Drew County Family Court Records Search

Drew County family court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Monticello and include divorce, custody, child support, paternity, and juvenile cases filed with the 10th Judicial Circuit. You can search case information online through Arkansas CourtConnect for free or contact the courthouse at 210 South Main Street for copies and certified records.

Circuit Clerk Office

The Drew County Circuit Clerk is Beverly Burks. The office is at 210 South Main Street, Monticello, AR 71655. The main phone number is (870) 460-6200. The clerk accepts all filings for felony criminal, civil, domestic relations, and juvenile cases in Drew County.

Beyond filing, the Circuit Clerk issues summonses, records deeds and mortgages, and processes child support payments through the court registry. The clerk also calls jury panels, manages juror scheduling, and compiles records for appeals. In short, the Circuit Clerk is central to how the county's court system functions day to day.

Drew County is working to improve record access. The county received a grant in 2025 for a new land records system that will make all new filings accessible online. A new notification system for jurors is also planned. These updates may expand what is available digitally in future years. For now, court records and land records are accessible through the current CourtConnect system and in person at the courthouse.

Marriage records and probate records are maintained by the County Clerk, not the Circuit Clerk. Drew County's marriage and probate records go back to 1847. If you need historical family records for genealogy or estate purposes, the County Clerk's office may have what you need. For current family court records like divorce or custody orders, the Circuit Clerk is the right contact.

Older divorce records in Drew County, specifically those from before 1950, are found among equity records in the Circuit Clerk's files. Post-1950 divorces may also be documented through the Arkansas Department of Public Health, which maintains a statewide divorce index for vital records purposes.

The Arkansas CourtConnect system provides partial online access to Drew County Circuit Court records including domestic relations filings in Monticello.

Searching Drew County Court Records

Drew County circuit court records are available online through the Arkansas CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. This free portal covers all Arkansas circuit court cases. You can search by party name or case number to find domestic relations records.

Under Administrative Order 8, all Arkansas circuit courts report case data to CourtConnect. Drew County provides partial information through the system. Some records may be more complete when accessed in person at the Monticello courthouse. If you find a case online but need the full document, contact the clerk at (870) 460-6200.

Administrative Order 19 sets the rules for public access to court records. Most civil and domestic relations records in Drew County are publicly accessible. Juvenile records are sealed and not available without a court order. Adoption records are confidential. These restrictions apply both online and at the courthouse.

Drew County's planned upgrade to a new digital records system (funded by a 2025 grant) should eventually make more records accessible online. Until that system is fully operational, in-person visits to the Monticello courthouse are the most reliable way to access older records or full document copies.

Family Court Case Types

Drew County Circuit Court's domestic relations division handles all family law matters for the 10th Judicial Circuit. Divorce cases are filed under Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-12-301. Current Arkansas law provides several grounds, including the no-fault ground of eighteen months of continuous separation. Most contemporary filings use this ground because it is simpler and does not require proving fault. Fault-based grounds including adultery, physical abuse, habitual drunkenness, and general indignities are also available.

Child custody matters are governed by § 9-13-101. Courts in Drew County use the best interest of the child standard. Relevant factors include each parent's bond with the child, the quality and stability of each home, the parents' ability to communicate and cooperate for the child's benefit, and any history of domestic violence or neglect. Courts may order joint custody, sole custody, or customized parenting arrangements depending on the circumstances.

Child support is set under § 9-14-107 using the income shares model. Arkansas combines both parents' gross monthly incomes to calculate the base support obligation. This amount is split proportionally based on each parent's share of combined income. Childcare and health insurance costs are added to the base. The Circuit Clerk in Monticello maintains the child support registry and can provide payment records for court proceedings.

Juvenile cases, including delinquency and dependency-neglect matters, are filed under § 9-27-309. All juvenile records are sealed. Adoption records are confidential under § 9-9-217. Neither type of file is accessible to the public without a court order. Other domestic relations case types in Drew County include paternity establishment, domestic violence protective orders, guardianship of minors, and post-decree modifications to existing orders.

Fees and Copy Costs

A new domestic relations filing in Drew County costs $165.00. Reopening a case is $50.00. Summons fees run $2.50 per party. These are the standard state fees for all Arkansas circuit courts.

Standard copies of court documents cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. For mail requests, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment. Call (870) 460-6200 to confirm the fee and payment method before submitting a mail request.

Searching CourtConnect online is free. No account or payment is needed to view basic case information. Fees apply only when you request physical or certified copies from the Circuit Clerk's office in Monticello.

Legal Help

Eligible Drew County residents can get free legal help through the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at arjustice.org. CALS provides civil legal assistance for divorce, custody, child support, and protective order cases for low-income individuals.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation coordinates legal aid resources statewide at arkansasjustice.org. Legal aid programs serving the Monticello area and southeast Arkansas are included in their directory.

Self-help court resources are available from the Arkansas Judiciary at arcourts.gov/directories/resources. Court forms, procedural guides, and links to legal aid programs are available at no charge. The Circuit Clerk staff can identify which forms apply to your situation but cannot give legal advice.

Nearby Counties

Drew County is in the 10th Judicial Circuit in southeastern Arkansas. The following neighboring counties each have their own Circuit Clerk offices.