Find Family Court Records in Benton County

Benton County family court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Bentonville, covering divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic abuse, and juvenile cases filed in Arkansas's fastest-growing county. The Domestic Court division of the Benton County Circuit Court handles all family law matters. You can search many Benton County family court records at no cost through the statewide Search ARCourts portal or through the clerk's own public records system, which includes digital images of civil case filings going back to 2014.

Benton County Circuit Clerk

The Benton County Circuit Clerk is responsible for maintaining all court records in the county. Circuit Clerk Brenda DeShields oversees the office that serves as the clerk of the civil, domestic relations, criminal, and juvenile courts and also acts as the ex-officio recorder of the county. The clerk's main duties include maintaining a complete record of all circuit court proceedings, preparing dockets, issuing summons and subpoenas, and recording real estate instruments. The office is at the Benton County Courthouse on the Bentonville Square. You can reach the clerk at (479) 271-1015 or by email at brenda.deshields@bentoncountyar.gov.

Domestic relations records can be accessed at any time through the statewide CourtConnect system. For civil case document images, the clerk's online system includes filings from January 1, 2014 to the present. Older records must be requested in person or by mail. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Court staff cannot fill out forms for you or give legal advice, but they can tell you what forms to file and how to submit them.

The Benton County Circuit Clerk's public records page provides access to civil indexes through Public Court Connect, along with document images for cases filed since 2014, fee information, and instructions for requesting certified copies of family court records.

The County Clerk's office, reachable at (479) 271-1017, handles marriage licenses and probate court records. The County Clerk's site at bentoncountyar.gov has details on marriage license applications and probate procedures. If you need a marriage certificate or probate record rather than a Circuit Court family court file, start with the County Clerk.

The Benton County County Clerk issues marriage licenses and maintains probate records, which are separate from the family court records held by the Circuit Clerk. Both offices are located at the Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville.

Search Benton County Family Court Records Online

The Search ARCourts portal is the main free tool for searching Benton County family court records online. Search by party name, case number, case type, filing date, attorney name, or judge name. The portal returns party names, the assigned judge, the list of filings, scheduled events, and judgments. Benton County participates fully in the Contexte system, so results tend to be complete. No login or account is needed.

Benton County also offers its own public records access system. Civil case indexes are searchable, and document images for civil matters are available for cases filed since January 1, 2014. This county-specific access can be useful if you want to look at actual documents rather than just docket entries. Check bentoncountyar.gov/circuit-clerk/public-records for the current access link and any updates.

Same-day e-filing is available for attorneys in Benton County through the statewide eFlex system. Online payments for court fines and fees can be made through myfinepayment.com. Payments made online may take up to three business days to post. In-person payments at the Benton County Courthouse are accepted in cash, money order, cashier's check, and credit or debit card.

Benton County Domestic Court Cases

The Domestic Court division of Benton County Circuit Court handles divorce, domestic abuse, child support, paternity, and other family case filings. If you are searching for a Benton County family court record, the domestic court division is where most of those cases will appear. Under Arkansas Code § 9-13-101, custody determinations are made based on the best interest of the child, with a statutory presumption in favor of joint custody. Child support modifications are governed by § 9-14-107, which allows modification when circumstances change significantly.

The Benton County Circuit Court courts page describes each division. Civil Court handles negligence, fraud, malpractice, product liability, foreclosure, quiet title, injunction, and contract disputes. Criminal Court handles felonies and appeals from district courts. Each division has its own docket, and the Circuit Clerk maintains separate records for each. When you search for a Benton County family court case, look for domestic relations case types in the portal.

Juvenile cases in Benton County are filed in the Juvenile division and are generally confidential under Arkansas Code § 9-27-309. Dependency-neglect and FINS matters are not publicly accessible through the online portal. If you have a legal need to access juvenile records, contact the Circuit Clerk directly and explain your situation. Adoption records are sealed under § 9-9-217.

Fees and How to Get Copies

Filing a new domestic relations case in Benton County costs $165.00. This fee covers most new case types including divorce petitions. The clerk can tell you about any additional fees for service of process or other steps in your case. For certified copies of existing records, the standard fee is $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 per additional page. Standard uncertified copies are typically $0.25 to $0.50 per page.

You can request copies by visiting the Circuit Clerk's office in person at the Benton County Courthouse on the Bentonville Square, or you can submit a written request by mail. Include as much detail as you have: party names, case number if available, and the approximate year the case was filed. Send a check or money order for the estimated copy fee. If the clerk needs more information, they will contact you before processing the request.

Note: Arkansas law under § 25-19-105 allows records custodians to require full payment in advance if the estimated fee exceeds $25.00.

Legal Help in Benton County

The Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) serves Benton County residents who qualify based on income and need help with civil legal matters including family law cases. CALS provides free legal services and can assist with divorce, custody, child support, and domestic abuse protective order matters. Contact CALS to find out if you qualify and to schedule an appointment.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation maintains self-help resources and AR Courthouse Kiosks that give people without internet access a way to find court records and forms. The Arkansas Judiciary resources directory lists legal aid organizations, self-help guides for family law matters, and links to forms used in domestic relations cases across the state.

Cities in Benton County

All cities and communities in Benton County file family court cases with the Benton County Circuit Clerk at the Bentonville courthouse. The following Benton County cities have dedicated pages with local information:

Nearby Counties

Benton County is in the far northwest corner of Arkansas. If your case was filed in an adjacent county, use these links to find the right Circuit Clerk.