Clark County Family Court Records

Clark County family court records include divorce, custody, child support, and juvenile cases filed with the Circuit Clerk in Arkadelphia. The 9th Judicial Circuit covers Clark County, and records are accessible online through the statewide CourtConnect portal or in person at the courthouse on Clay Street.

Circuit Clerk Office

The Clark County Circuit Clerk is Brian Daniel. The office is on the second floor of the courthouse at 401 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923. Contact Brian Daniel by email at brian.daniel@clarkcircuit.com or call the office. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit court and juvenile court. As ex-officio county recorder, the clerk is also responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property instruments. Administrative duties include maintaining a full record of all court proceedings, entering docket numbers and defendant names, preparing case dockets, and issuing summons, warrants, orders, judgments, and injunctions.

Clark County's County Clerk is Rhonda L. Cole, also at 401 Clay Street in Arkadelphia. The County Clerk handles probate court records and marriage licenses. These are separate from the Circuit Clerk's family court records. If you need a marriage license or probate document, contact the County Clerk's office at (870) 246-9552 for the District Court or check the county website for other contact details.

One important note about Clark County: all juvenile records are confidential. If you are searching for a juvenile case, you will need a court order to access those files. Adoption records are also sealed. These restrictions apply both online and in person at the courthouse.

The Clark County Circuit Clerk website provides contact information, office hours, and details about the types of records maintained for domestic relations matters.

Searching Clark County Records Online

Clark County circuit court records are available through the statewide CourtConnect portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. This free system provides full case information for Clark County. You can search by party name or case number to find divorce filings, custody cases, child support matters, and other domestic relations records.

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal provides full access to Clark County Circuit Court records. Administrative Order 8 requires all Arkansas circuits to report through this system.

Administrative Order 8 requires all Arkansas circuit courts to report to the CourtConnect system. Clark County fully participates in this reporting. That means your name search will return all Clark County circuit court cases associated with a given party, including family law matters. Administrative Order 19 covers public access rights to court records. Most records are public, but sealed records like juvenile files and adoptions will not appear in the search.

For older records that are not in the digital system, visit the courthouse on Clay Street in Arkadelphia. The clerk's staff can assist with historical record searches. If you are doing genealogical research, note that Clark County has kept some probate and court records since the county's founding in the 1800s.

Family Court Case Types

Clark County Circuit Court's domestic relations division handles all major family law matters for Arkadelphia and the rest of the county. Divorce cases are filed under Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-12-301. Grounds for divorce in Arkansas include eighteen months of continuous separation, adultery, physical abuse, habitual drunkenness, and general indignities. Most current cases use the separation ground, which is straightforward and does not require proving fault.

Custody and visitation disputes are handled under § 9-13-101. Courts in Clark County apply the best interest of the child standard when parents cannot agree. The judge looks at factors including the quality of each parent's relationship with the child, the stability and safety of each home, the distance between the parents' homes, and the child's existing ties to school and community. Judges may also consider the child's own preferences if the child is old enough to express them.

Child support is determined under § 9-14-107 using the income shares approach. Both parents' gross monthly incomes are used to calculate the base support amount. The court can add on expenses like health insurance premiums and work-related childcare costs. The Circuit Clerk manages the child support registry and records all payments processed through the court.

Juvenile court proceedings are governed by § 9-27-309 and all such records are confidential. Adoption finalization records are sealed under § 9-9-217. These records are not searchable through CourtConnect and are not available to the general public. Access requires a court order with a specific finding of good cause. Other case types in the domestic relations division include paternity actions, guardianship of minors, domestic abuse protective orders, and post-decree modifications of custody or support.

Fees and Copies

Filing a new domestic relations case in Clark County costs $165.00. Reopening a case costs $50.00. Summons fees run $2.50 per party. These are the standard state-set fees that apply in all Arkansas circuit courts.

Standard copies are $0.50 per page for documents made at the courthouse. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. For mail-in requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment in the form of a money order or check. Call the office at 401 Clay Street in Arkadelphia to confirm the exact fee total before sending payment.

CourtConnect online searches are free. You do not need an account or login to search basic case information. Fees only apply when you request physical or certified copies from the clerk's office in person or by mail.

Legal Help

Free civil legal help is available for eligible Clark County residents through the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. Apply at arjustice.org. CALS assists low-income individuals with divorce, custody, child support, and protective order cases.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation coordinates legal aid resources statewide. Visit arkansasjustice.org to find programs serving the Arkadelphia area and the 9th Judicial Circuit region.

Self-help court resources are available from the Arkansas Judiciary at arcourts.gov/directories/resources. You can find court forms for common family law matters, procedural guides, and contact information for legal aid programs. Clark County Circuit Clerk staff can point you to the right forms but cannot give legal advice.

Nearby Counties

Clark County is in south-central Arkansas in the 9th Judicial Circuit. The following counties border Clark County or are in the same region.