Howard County Family Court Records Search

Howard County family court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Nashville, covering divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic relations cases in Arkansas's 8th Judicial Circuit South. Use the Arkansas CourtConnect portal to search case records at no cost, or contact the clerk's office for copies and older records not yet in the online system.

Howard County Circuit Clerk

The Howard County Circuit Clerk maintains records for felony criminal cases, domestic relations matters, civil cases, and probate proceedings. The office is located at the courthouse in Nashville, which serves as the county seat. The circuit clerk also serves as the ex-officio county recorder for land records including deeds, mortgages, and liens.

Howard County Circuit Clerk
421 N Main Street
Nashville, AR 71852
Phone: (870) 845-7500
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The Howard County Clerk, a separate office from the Circuit Clerk, maintains marriage licenses and probate court records. Both offices are located at the same courthouse address. If you are looking for a marriage record or probate filing, contact the county clerk rather than the circuit clerk. Court records date back to the county's establishment and many older records are available in physical form at the courthouse.

Howard County Circuit Court is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit South, which also covers Hempstead, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, and Sevier counties. Cases are filed in the county where the parties reside or where the events occurred.

Online Case Search

Howard County provides partial case information through the Arkansas CourtConnect system. You can search at caseinfo.arcourts.gov by party name or case number. Howard County cases are included in the statewide search at no charge.

Results show case type, filing date, parties, and current status. Docket entries are listed chronologically. Some document images may be available for more recent filings. For older cases or documents not in the online system, contact the clerk's office directly.

For cases not yet in CourtConnect, written requests to the circuit clerk should include the names of parties, years to be searched, prepayment for copy fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Staff will search and respond, though turnaround times vary.

The Howard County CourtConnect portal provides free online access to Howard County circuit court case records, including domestic relations and family law filings in Nashville.

Family Court Case Types

Howard County Circuit Court handles all family law matters through its domestic relations division. Common case types include:

• Divorce — Filed under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301. At least one party must have lived in Arkansas for sixty days before filing. Separation for eighteen months is a grounds for divorce. Cases involving children require custody and support orders.
• Child Custody — Governed by § 9-13-101. Courts determine the best interest of the child when setting custody arrangements. Both physical and legal custody can be shared or awarded to one parent.
• Child Support — Calculated under the state income guidelines. Either parent can request a modification when there has been a significant change in circumstances under § 9-14-107.
• Paternity — Establishes legal fatherhood for children born outside of marriage, which allows the court to address custody and support.
• Orders of Protection — Emergency and extended domestic abuse orders are available through the circuit court. You do not need an attorney to file.
• Juvenile Cases — Delinquency, dependency-neglect, and FINS matters are heard in juvenile court. Records are sealed under § 9-27-309 and not accessible to the public.
• Adoption — Finalized through circuit court. Adoption records are sealed under § 9-9-217 and can only be opened by court order.

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

Fees and Copies

Howard County follows the standard Arkansas fee schedule for circuit court filings. Filing a new domestic relations case costs $165.00. Additional fees:

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

Pay in person at the Howard County Courthouse by cash, money order, or cashier's check. Mail-in requests should include prepayment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the clerk's office first to confirm the exact amount before sending payment. Online case searches through CourtConnect are free.

Legal Help Resources

Howard County residents can get free or low-cost legal help from several organizations that serve southwest Arkansas.

Center for Arkansas Legal Services provides free civil legal aid including family law. Apply at arjustice.org or call 1-800-952-9243 to see if you qualify based on income.

Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation connects residents with legal resources. Visit arkansasjustice.org for information on services available in southwest Arkansas.

Self-Help Forms — Free forms and step-by-step guides are available through the Arkansas Judiciary at arcourts.gov/directories/resources. These cover divorce without children, custody, child support, and protection orders.

The circuit clerk's office cannot provide legal advice. Staff can explain how to file but cannot tell you what to say in your documents or advise on legal strategy.

Nearby Counties

Howard County is in southwest Arkansas and is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, near several other counties with their own circuit courts.