Dallas County Civil Court Records Lookup

Dallas County civil court records are maintained by Circuit Clerk Dori Keeton at the courthouse in Fordyce, Arkansas. This page covers how to find and request civil case filings, court orders, and judgment records through the state online portal and in person at the Dallas County Courthouse in the 11th Judicial Circuit.

Dallas County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Dori Keeton serves as the keeper of civil court records for Dallas County. The office is at 206 West Third Street, Fordyce, AR 71742. The phone number is (870) 352-2307, with fax at (870) 352-7179. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The county judge's office can be reached at (870) 352-3371 if you need general county information.

The Circuit Clerk handles all civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile case filings in Dallas County Circuit Court. The office issues summonses, warrants, and subpoenas, records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property instruments, and maintains court dockets, judgments, and case records. In Dallas County, the Circuit Clerk and County Clerk positions are held by the same person (Dori Keeton), making this a combined office. This is one of 14 Arkansas counties where a single official manages both sets of records. That can be convenient when you need to access both court records and administrative county documents from the same location.

Dallas County land records through the Circuit Clerk's office are also available online. An indexed digital records system covers data from September 1997 to the present, with new records added in real time. The system allows searches by name, party type, instrument type, recorded date range, and legal description including quarter, section, township, range, block, and lot. Revenue from printing copies through this system supports Dallas County directly.

Searching Dallas County Civil Court Records Online

The primary free portal for civil case information is Search ARCourts, run by the Arkansas Judiciary. This statewide system covers Dallas County along with all other Arkansas counties. Search by party name, business name, or case number. Filter by court, case type, party type, or case status to narrow results. The system is free and does not require account creation for basic searches.

Cases filed before January 1, 2009 may have some personal information redacted under Administrative Order No. 19 when accessed electronically. Very old Dallas County records may not be digitized. For those files, an in-person visit to the Fordyce courthouse is the only option. The CourtConnect portal provides another route to case information online. If you have system access issues, the AOC help desk is available at (501) 410-1900, option 1, or toll-free at (866) 823-5778.

Note: If the online search does not return the Dallas County record you need, contact the Circuit Clerk directly at (870) 352-2307. Staff can confirm whether a record exists and what steps are needed to obtain it.

Civil Case Types in Dallas County Circuit Court

Dallas County Circuit Court handles civil cases through the civil division created by Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Civil division matters include negligence claims, contract disputes, bad faith actions, fraud, malpractice, product liability, foreclosures, quiet title suits, injunctions, partition actions, condemnation, replevin, declaratory judgments, unlawful detainer, administrative appeals, property forfeitures, name changes, and foreign judgment registration.

The domestic relations division handles divorce, custody and visitation, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse protection orders. The probate division covers wills, estates, and guardianships. These proceedings are all civil in nature and their records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk. Dallas County is a smaller county with a population of approximately 6,482 as of the 2020 census, so the court docket tends to be more manageable than in larger counties. Cases from across the county are processed through the single courthouse in Fordyce.

District courts in Dallas County handle civil claims up to $25,000 and small claims up to $5,000, as well as misdemeanor criminal matters and traffic violations. District court records are public and separate from circuit court records. Note: Juvenile records and adoption proceedings are not open to the public in Dallas County, consistent with state law.

How to Request Dallas County Civil Records

In person is the fastest way to get civil records from Dallas County. Visit the courthouse at 206 West Third Street, Fordyce, AR 71742 during business hours. Bring valid photo ID and any case details you have, such as party names, case number, or the approximate year filed. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies require an additional fee and are needed for legal uses like appeals or court submissions.

For mail requests, write to the Dallas County Circuit Clerk, 206 West Third Street, Fordyce, AR 71742. Include party names, case number if available, the year filed, and payment by check or money order. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want copies returned by mail. Call (870) 352-2307 to ask about processing times and accepted payment methods before sending your request.

Arkansas Law and Civil Records Access

Civil court records in Arkansas are open to the public 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 without giving a reason. The Circuit Clerk is required to respond to records requests within a reasonable time and can charge only the fees set by law. Standard copy fees apply at $0.25 per page, with a separate charge for certified copies.

Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court establishes the rules for electronic access to court records. Under this order, records are presumed public unless a specific statute or court order restricts access. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. provides additional framework for how circuit clerks manage and provide access to court records. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and adoption proceedings are the primary categories excluded from public access under these rules.

Legal Aid for Dallas County Residents

Legal Services of Arkansas offers free civil legal help to income-eligible residents of Dallas County. They handle housing issues, family law matters, and other civil cases. If you are handling a civil matter without a lawyer, the Arkansas Judiciary's online services page provides forms and guidance for self-represented litigants. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation can connect you with additional legal resources in the 11th Judicial Circuit area.

For federal civil matters, Dallas County residents fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Most civil disputes in Fordyce are handled at the state level through the Circuit Court, but federal law claims may be filed in federal court depending on the nature of the case.

Nearby Counties

Dallas County is in south-central Arkansas in the 11th Judicial Circuit. Each bordering county has its own civil court records system.

• Clark County - to the west
• Grant County - to the north
• Cleveland County - to the east
• Calhoun County - to the south
• Ouachita County - to the southeast