Garland County Civil Court Records

Garland County civil court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the Garland County Courthouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This page covers how to search civil case filings online through the county portal and the state portal, how to request certified copies, and what types of civil matters are handled by Garland County Circuit Court in the 18th Judicial Circuit.

Garland County Circuit Clerk Office

The Garland County Circuit Clerk office is at 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 104, Hot Springs, AR 71901. The phone is (501) 622-3630 and fax is (501) 609-9043. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Circuit Clerk serves as clerk of the civil, domestic relations, criminal, and juvenile courts, and as ex-officio recorder for the county. All court records, judgments, orders, and civil case files pass through this office. The Clerk also records deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds, and swears in all notaries public in Garland County.

Other county offices are nearby. The Garland County Clerk, handling county administrative records, is at Room 103 of the same building, phone (501) 622-3600. The County Assessor is at Room 105, (501) 622-3800. The Treasurer is at Room 107, (501) 622-3720. If you arrive at the Ouachita Avenue address, Room 104 is the Circuit Clerk where civil court records are held.

Garland County is one of the more populous counties in Arkansas. The courthouse in Hot Springs serves as the hub for civil, domestic, probate, criminal, and juvenile proceedings for the 18th Judicial Circuit. Copy fees in Garland County are $1.00 per page for standard copies, which is higher than the state average of $0.25. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Call (501) 622-3630 to confirm current rates before submitting a request.

Searching Garland County Civil Court Records Online

Garland County offers its own online court records access through the county website. The Court Case/Judgment Lookup tool at garlandcounty.org lets you search by person name or business name and select Garland County from the dropdown. This is a direct county-level tool that runs alongside the statewide portal. The county's public records page at garlandcounty.org/363/Public-Records provides access to court records and land records, with some services requiring account creation.

The Arkansas Judiciary's statewide portal, Search ARCourts, also covers Garland County civil cases. Search by party name, business name, or case number. Filter by court type, case type, party type, or case status. The portal is free and available at any hour. Records created before January 1, 2009 may have personal details redacted under Administrative Order No. 19. AOC support is available at (501) 410-1900, option 1, or toll-free at (866) 823-5778.

Note: If the online portals do not return the case you need, contact the Circuit Clerk at (501) 622-3630 before assuming the record is unavailable. Staff can confirm whether a record exists and explain how to submit a formal request.

Garland County District Court Civil Records

Garland County District Court handles civil claims up to $25,000, small claims up to $5,000, misdemeanor cases, and traffic matters. The district court is at 607 Ouachita Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901, phone (501) 321-6765. District court records are public and separate from circuit court civil records. Smaller civil disputes and landlord-tenant cases often begin in district court before being appealed to circuit court if the amount qualifies.

For district court civil records, contact the district court directly at (501) 321-6765. Online access through the statewide portal may cover some district court filings for Garland County, but the district court office is the most reliable source for those records. If your dispute is below $25,000, district court is likely where the case was filed.

Civil Case Types in Garland County Circuit Court

Garland County Circuit Court handles civil matters through its civil division under Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Civil cases include negligence claims, contract disputes, fraud, malpractice, product liability, foreclosures, quiet title suits, injunctions, partition actions, condemnation, declaratory judgments, unlawful detainer, administrative appeals, and name changes. Cases where the amount exceeds $25,000 fall in circuit court.

The domestic relations division covers divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, and domestic violence protection orders. These proceedings are civil in nature, and their records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk. The probate division covers estates, wills, and guardianships. The criminal division handles felony cases and misdemeanor appeals. All records from these divisions are held by the Circuit Clerk at Room 104 of the Ouachita Avenue courthouse.

Note: Juvenile records in Garland County are not open to the public. Adoption proceedings are confidential. Sealed and expunged records do not appear in public searches.

How to Get Copies of Civil Records in Garland County

In-person is the fastest way to get copies. Go to 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 104, Hot Springs, AR 71901 during business hours. Bring valid photo ID and any case information you have, such as party names, case number, and year filed. Standard copies in Garland County cost $1.00 per page, which is above the statewide standard. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Staff can locate most records during your visit if you have basic identifying information.

Mail requests can be sent to the Garland County Circuit Clerk, 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 104, Hot Springs, AR 71901. Include party names, case number if known, year filed, and a check or money order for copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. Call (501) 622-3630 before sending your request to confirm current processing times and payment options. Fax to (501) 609-9043 if you need to send a request quickly.

Arkansas Law and Civil Records Access

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 reason for the request. Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court confirms that records are presumed public unless sealed. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. provides the framework for circuit clerks when responding to records requests, including what fees they may charge. Garland County follows these statewide rules at the Hot Springs courthouse.

Legal Resources in Garland County

Legal Services of Arkansas provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents in Garland County. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation supports legal aid programs across the state and can connect you with help in the 18th Judicial Circuit. The Arkansas Judiciary's online services page has forms and procedural guides for self-represented litigants in civil cases.

For federal civil matters, Garland County residents are served by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Most civil cases in Hot Springs are handled at the state level through Garland County Circuit Court.

Nearby Counties

Garland County is in west-central Arkansas in the 18th Judicial Circuit. Hot Springs is one of the larger cities in the state. Neighboring counties each have their own circuit clerk and civil records system.

• Saline County - to the east
• Grant County - to the southeast
• Hot Spring County - to the south
• Montgomery County - to the west
• Yell County - to the north
• Perry County - to the northeast