Search Desha County Civil Court Records

Desha County civil court records are held by Circuit Clerk Kristin Christmas, with court operations split between Arkansas City and McGehee. This guide explains how to search civil case filings online, request documents from the courthouse, and find the right office for the civil court records you need in Desha County's 10th Judicial Circuit.

Desha County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Kristin Christmas maintains civil court records for Desha County from two locations. The official county seat is Arkansas City, where the clerk's mailing address is P.O. Box 188, Arkansas City, AR 71630, with phone (870) 877-2323. The McGehee circuit court office is at 407 Oak Street, McGehee, AR 71654, phone (870) 222-4753. The circuit court itself is at 406 W Oak St, McGehee, AR 71654, main line (870) 222-0930. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Circuit Clerk files and processes all civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile case filings in Desha County. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and property-related documents, maintains all court files and dockets, and issues summonses and warrants as needed. A separate County Clerk office under Valerie Donaldson handles probate and county administrative records. County Clerk hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, and the website is at deshacountyclerk.org. Marriage records in Desha County go back to 1865 through the County Clerk, while Circuit Clerk records including court and land records also date to 1865.

Desha County was formed December 12, 1838 from Arkansas and Chicot Counties and is named for Captain Benjamin Desha, a War of 1812 veteran. The county's geographic location along the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers has historically made it a site for land-related civil litigation, including boundary disputes, property transfers, and agricultural contract matters.

Online Search for Desha County Civil Records

The Arkansas Judiciary's free public portal, Search ARCourts, covers Desha County civil case information. You can search by party name, business name, or case number. Filter by court type, case type, party status, or case status. No account or fee is needed for basic searches. This is the primary free online tool for looking up civil cases filed in Desha County's circuit court.

Records created before January 1, 2009 may have personal details redacted when accessed online under Administrative Order No. 19. Older records may not be in the digital system at all. In those cases, contact the Circuit Clerk at (870) 222-0930 or plan a visit to the McGehee office. The CourtConnect portal is another online option for case lookups. AOC support is available at (501) 410-1900, option 1, or toll-free at (866) 823-5778.

Note: Desha County has two physical court locations. If you are unsure which office holds the record you need, call the main line at (870) 222-0930 before making a trip. Staff can confirm the record's location and tell you whether it is available online or requires an in-person request.

Civil Case Types in Desha County

The Desha County Circuit Court handles civil cases through the civil division established by Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution in 2001. Civil matters include contract disputes, negligence actions, fraud claims, foreclosures, eviction proceedings (unlawful detainer), property disputes, and other civil litigation where the amount at issue exceeds $25,000. Claims under that threshold go to the district courts, with small claims handling cases up to $5,000.

The domestic relations division covers divorce, custody and visitation, child support, and paternity. These are civil proceedings and their records are held by the Circuit Clerk. Divorce records in Desha County go back to 1865. The probate division, handled through the County Clerk, covers wills, estates, and guardianships. If you need a divorce decree, a child custody order, or a civil judgment from Desha County, the Circuit Clerk is your first contact.

Note: Juvenile records are not open to the public in Desha County consistent with Arkansas law. Sealed records and adoption proceedings are also excluded. If a case is sealed, it will not appear in an online search and cannot be retrieved through a standard public records request.

Requesting Copies of Desha County Court Records

In-person requests are the most direct way to get civil records. Visit the McGehee courthouse office at 407 Oak Street during regular business hours. Bring valid photo ID and any case details you have, such as party names, case number, and the year the matter was filed. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies require an additional fee and are needed when you are submitting the record to another court or government office.

For mail requests, write to the Desha County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 188, Arkansas City, AR 71630. Include party names, case number if known, year of filing, and payment by check or money order. Add a return envelope with postage if you want copies mailed back. Call (870) 877-2323 before sending to confirm the request process and current fees.

Public Access to Civil Records Under Arkansas Law

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq., makes civil court records open to any person without requiring a stated reason. The Circuit Clerk must respond to records requests and can charge only the fees allowed by statute. Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court confirms that court records are presumed public unless sealed. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. sets the broader legal framework that clerks follow when responding to civil records requests in Desha County and all 75 Arkansas counties.

Legal Resources in Desha County

Legal Services of Arkansas provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents of Desha County. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation can connect you with legal aid programs serving the 10th Judicial Circuit. For self-represented litigants, the Arkansas Judiciary's online services page has forms and procedural information for common civil proceedings.

For federal civil matters, Desha County residents are served by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Most civil disputes in Desha County are handled at the state level through the circuit court in McGehee, but federal jurisdiction applies to certain types of civil claims under federal law.

Nearby Counties

Desha County is in southeastern Arkansas in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Each bordering county has its own circuit clerk and civil records system.

• Arkansas County - to the north
• Drew County - to the west
• Chicot County - to the south
• Lincoln County - to the northwest