Ouachita County Civil Court Records

Ouachita County civil court records are held by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Camden. The county has one circuit court and five district courts, giving it more court infrastructure than many smaller Arkansas counties. This page covers how to search and request civil court records from Ouachita County, Arkansas, including what types of cases are filed here and which courts hold which records.

Ouachita County Circuit Clerk Office

The Ouachita County Circuit Clerk's office is located at 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, AR 71701. The main phone is (870) 837-2230, and the fax number is (870) 837-2252. This is the primary location for all civil court records in the county, including case files, dockets, judgments, and recorded real estate documents.

The Circuit Clerk maintains records of all proceedings from the civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile court divisions. Case files, dockets, orders, and judgments from the Ouachita County Circuit Court are all on file here. The office also records real property documents, liens, and other instruments affecting land titles in Ouachita County. Case dockets, jury reports, court budgets, and court meeting minutes are among the types of civil records available through this office.

Ouachita County's Assessor's office is at the same address, 145 Jefferson St. SW, Camden, and can be reached at (870) 837-2240. If you are doing a property-related records search and need both assessed value information and recorded instruments, both offices are accessible from the same courthouse. The Circuit Clerk handles deeds and liens, while the Assessor handles property valuations and tax assessments.

The AR Courthouse Kiosk at the Ouachita County Circuit Court is accessible through the kiosk program's Ouachita County page. The kiosk links to the court website and provides access to the record search system. It is a useful tool for self-service record lookup when you are at the courthouse in Camden.

Search Ouachita County Civil Records Online

The Arkansas Judiciary's free public case search portal, Search ARCourts, is the best starting point for online access to Ouachita County civil court records. You can search by case number, party name, or business name at no cost. The system shows case summaries, party details, docket entries, and available document images. Ouachita County's participation in the Contexte case management system means that civil cases filed after the county joined are searchable online.

Under Administrative Order No. 19, records filed before January 1, 2009 must have personal identifying details like Social Security numbers and financial account numbers removed before online display. For those older cases, in-person or mail access may be more complete. Records that were never entered into the electronic system also require a direct contact with the Circuit Clerk's office.

The AR Courthouse Kiosk program gives you on-site access to case data, legal forms, and legal aid resources at the Ouachita County courthouse. This is a good option if you prefer to do your search at the courthouse itself. Technical help for Search ARCourts is available from the Administrative Office of the Courts at (501) 410-1900 (option 1) or toll-free at (866) 823-5778.

Note: Ouachita County has five separate district courts in addition to the circuit court. Civil cases under $25,000 are filed in district courts rather than the circuit court, and those records are held by each district court separately.

Ouachita County Courts and Case Types

Ouachita County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil, criminal, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile cases. The civil division handles disputes where the amount at issue exceeds $25,000. Contract disputes, personal injury claims, property conflicts, and negligence lawsuits are all common in this court. The court also handles appeals from the five district courts below it.

The five district courts in Ouachita County each handle civil claims up to $25,000 and small claims up to $5,000, along with misdemeanor criminal matters. The Bearden District Court can be reached at (870) 687-2204. Camden District Court is at (870) 836-0331. Chidester District Court is reachable at (870) 685-2906. East Camden District Court is at (870) 574-2900. Stephens District Court handles cases at (870) 786-5818. Each district court keeps its own records separately from the Circuit Clerk's office.

Domestic relations cases including divorce, child custody, and child support go through the circuit court. Probate cases, including estate administration and guardianship proceedings, are also heard in circuit court. All of these case records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at 145 Jefferson Street SW in Camden.

• Circuit Court civil cases over $25,000
• Divorce and domestic relations proceedings
• Child custody and support orders
• Probate and estate matters
• District Court civil cases up to $25,000 (held separately at each court)
• Small claims up to $5,000 in district courts
• Recorded real estate and lien documents

Requesting Ouachita County Civil Court Records

In-person visits to the Circuit Clerk's office at 145 Jefferson Street SW in Camden are the most direct way to access civil court records. Bring case-identifying details such as party names, case number, or the year the case was filed. Staff can pull files, print copies at standard per-page fees, and certify documents upon request. Call (870) 837-2230 before your visit to ask about current fees and any specific procedures.

Mail requests should be sent to the Circuit Clerk at 145 Jefferson St SW, Camden, AR 71701. Include a description of the records you need, all party names, the case number if available, and payment by check or money order. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery. Processing times vary by record type and date. Call ahead to get an estimate before sending your request.

Online access through Search ARCourts is free for cases in the electronic system. If you find a case online and need certified copies, contact the Circuit Clerk's office directly. For district court records, you will need to contact the relevant district court, not the Circuit Clerk's office.

Public Records Access in Ouachita County

Civil court records in Ouachita County are presumed public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. Most court records, including case filings, judgments, dockets, and recorded property instruments, are available to anyone who requests them. You do not need to provide a reason or show a legal interest in the case.

Exemptions exist. Juvenile records, sealed cases, adoption proceedings, grand jury minutes, and records protected by court order or specific statutes are not available to the public. Administrative Order No. 19 governs electronic access to court records and defines what is excluded from online search results. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq., Circuit Clerks across Arkansas, including in Ouachita County, must follow set rules when responding to records requests and must provide written reasons for any denial.

Legal Resources in Ouachita County

Legal Services of Arkansas provides free civil legal assistance to qualifying low-income residents of Ouachita County. They handle housing, family law, consumer issues, and other civil matters. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation offers statewide resources for self-represented litigants and links to legal aid organizations that serve Ouachita County.

Ouachita County is served by the Western District of Arkansas for federal civil matters. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas handles federal cases arising in the county. State civil matters go to the Ouachita County Circuit Court in Camden.

Nearby Counties

Ouachita County is in south-central Arkansas. Neighboring counties with their own civil court records offices include Nevada County, Columbia County, Union County, Calhoun County, and Dallas County. View all county pages at the Counties index.