Carroll County Civil Court Records

Carroll County civil court records are split between two courthouse locations in Berryville and Eureka Springs, reflecting the county's unique dual-district structure. Circuit Clerk Sara Huffman maintains all civil case files for the 19th Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to search Carroll County civil records, request copies, and understand which courthouse handles cases from each part of the county.

Carroll County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Sara Huffman operates two courthouse locations for Carroll County. The Berryville office (Eastern District) is at 210 W. Church Ave., Berryville, AR 72616, with the mailing address P.O. Box 71, Berryville, AR 72616, and phone (870) 423-2022. The Eureka Springs office (Western District) is at 44 S. Main St., Eureka Springs, AR 72632, with the mailing address P.O. Box 109, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, and phone (479) 253-8646. Both offices can be reached by email at carrollclerk@arkansasclerks.com. Hours at both locations are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The clerk's website is at carrollcounty.us/CircuitClerk.

Carroll County is one of ten Arkansas counties with two judicial districts. The Kings River divides the jurisdictions. Cases filed by parties east of the Kings River go to the Berryville courthouse. Cases west of the river go to the Eureka Springs courthouse. This matters when you are requesting records, because the file will be at whichever courthouse the case was filed in, not necessarily the one closest to you.

The Circuit Clerk's duties in Carroll County are the same as in all Arkansas counties: maintaining records of all circuit court proceedings, preparing court dockets, issuing summons and warrants, recording orders and judgments, maintaining files for pending and closed cases, acting as secretary to the jury commission, and recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds. The Clerk also swears in all notaries public and handles land recording functions as ex-officio recorder for both districts.

Search Carroll County Civil Court Records Online

Carroll County has full case information available through the Search ARCourts portal run by the Arkansas Judiciary. This free public portal uses the Contexte case management system and allows anyone to search civil cases by party name, case number, or attorney. Full access means a broader range of cases is available compared to counties with only partial data in the system.

The ARCourtKiosk at the Berryville courthouse provides free in-court access to civil case data including felony criminal, divorce, custody, child support, eviction, contract disputes, and other civil matters. The Eureka Springs courthouse does not have a kiosk, so in-person lookups for western district cases require either using the online portal or visiting the Eureka Springs office directly. The kiosk at Berryville is available during regular courthouse hours.

Records filed before Carroll County joined the statewide Contexte system may not appear online. Historical civil records must be reviewed in person at the appropriate courthouse. E-recording is available for land documents filed with the recorder function through approved vendors. Recording fees follow the standard Arkansas schedule: $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Copy fees for court records are $0.25 per page standard and $5.00 for certified copies.

Note: When searching online, be aware that a case from Eureka Springs and a case from Berryville may both appear in the same search results, distinguished by their case numbers and filing locations. If you are not sure which district applies to your situation, the clerk's office at either location can help you figure it out.

Types of Civil Cases in Carroll County Circuit Court

Carroll County Circuit Court handles civil matters in its civil, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile divisions under Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Civil cases include contract disputes, personal injury claims, real property litigation, and any civil action above $25,000. Both districts (Berryville and Eureka Springs) are part of the same circuit court under Circuit Clerk Sara Huffman.

Domestic relations cases represent a large share of civil filings. Divorce petitions, child custody proceedings, support orders, and modifications are all filed through the circuit court. In Carroll County, the filing goes to whichever district courthouse serves the geographical area where the petitioner lives or where the events giving rise to the case occurred. Records from domestic relations proceedings are generally public, with some restrictions on details involving minor children.

Probate cases, including wills, estate administrations, guardianships, and conservatorships, also generate civil records through the Carroll County Circuit Court. Name change petitions are handled in probate as well. These records can be requested from the clerk's office at either location. If you are not sure where a particular probate case was filed, the Berryville office at (870) 423-2022 is a good starting point since it is the main county seat for the eastern district.

How to Obtain Carroll County Civil Court Record Copies

For in-person requests, visit whichever courthouse handled the case you need. If you are not sure which location to use, call the Berryville office at (870) 423-2022 to confirm. Bring party names and any filing information you have. Staff will search the docket and provide copies at $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 each.

Mail requests can go to either courthouse address depending on which district the case was filed in. For Berryville cases, write to P.O. Box 71, Berryville, AR 72616. For Eureka Springs cases, use P.O. Box 109, Eureka Springs, AR 72632. Email requests can go to carrollclerk@arkansasclerks.com. Include party names, case number if available, filing year, and payment information. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps with return mailing.

Carroll County District Court

Carroll County has district court divisions in both Berryville and Eureka Springs, matching its dual-courthouse structure. Each district court handles civil claims up to $25,000, small claims up to $5,000, misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary felony matters for its respective geographical area. Hours at both district courts are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

Small claims in Carroll County follow Arkansas's standard simplified process for disputes up to $5,000. Both district court locations handle small claims for their respective districts. For civil claims between $5,001 and $25,000, the regular district court civil process applies. Records from both Carroll County district courts may appear in the statewide CourtConnect portal for participating cases, or you can contact the Circuit Clerk's office at the relevant location for assistance locating district court records.

FOIA and Public Access in Carroll County

Carroll County civil court records are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. The right to inspect and copy applies to both the Berryville and Eureka Springs courthouses, covering all civil case files maintained by the Circuit Clerk. No reason needs to be given for requesting public records.

Administrative Order No. 19, available at arcourts.gov, governs electronic access and presumes public access to court records. Sealed cases, juvenile proceedings, and adoption records are exempt from disclosure under both Administrative Order 19 and specific statutory provisions. Carroll County follows the same statewide framework for handling these exemptions.

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. provides the statutory basis for court record access across all Arkansas counties. Under this framework, the Carroll County Circuit Clerk must provide access during business hours and respond to written requests. Records from before January 1, 2009 require redaction of confidential details when provided electronically, which applies at both Carroll County courthouse locations equally.

Legal Help and Resources in Carroll County

Legal Services of Arkansas provides free civil legal aid to qualifying low-income residents. Carroll County residents can contact this organization for help with civil court matters including family law, housing, and consumer issues. For those who cannot afford private counsel, this is the primary free legal resource in the region.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation supports legal aid programs statewide including in northwest Arkansas counties like Carroll. The Carroll County circuit court's county website provides general county information. For self-help civil court materials, the Arkansas Judiciary online services page is the best statewide resource.

Nearby Counties

Carroll County sits in northwest Arkansas. Neighboring counties also have circuit court records systems in the same or adjacent judicial circuits.

• Benton County - to the west
• Boone County - to the east
• Marion County - to the southeast
• Madison County - to the south