Hempstead County Family Court Records

Hempstead County family court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Hope, covering divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, juvenile, and domestic relations cases heard in Arkansas's 8th Judicial Circuit. You can search many Hempstead County case records online at no cost through the Arkansas CourtConnect portal, or contact the clerk's office directly for certified copies and records not yet digitized.

Hempstead County Circuit Clerk

The Hempstead County Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of all circuit court records in the county, including all family court and domestic relations filings. The office is based in Hope, the county seat. Hempstead County is one of Arkansas's oldest counties, created on December 15, 1818 — before Arkansas achieved statehood.

Hempstead County Circuit Clerk
Hope, AR 71801
Phone: (870) 777-2241
Child Support Payments: (870) 777-8400
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Court documents in Hempstead County are largely filed electronically through eFlex. Attorneys must e-file. Pro se litigants (people without attorneys) may submit documents in person, by USPS mail, FedEx, or UPS. Call the clerk's office if you are unsure about current filing procedures for self-represented parties.

Real estate documents cannot be filed electronically and must be submitted in person or by mail. The circuit clerk also serves as ex-officio recorder for real property records including deeds, mortgages, maps, and plats.

Child support payments can be mailed or hand-delivered to the circuit clerk's office. The child support line is separate — call (870) 777-8400 for questions about support payments rather than the main clerk number.

Online Case Search

Hempstead County is part of the statewide Arkansas CourtConnect system. Probate case records are available through CourtConnect with full information. Other case types may have partial information. Access is free at caseinfo.arcourts.gov.

Search by party name or case number. Results show case type, filing date, party names, and current case status. Docket entries list the documents filed in the case. Document images are available for some filings.

For records not in the online system, contact the clerk's office directly. Written requests should include the names of the parties, the years to search, a prepayment for copy fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow several weeks for staff search responses.

The Hempstead County Circuit Clerk website provides filing guidance, information on record types, and contact details for the office in Hope.

The Hempstead County CourtConnect portal provides free online access to circuit court case records, including probate and select domestic relations filings.

Family Court Case Types

Hempstead County Circuit Court's domestic relations division handles the following types of family law cases:

• Divorce — Filed under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301. At least one party must have lived in Arkansas for sixty days before filing. Common grounds include eighteen months of separation. Uncontested divorces without minor children can move fairly quickly.
• Child Custody — Governed by § 9-13-101. The court weighs the best interest of the child and may award joint or sole physical and legal custody. Either parent can seek modification when circumstances change.
• Child Support — Set by state guidelines based on both parents' incomes. Modifications are available under § 9-14-107. Payments in Hempstead County may be made directly to the circuit clerk's child support office.
• Paternity — Actions to establish legal fatherhood. Once paternity is established, custody and support orders can follow.
• Domestic Abuse Protection — Emergency and extended orders of protection are available. The circuit court clerk can explain the process for filing a petition.
• Juvenile Records — Juvenile court records are confidential under § 9-27-309. Access is restricted to parties, attorneys of record, and agencies with court authorization. A court order from the circuit judge is required for any other person to access juvenile records.
• Adoption — Adoption proceedings are finalized through circuit court. Adoption records are sealed under § 9-9-217 and require a court order to open.

Probate matters — including estates, guardianships, and conservatorships — are also filed with the circuit clerk in Hempstead County.

Fees and Copies

Filing a new family law case in Hempstead County costs $165.00. This applies to divorce, custody, support, and related domestic relations actions. Other fees:

• Summons or subpoena: $2.50 per person
• Reopening a case: $50.00
• Standard copies: $0.50 per page
• Certified copy: $5.00 per document (first 10 pages)

Pay at the courthouse by cash, money order, or cashier's check. For mail requests, prepay and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the clerk's office to confirm exact fees before sending payment. The clerk can tell you how many pages are in a document so you can calculate copy costs in advance.

Online CourtConnect searches are always free. You only pay when requesting copies of actual documents.

Legal Help and Self-Help

Hempstead County residents who need help with family court cases have access to several free and low-cost resources.

Center for Arkansas Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to income-qualifying Arkansans. Family law help includes divorce, custody, and domestic violence cases. Apply online at arjustice.org or call 1-800-952-9243.

Arkansas Access to Justice has a directory of legal aid and low-cost legal services across the state. Visit arkansasjustice.org to find resources near Hope and southwest Arkansas.

Arkansas Courts Self-Help Center offers downloadable forms and step-by-step guides for people handling their own cases. Visit arcourts.gov/directories/resources to find forms for divorce, custody, support, and orders of protection.

Remember that the circuit clerk's office cannot give legal advice. Staff can explain procedures and provide forms, but they cannot tell you what to file or how to argue your case.

Nearby Counties

Hempstead County is in the 8th Judicial Circuit of southwest Arkansas, near several other counties with circuit court records.