Calhoun County Family Court Records

Calhoun County family court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Hampton and cover domestic relations matters including divorce, custody, child support, and juvenile cases handled by the 8th Judicial Circuit. You can search records online or contact the courthouse directly for copies.

Circuit Clerk Office

The Calhoun County Circuit Clerk is Kay Shuler. The office is located at 100 Court Square, Hampton, AR 71744. The mailing address is P.O. Box 566, Hampton, AR 71744. You can reach the office by phone at (870) 798-2517. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Circuit Clerk maintains records for civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile cases in Calhoun County. Calhoun County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Columbia County. Circuit court has general jurisdiction over civil cases, felony criminal matters, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile proceedings.

If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, custody order, or child support record, contact the Circuit Clerk's office directly. Provide as much identifying information as possible, such as the case number, the names of the parties, or the approximate filing year. The clerk can confirm whether the record exists and provide a cost estimate for copies.

Calhoun County is a small, rural county in south-central Arkansas with Hampton as its county seat. The District Court in Hampton handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, and preliminary felony hearings, but family court cases go through the Circuit Court, not the District Court.

The Arkansas CourtConnect system provides free online access to Calhoun County Circuit Court records including domestic relations filings.

How to Search Records Online

Calhoun County circuit court records are available through the statewide CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. This portal is free to use and provides full case information for Calhoun County proceedings. You can search by party name or case number.

Administrative Order 8 requires all Arkansas circuit courts to submit case data to the CourtConnect system. Calhoun County is included. Domestic relations cases such as divorce, custody, and child support filings are all visible in the search system once they are opened in the court's records.

Administrative Order 19 governs public access to court records in Arkansas. Under this order, most circuit court records are open to the public, but some records are restricted. Juvenile case records are sealed. Adoption records are confidential. Certain financial information in domestic relations cases may also be restricted. CourtConnect respects these restrictions, so some case details may not appear in online searches.

For older records that predate the digital system, an in-person visit to the Hampton courthouse is required. The clerk can assist with historical record searches, though some very old records may only be available in physical form.

Family Court Case Types

Calhoun County Circuit Court handles all domestic relations matters under Arkansas law. Divorce cases are filed under Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-12-301. The most common ground for divorce in Arkansas is eighteen months of continuous separation, which does not require proof of fault. Courts can also grant divorce based on adultery, physical abuse, habitual drunkenness, and other specific grounds.

Custody cases are governed by § 9-13-101. When parents cannot reach a custody agreement, the judge decides based on the best interest of the child. The court considers the quality of each parent's relationship with the child, the stability of each home environment, and any other factor relevant to the child's welfare. Joint custody is allowed and is increasingly common in Arkansas.

Child support is set using the income shares guidelines under § 9-14-107. The court looks at both parents' gross incomes to calculate a base support amount. Expenses like health insurance and childcare costs are added on top of the base. The Circuit Clerk in Hampton processes child support payments and keeps a record of all payments made through the court's registry.

Juvenile cases are handled under § 9-27-309. These records are sealed and not open to the public. Adoption records are confidential under § 9-9-217. Both types of cases require a court order for any outside person to access the records. Paternity establishment, protective orders, and guardianship of minors round out the types of family matters handled in Calhoun County Circuit Court.

Fees and Copy Costs

Filing a new domestic relations case in Calhoun County costs $165.00. This is the standard state filing fee. Reopening a case costs $50.00. Service fees for summons are $2.50 per party served. These fees apply whether you file in person or through an attorney.

Standard copies of court documents cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your fee payment. Money orders and checks are typically accepted. Call (870) 798-2517 to confirm payment methods before sending a request by mail.

Searching CourtConnect online is free. There is no charge to view basic case information on the portal. Fees only apply when you need a physical or certified copy of a court record.

Legal Help

Free civil legal help is available to eligible residents of Calhoun County through the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. Apply at arjustice.org. CALS serves low-income individuals facing divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence cases.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation helps connect residents with legal aid resources across the state. Check arkansasjustice.org for programs that serve south-central Arkansas and the Hampton area.

Self-help court resources including forms and procedural guides are available at arcourts.gov/directories/resources. The Circuit Clerk can tell you which forms you need to file, but staff cannot provide legal advice or help you fill out forms.

Nearby Counties

Calhoun County is in the 8th Judicial Circuit in south-central Arkansas. The following counties are in the same region and have their own Circuit Clerk offices.