Jonesboro Family Court Records

Jonesboro family court records are maintained by the Craighead County Circuit Clerk, which serves Jonesboro and all of Craighead County. Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse protective orders filed by Jonesboro residents are part of the Craighead County Circuit Court's domestic relations docket. You can search these records at no cost through the statewide Search ARCourts portal or visit the clerk at 511 S Main Street, Suite 200, in downtown Jonesboro.

Craighead County Circuit Clerk - Jonesboro

The Craighead County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all family court records for Jonesboro residents. The main office is at 511 S Main Street, Suite 200, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Reach the clerk at (870) 933-4520. Jonesboro is the county seat of Craighead County and the largest city in northeast Arkansas. Craighead County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, one of the busier circuits in the eastern part of the state.

The Craighead County Circuit Clerk files and maintains all court records for the domestic relations, civil, criminal, probate, and juvenile divisions. For family law cases, this includes accepting new petitions, processing motions and orders, docketing all case activity, issuing summonses and subpoenas, and maintaining the court registry for child support payments. The clerk also operates a second courthouse in Lake City for the western judicial district of Craighead County. Jonesboro residents typically deal with the main Main Street courthouse.

All court records that are not sealed or restricted by court order are available to the public under Arkansas Code § 16-10-105. You do not need to be a party to a case or give a reason to inspect records. The clerk's staff can help you locate a record, but they cannot give legal advice on your case or your rights. Jonesboro is also home to the headquarters of Legal Aid of Arkansas, which serves 31 counties in the state and can provide free legal help to eligible residents.

The Craighead County Circuit Clerk at 511 S Main Street in Jonesboro maintains all domestic relations and family court records for Jonesboro residents, including divorce filings, custody orders, child support dockets, and protective order records in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

Online Search for Jonesboro Family Court Records

The statewide Search ARCourts portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers Craighead County Circuit Court. 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, the assigned judge, all docket entries, scheduled hearings, and judgments. No account is required. Access is free from any device with internet access.

For electronic filing, attorneys and authorized parties use the statewide eFlex system at eflex.arcourts.gov. Filing fees are paid through the Information Network of Arkansas. A $20 electronic filing surcharge applies to new cases under Administrative Order 21. Contact the ACAP helpline at (501) 410-1900 for eFlex support. Older records not in the electronic system must be requested in person at the Jonesboro courthouse or by mail. Call (870) 933-4520 to confirm whether a specific record is electronic or paper before making a special trip.

Family Court Cases in Jonesboro

Jonesboro residents who file family law cases do so with the Craighead 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 in existing family matters. Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, a divorce petition must be filed in the county where one or both spouses reside, so Jonesboro residents file in Craighead County.

Custody cases follow § 9-13-101, which creates a presumption that joint custody is in the child's best interest. A parent who wants sole custody bears the burden of showing why joint custody would not work in the specific situation. Courts consider each parent's fitness, the existing parent-child relationships, the child's adjustment to home, school, and community, and -- when the child is old enough -- the child's own preferences. Modifications require a material change in circumstances since the last order.

Child support in Jonesboro cases is set under the Arkansas Family Support Chart, which takes into account both parents' net incomes and the number of children. The Craighead County clerk maintains a court registry for child support payments when ordered. Modifications under § 9-14-107 require a showing that income, expenses, or the child's needs have changed significantly since the last order was entered.

Domestic abuse protective orders are handled by the domestic relations division. Emergency orders can be issued rapidly without prior notice to the other side. A hearing to determine whether a permanent order should be entered must be scheduled within 30 days. Jonesboro has domestic violence resources including shelters and legal advocacy services. The clerk provides petition forms at the courthouse at no cost.

Juvenile cases in Craighead County are handled in a separate juvenile division and are confidential under § 9-27-309. They are not searchable through public portals. Adoption records are sealed under § 9-9-217. Administrative Order 19 defines what qualifies as a public record in all Arkansas courts, including the Craighead County Circuit Court that handles Jonesboro's family law cases.

Fees and Copies

New domestic relations filings in Craighead 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 of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Visit the clerk at 511 S Main Street, Suite 200, Jonesboro, call (870) 933-4520, or send a mail request with party names, case number if known, return address, and a prepaid check or money order.

Legal Help in Jonesboro

Legal Aid of Arkansas is headquartered in Jonesboro at 1300 E McCain Boulevard and serves 31 Arkansas counties, including Craighead County. Income-eligible residents can get free civil legal help for family law matters including divorce, custody, child support, and domestic abuse. Call (870) 972-9224 or visit jonesborolegalaid.org. Jonesboro residents have the advantage of direct access to the main Legal Aid office.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation manages the AR Courthouse Kiosk program statewide. Kiosks at the Craighead County Courthouse in Jonesboro give self-represented litigants access to court forms, fact sheets, and legal resource contacts. The Arkansas Judiciary resources directory provides approved forms for domestic relations cases and self-help guides statewide. The ACAP helpline at (866) 823-5778 can answer general questions about accessing court records.

Nearby Cities

Jonesboro is the largest city in northeast Arkansas. Paragould is the nearest qualifying city and files through Greene County.