Civil Court Records in Clay County

Clay County civil court records are split between two courthouses in Corning and Piggott, reflecting the county's dual county seat structure. Circuit Clerk Janet Kilbreath maintains all civil case files for the 2nd Judicial Circuit. This page explains how to search Clay County civil records, request document copies, and work with both courthouse locations to find the records you need.

Clay County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Janet Kilbreath operates two offices for Clay County. The Corning office mailing address is P.O. Box 385, Corning, AR 72422. The Piggott office is at 151 S Second Avenue, Piggott, AR 72454. The main phone for the office is (870) 598-2667. Office hours at both locations run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Clay County has two county seats, Corning and Piggott, making it one of a small group of Arkansas counties with this arrangement. The Circuit Clerk maintains civil court records at both locations. Cases are assigned to one courthouse or the other based on the filing location and the specific division of court involved. If you are searching for a civil case and do not know which courthouse to contact, the main phone at (870) 598-2667 can direct you to the right location.

The Circuit Clerk maintains records through circuit, chancery, juvenile, and paternity courts in Clay County. As ex-officio recorder for both county seats, the office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and property documents at both locations. Recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Court copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for certified copies. Land records are searchable at both Corning and Piggott courthouse locations.

Clay County Civil Court Records Online Search

Clay County participates in the Arkansas Judiciary's Search ARCourts portal. Clay County is listed among those with partial information available online. Not all civil case records have been entered into the statewide Contexte system. What is available can be searched by party name or case number for free. For records not in the system, in-person access at one of the two courthouses is required.

The ARCourtKiosk at the Piggott courthouse provides free in-court access to civil case information including felony criminal, divorce, custody, child support, eviction, contract disputes, and other civil matters. The ARCourtKiosk at the Corning courthouse offers the same types of civil case access for the other county seat location. Both kiosks are available during regular courthouse hours without any fee.

Given Clay County's dual-courthouse structure and partial online coverage, knowing which courthouse holds the case you are looking for can save time. If you are unsure, start with an online search through the CourtConnect portal. If you find the case, the case number should indicate which court location filed it. If you do not find it online, call the clerk's office at (870) 598-2667 and provide the party names and approximate filing year.

Note: The Administrative Office of the Courts provides help with the online search system at (501) 410-1900 option 1 or toll-free (866) 823-5778. Email support is at acap.help@arcourts.gov. Staff can also help if you are having trouble locating a Clay County case through the portal.

Types of Civil Cases in Clay County Circuit Court

The Clay County Circuit Court handles civil cases under its civil, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile divisions established by Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Civil division cases include contract disputes, personal injury and negligence claims, property disputes, and any civil action where the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000. Both the Corning and Piggott courthouses hear civil matters for their respective districts within the county.

Domestic relations is a significant category of civil filings in Clay County. Divorce, child custody, child support, and paternity actions all generate records maintained by the Circuit Clerk at whichever courthouse jurisdiction they were filed in. Records from domestic relations proceedings are generally public, though the specific details involving minor children may be subject to protective orders restricting access. The paternity courts noted in Clay County's courthouse structure add an additional category of civil proceedings that generate public records.

Probate cases in Clay County handle estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. All probate filings go through the Circuit Clerk's office. For recent probate cases, the online portal may show basic filing information. For older probate records, in-person access at the relevant courthouse location is typically necessary. If you are doing genealogical research involving Clay County families, both the Corning and Piggott courthouses may hold relevant older records from different time periods.

How to Request Clay County Civil Court Record Copies

For in-person requests, visit whichever courthouse holds the case you need. The Corning location serves cases filed in that district, and the Piggott location at 151 S Second Avenue serves cases filed in that district. If you are not sure which to visit, call (870) 598-2667 first. Copies cost $0.25 per page and certified copies are $5.00 each.

Mail requests for Corning cases go to P.O. Box 385, Corning, AR 72422, addressed to Janet Kilbreath, Circuit Clerk. For Piggott cases, the address is 151 S Second Avenue, Piggott, AR 72454. Include the party names, case number if available, filing year, and a check or money order for copying fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so copies can be returned by mail. Processing times vary, so call ahead to confirm expected turnaround.

Clay County District Courts

Clay County has district court divisions in both Corning and Piggott, matching the dual-courthouse structure of the county. Each district court handles civil claims up to $25,000, small claims up to $5,000, misdemeanor criminal cases, and traffic violations for its geographic area. Hours at both locations are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Small claims in Clay County can be filed at either district court location depending on which serves the area where the dispute arose or where the parties are located. For claims up to $5,000, the streamlined small claims process allows individuals to handle their own cases without an attorney. District court civil records for Clay County may appear in the CourtConnect system for cases that have been entered, or they can be requested from the specific district court location directly.

Public Access to Clay County Civil Court Records

Clay County civil court records are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. Any person can request to inspect or copy these records at either courthouse location. The Circuit Clerk must provide access during business hours and process written requests. No reason is required to access public civil court records.

Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court governs electronic access and presumes records are public unless a court order or specific law restricts them. Juvenile files, sealed cases, and adoption proceedings are not publicly accessible. These restrictions apply equally at both Clay County courthouse locations.

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. provides the statutory authority for court record access in all Arkansas circuit courts. Records created before January 1, 2009 require redaction of confidential information when provided electronically. Clay County's older paper and microfilm records that predate electronic systems are still public. They just require in-person review at the courthouse rather than online access. The Clerk's office can help you locate and review those records during business hours.

Legal Help and Resources in Clay County

Legal Services of Arkansas covers Clay County and provides free civil legal assistance to qualifying residents. Because Clay County is a smaller rural county in northeast Arkansas, services may be provided from a regional office. Contact Legal Services to find the nearest intake location for your area. They handle civil matters including family law, housing, and consumer issues.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation supports legal aid programs statewide, including in small counties like Clay. For self-represented individuals, the Arkansas Judiciary online services page provides procedural guides and form links. The Arkansas Circuit Clerks Association is also a resource for understanding clerk duties and services in all 75 Arkansas counties.

Nearby Counties

Clay County is in the far northeast corner of Arkansas near the Missouri state line. Neighboring counties also maintain civil court records systems.

• Greene County - to the south
• Randolph County - to the west
• Lawrence County - to the southwest