Craighead County Family Court Records

Craighead County family court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Jonesboro and cover all domestic relations and juvenile cases filed in this northeast Arkansas county. These records include divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic abuse protective orders, and annulment filings. Craighead County has two courthouse locations, one in Jonesboro and one in Lake City. You can search many Craighead County family court records online for free through the statewide Search ARCourts portal or through the clerk's own website at craigheadrecords.us.

Craighead County Circuit Clerk

The Craighead County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all court records in the county, including family court filings in the Domestic Relations and Juvenile divisions. The main courthouse is at 511 S Main St, Suite 200, Jonesboro, AR 72401. You can reach the Jonesboro office at (870) 933-4530. A second courthouse location serves the Lake City area at 107 Cobean Blvd, Lake City, AR 72437, reachable at (870) 237-4342.

The Circuit Clerk files and processes all court documents for civil, domestic relations, criminal, and juvenile cases. The clerk prepares lists of prospective jurors, dockets cases, issues summonses, subpoenas, writs, and warrants, attends court sessions, and swears witnesses. The clerk also serves as ex-officio county recorder for deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds. All Craighead County family court records that are not specifically sealed or restricted are available for public inspection under Arkansas Code § 16-10-105.

The Craighead County Circuit Clerk at 511 S Main St in Jonesboro files and processes all domestic relations and family court documents for the county, maintains dockets, and serves as the official records custodian for family court filings including divorce, custody, and child support cases.

Craighead County also has an AR Courthouse Kiosk available through the AR Court Kiosk program at arcourtkiosk.org. The kiosk lets people access court records, find legal forms, and connect with self-help resources without needing to navigate multiple systems. If you are handling a Craighead County family court matter on your own, the courthouse kiosk is a useful starting point.

Online Search for Craighead County Family Court Records

The statewide Search ARCourts portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers Craighead County Circuit Court with full case information. Search by party name, case number, case type, filing date, attorney, or judge. The portal returns party names, the presiding judge, docket filings, future hearing dates, and judgments. Craighead County is fully integrated into the Contexte Case Management System, so results are detailed. No account is needed and access is free.

The clerk's site at craigheadrecords.us provides additional local access to Craighead County records. This county-specific portal is a good supplement to the statewide tool and may offer more detailed local information about how records are organized. Attorneys can also use the statewide eFlex electronic filing system for new case filings and submissions to existing cases. For questions about electronic filing in Craighead County, contact the clerk's office or email courts.efiling@arcourts.gov.

Older records not available online must be requested in person or by mail at the Jonesboro courthouse. Have the party names and approximate case filing year ready. Staff can search indexes and locate files. Copy fees are $0.25 to $0.50 per page for standard copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies.

Family Court Cases in Craighead County

The Domestic Relations division of Craighead County Circuit Court handles family-related cases including divorce, annulment, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, domestic abuse, and order of protection matters. Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, divorce cases must be filed in the county where at least one party lives. Child custody decisions follow § 9-13-101, which requires courts to focus on the best interest of the child and creates a presumption in favor of joint custody. Child support is governed by § 9-14-107, which allows modification when income or circumstances change substantially.

The Juvenile division handles dependency-neglect, FINS, and delinquency cases. Juvenile records are confidential under Arkansas Code § 9-27-309 and are not accessible through the public search portal. If you have a legal basis to access juvenile records, contact the clerk directly. Adoption records are sealed under § 9-9-217.

Note: The AR Courthouse Kiosk program at the Craighead County courthouse provides free access to legal forms and self-help resources for people handling domestic relations cases without an attorney.

Fees and Copies

Filing a new case in Craighead County Circuit Court, including domestic relations cases like divorce or custody petitions, costs $165.00. Copies of existing court records are $0.25 to $0.50 per page for standard copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies. If your records request will cost more than $25.00, the clerk may ask for full payment before processing under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105.

To request copies, visit the main courthouse at 511 S Main St, Suite 200, Jonesboro, or call (870) 933-4530. If your case may have been filed in the Lake City area, contact (870) 237-4342. Have the names of the parties and the case number or approximate year the case was filed. For mailed requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the estimated cost. Certified copies cannot be emailed and must be picked up or mailed.

Legal Help in Craighead County

Legal Aid of Arkansas is headquartered in Jonesboro and serves 31 of the 75 Arkansas counties including Craighead County. Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income residents and handles family law matters including divorce, custody, child support, and domestic abuse. Craighead County residents who qualify based on income can contact Legal Aid of Arkansas for free representation or advice in family court cases.

The Arkansas Judiciary resources directory lists self-help guides, approved domestic relations forms, and links to legal aid organizations statewide. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation manages the AR Courthouse Kiosk program and works with legal aid groups to expand access for people who cannot afford attorneys.

Cities in Craighead County

All communities in Craighead County file family court cases with the Craighead County Circuit Clerk. The county's major city has its own dedicated page:

Nearby Counties

Craighead County is in northeast Arkansas. If your case was filed in a nearby county, use these links to find that Circuit Clerk.