Centerton Family Court Records

Centerton family court records are filed with the Benton County Circuit Clerk, which handles all domestic relations cases for Centerton and the rest of Benton County. Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse protective orders filed by Centerton 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 contact the clerk at 102 NE A Street in Bentonville.

Benton County Circuit Clerk - Serving Centerton

The Benton County Circuit Clerk handles all family court filings for Centerton residents. The clerk's office is at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Call (479) 271-1015 to reach the clerk. Centerton is a fast-growing city adjacent to Bentonville, and Centerton residents who need to file family court cases or access records in person can go to the Bentonville courthouse, which is just a short drive away. Benton County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Arkansas.

Centerton has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Arkansas for several years, driven by spillover growth from the Bentonville-Rogers metro area. The city's rapid residential development has brought many new families, and the Benton County Circuit Court handles domestic relations cases for all of them. The Benton County Circuit Clerk processes all family law filings, dockets motions and orders, issues summonses and subpoenas, and maintains the court registry for child support payments when ordered. All non-sealed records are public under Arkansas Code § 16-10-105.

Centerton has its own Municipal Court, which meets the third Tuesday of each month to handle traffic violations and city ordinance matters. The Centerton Municipal Court does not handle family law. All divorce, custody, and child support cases for Centerton residents go through the Benton County Circuit Court in Bentonville. If you are not certain which court has your case, a search on the ARCourts portal will show the court type and the case category.

Centerton residents can use the Benton County CourtConnect portal on the statewide Search ARCourts system to search family court records online at no cost. The Benton County Circuit Clerk at 102 NE A Street in Bentonville maintains all divorce, custody, and child support records for Centerton in the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Online Search for Centerton Family Court Records

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

For electronic filing, attorneys and authorized parties use the statewide eFlex system at eflex.arcourts.gov to file documents 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. Older records not in the electronic system must be requested at the Bentonville courthouse in person or by mail.

Family Court Cases in Centerton

All domestic relations cases filed by Centerton residents go through the Benton County Circuit Court. The court handles 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 one or both spouses reside, so Centerton residents file in Benton County.

Custody cases follow § 9-13-101, which presumes joint custody is in the child's best interest. Courts evaluate each parent's fitness, the child's existing bonds with each parent, each parent's ability to support the other's relationship with the child, and the child's preferences if old enough. Modification of a custody order requires showing a material change in circumstances since the last order. Given Centerton's rapid growth, many residents have moved there recently from other states, and prior orders from other states may need to be registered or addressed in an Arkansas court.

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. Emergency protective orders for domestic abuse can be issued quickly without prior notice, and a hearing for a permanent order must be set within 30 days.

Juvenile cases in Benton County are confidential under § 9-27-309. Adoption records are sealed under § 9-9-217. Administrative Order 19 governs public access to all Arkansas court records, including those at the Benton County Circuit Court that serves Centerton.

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 records 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, return address, and a prepaid check or money order for the estimated fee.

Legal Help in Centerton

The Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) serves Benton County including Centerton. 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. 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 court forms and legal resource contacts.

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

Nearby Cities

Centerton is adjacent to Bentonville in central Benton County. These nearby cities are all part of the Northwest Arkansas metro area.