Garland County Family Court Records

Garland County family court records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Hot Springs and include all domestic relations and juvenile cases filed in this west-central Arkansas county. These records cover divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic abuse protective orders, and related family law matters. The Circuit Clerk maintains the full range of family court filings and provides in-person, online, and mail access to the public. Start your search at the statewide Search ARCourts portal or contact the clerk's office at 501 Ouachita Ave, Room 204, Hot Springs.

Garland County Circuit Clerk

The Garland County Circuit Clerk is located at 501 Ouachita Ave, Room 204, Hot Springs, AR 71901. The office phone is (501) 622-3600 and the fax is (501) 609-9043. The clerk maintains records for all Circuit Court divisions including civil, criminal, domestic relations, and probate. The clerk also serves as the clerk for domestic relations court, making the Circuit Clerk office your primary point of contact for all Garland County family court matters including divorce, custody, child support, and orders of protection.

The Garland County Circuit Clerk's office offers online record searching and also allows document submission for recording through an account-based system. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for people who want to search records in person without a clerk's help. The clerk can tell you how to set up online access for Garland County records. All records in the office that are not specifically sealed or restricted are public under Arkansas Code § 16-10-105.

The Garland County CourtConnect portal provides free online access to family court records for Garland County, including domestic relations cases, divorce dockets, and child custody and support filings searchable by party name or case number.

Search Garland County Family Court Records Online

The statewide Search ARCourts portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers Garland County Circuit Court with full information. Search by party name, case number, case type, filing date, attorney name, or judge name. The portal shows parties, the judge, docket filings, future hearings, and judgments. Access is free and no account is needed. Garland County is fully integrated into the Contexte system, so case information is current and detailed.

Garland County also has its own online records system through the Circuit Clerk's office. This system requires creating an account and allows record searching and document submission for recording. Contact the clerk at (501) 622-3600 to learn more about setting up account access for Garland County court records. For attorneys, the statewide eFlex electronic filing system handles case submissions and document filings for Garland County Circuit Court.

The Garland County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil matters under $25,000. The District Court is at 607 Ouachita Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901, and can be reached at (501) 321-6765. District Court records are separate from the family court records at the Circuit Clerk. If your matter is in District Court rather than Circuit Court, contact that office directly.

Family Court Cases in Garland County

Garland County Circuit Court's Domestic Relations division handles divorce and separations, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse cases. The Circuit Clerk also serves as clerk for domestic relations court. Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, divorce must be filed in the county where one or both spouses reside. Child custody decisions follow § 9-13-101, which presumes joint custody serves the child's best interest unless evidence shows otherwise. Child support is modified under § 9-14-107 when there is a substantial change in circumstances.

The Probate division handles estates, guardianships, and adoptions. Adoption records are sealed under Arkansas Code § 9-9-217. The Juvenile division handles dependency-neglect, FINS, and delinquency cases. Juvenile records are confidential under § 9-27-309. Neither adoption nor juvenile records are available through the public search portal. If you need access to these records for a legal reason, contact the Circuit Clerk at (501) 622-3600 and explain your situation.

Note: All domestic relations filings in Garland County, including divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders, are available for public inspection unless specifically restricted by court order. Bring party names and the approximate filing date when visiting the courthouse to search records.

Fees and Copies

Copy fees at the Garland County Circuit Clerk are $1.00 per page for standard uncertified copies. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. These copy rates are somewhat higher than in some other Arkansas counties. Filing a new domestic relations or civil case costs the standard $165.00. Mail-in records requests should include party names, case number if available, your mailing address, and a check or money order for the estimated fee.

The Garland County Clerk, located at 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 103, Hot Springs, maintains marriage records and issues marriage licenses. The County Clerk's fees for copies are $1 per copy or $5 for a certified copy. Mail requests to the County Clerk use money orders, while in-person payments are cash only. If you need a marriage certificate rather than a family court record, contact the County Clerk rather than the Circuit Clerk.

Legal Help in Garland County

The Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) provides free civil legal services to income-eligible residents of Garland County. CALS handles family law matters including divorce, custody, and domestic abuse cases. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation manages the AR Courthouse Kiosk program, which gives courthouse visitors access to forms, fact sheets, and self-help resources without needing online access at home.

The Arkansas Judiciary resources directory lists approved forms for domestic relations cases statewide and links to legal aid organizations. If you need help navigating the Garland County family court system without an attorney, these resources are a good starting point. The ACAP helpline at (501) 410-1900 or toll-free at (866) 823-5778 can also answer general questions about how to access court records.

Cities in Garland County

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

Nearby Counties

Garland County is in west-central Arkansas. If your case was filed elsewhere in the region, use these links to find the right clerk.