Crittenden County Civil Court Records

Crittenden County civil court records are held by Circuit Clerk Terry Hawkins at the courthouse in Marion, Arkansas. This page explains how to search civil case filings online through the state portal, how to request copies in person or by mail, and what types of civil cases are handled by the 1st Judicial Circuit serving Crittenden County.

Crittenden County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Terry Hawkins maintains civil court records for Crittenden County. The office is at 100 Court Square, Marion, AR 72364. You can reach the clerk at (870) 739-3248 or by fax at (870) 739-3287. The email address is thawkins@crittco.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The county courthouse is at 100 Court Street in Marion, with a general county line at (870) 739-4434.

The Circuit Clerk files and processes court documents for all civil, domestic relations, criminal, and juvenile cases in Crittenden County. Key duties include docketing new filings, attending court sessions, issuing summonses, subpoenas, writs, and warrants, and swearing in witnesses during proceedings. The Clerk also prepares the list of prospective jurors and maintains all case records and appeals. Property records are kept here as well, including deeds, mortgages, conveyances, maps, plats, powers of attorney, liens on real property, and performance bonds. If you need a civil court record in Crittenden County, this office is your starting point.

The county also has a separate County Clerk office for certain records. County Clerk Paula Brown can be reached at (870) 739-4434 or by email at crittcoclerk@gmail.com. The County Clerk handles some administrative county records, while the Circuit Clerk handles court filings and property instruments. If you are looking for a civil court case, contact the Circuit Clerk. If you need county administrative documents, contact the County Clerk.

Search Crittenden County Civil Cases Online

The Arkansas Judiciary offers Search ARCourts as a free public portal for civil case information. Crittenden County records are available through this system. Search by party name, business name, or case number. You can also filter results by court, case type, party type, and case status to narrow your results. The system is available at no cost and can be accessed at any hour.

Cases filed before January 1, 2009 may have some personal details redacted when accessed online, as required by Administrative Order No. 19. Very old records may not be digitized at all. For those, an in-person visit to the courthouse is the best option. If you have trouble finding a specific case online, call the Circuit Clerk at (870) 739-3248 or email thawkins@crittco.com before assuming the record is unavailable.

Crittenden County has multiple district courts that handle limited civil matters and misdemeanor cases. District court locations include courts in Earle, Gilmore, Jericho, Turrell, Marion, and West Memphis. District court civil records are separate from circuit court filings but are also public. The AOC support line at (501) 410-1900 or toll-free (866) 823-5778 can assist with CourtConnect access issues.

Types of Civil Records Maintained in Crittenden County

Crittenden County Circuit Court handles civil cases through the civil division created by Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Civil matters include contract disputes, personal injury actions, foreclosures, property disputes, quiet title suits, injunctions, and declaratory judgments. Civil cases where the amount at issue exceeds $25,000 fall under circuit court jurisdiction. Cases below that threshold, including small claims up to $5,000, go to one of the county's district courts.

The domestic relations division of Crittenden County Circuit Court covers divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse protection orders. The probate division handles wills, estates, and guardianships. The criminal division processes felony cases and misdemeanor appeals from lower courts. All of these divisions maintain records through the same Circuit Clerk's office, so a single contact point handles most civil record requests in Crittenden County.

Land records maintained by the Circuit Clerk include deeds, mortgages, conveyances, plat maps, powers of attorney, liens, real estate fixture filings, soldiers' discharge papers, performance bonds, and public official bonds. These records are separate from court case files but are also part of the public record. Note: Juvenile records are not open to the public. Sealed cases and adoption proceedings are also excluded from public access.

How to Request Crittenden County Court Records

The fastest way to get civil court records is to visit the Circuit Clerk's office in person. Go to 100 Court Square, Marion, AR 72364 during business hours. Bring valid photo ID and as much case information as you have: party names, case number, and the approximate year of filing all help staff locate the record quickly. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies require an additional fee. Certified copies are needed for legal and official uses such as appeals, title searches, or court submissions.

If you cannot make an in-person visit, you can request records by mail. Write to the Crittenden County Circuit Clerk, 100 Court Square, Marion, AR 72364. Include the party names, case number if known, the year the case was filed, and payment for copy fees by check or money order. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the copies mailed back to you. You can also email the clerk at thawkins@crittco.com to ask about the request process before sending your payment.

Arkansas Law and Public Access to Court Records

Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq., any person has the right to inspect and copy public records, including civil court filings. You do not need to explain why you want the records or show a connection to the case. The Circuit Clerk is required to respond to records requests within a reasonable time and may charge only the fees set by law for copying.

Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court sets the framework for electronic court records access. The order says court records are presumed public unless a specific law or court ruling seals them. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and adoption proceedings are the main exceptions. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. provides the broader statutory framework for court records access in Arkansas. Both the FOIA and these court-specific statutes work together to ensure that civil court records in Crittenden County remain open to the public.

Legal Resources in Crittenden County

Legal Services of Arkansas provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents of Crittenden County. They handle housing, family law, and other civil matters. If you are filing or responding to a civil case without a lawyer, the Arkansas Judiciary's online services page has forms and self-help resources for common civil proceedings.

The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation supports legal aid programs statewide and can point you toward resources in the 1st Judicial Circuit area. The Arkansas Circuit Clerks Association also maintains a directory of all 75 county circuit clerks, which is useful for verifying contact details or finding out who currently holds the clerk position in Crittenden County.

Note: West Memphis, the largest city in Crittenden County, is close to the Tennessee border and has federal district court filings handled through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas for federal civil matters.

Nearby Counties

Crittenden County is in the far eastern corner of Arkansas, bordering Tennessee and Missouri. Neighboring Arkansas counties each maintain their own civil court records.

• Cross County - to the west
• Mississippi County - to the north
• St. Francis County - to the southwest