bentonville Family Court Records

The statewide Search ARCourts portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers Benton County Circuit Court with full case data. Under Administrative Order 8, all circuit courts in Arkansas must report case data through this system. Search by party name, case number, case type, filing date, attorney, or judge. Results show the parties, assigned judge, all docket entries, scheduled hearings, and judgments. No account is required. Access is free from any device.

Attorneys and authorized parties use the statewide eFlex system at eflex.arcourts.gov to file documents electronically in Benton County cases. Filing fees are paid through the Information Network of Arkansas. A $20 electronic filing surcharge applies to new cases under Administrative Order 21. For eFlex support, email courts.efiling@arcourts.gov or call (501) 410-1900. Paper records not in the electronic system must be requested in person at the Bentonville courthouse or by mail.

Family Court Cases in Bentonville

Bentonville residents who file family law cases do so with the Benton County Circuit Court's domestic relations division. Case types include divorce, annulment, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, domestic abuse protective orders, and contempt proceedings. Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, a divorce petition must be filed in the county where at least one spouse resides, so Bentonville residents file in Benton County.

Benton County's rapid growth has brought families from across the country, which sometimes means parties in a divorce or custody case have prior orders from another state. Arkansas courts apply the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) to determine which state has jurisdiction over custody matters. If you have a prior out-of-state order, the clerk can provide general information about how to file, but complex interstate jurisdiction issues typically require an attorney.

Custody cases in Benton County follow § 9-13-101, which presumes joint custody is in the child's best interest unless a parent can show otherwise. Courts consider the child's existing bonds with each parent, each parent's ability to cooperate, the child's adjustment to home and school, and the child's preferences when old enough. Modification of any custody order requires a material change in circumstances since the last order.

Child support is calculated under the Arkansas Family Support Chart based on both parents' net incomes and the custody arrangement. The Benton County clerk maintains a court registry for support payments when ordered. Modifications under § 9-14-107 require a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in employment or the child's expenses.

Juvenile cases are confidential under § 9-27-309 and are not searchable through the public portal. Adoption records are sealed under § 9-9-217. Administrative Order 19 governs public access to all Arkansas court records, including those at the Bentonville courthouse.

Fees and Copies

New domestic relations filings in Benton County cost $165.00. Standard copies of court records are $0.25 to $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. If a request will cost more than $25.00, the clerk may require payment upfront under § 25-19-105. Visit the clerk at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, call (479) 271-1015, or send a mail request with party names, case number if known, a return address, and a prepaid check or money order for the estimated fee.

Legal Help in Bentonville

The Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) serves Benton County including Bentonville. Income-eligible residents can apply for free civil legal help in family law matters including divorce, custody, child support, and domestic abuse. Visit arjustice.org or call (479) 442-0600 to apply. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation manages the AR Courthouse Kiosk program, and kiosks at the Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville give self-represented litigants access to legal forms and resources.

The Arkansas Judiciary resources directory lists approved domestic relations forms and self-help guides. The ACAP helpline at (866) 823-5778 answers general questions about court access. The Arkansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 228-6868 can connect you with a family law attorney in the Bentonville area if you need paid representation.

Nearby Cities

Bentonville is the county seat of Benton County and the heart of northwest Arkansas. These nearby cities are all part of the same metro area.