Perry County Civil Court Records

Perry County civil court records are maintained by Circuit Clerk Renee Rainey in Perryville. The county uses two separate courthouse buildings, one for the clerk's office and one for court sessions, so knowing which building to visit matters. This page covers how to search and request civil court records from Perry County, Arkansas, including online access options and direct contact information for the clerk's office.

Perry County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Renee Rainey is the keeper of all civil court records in Perry County. The physical address for the clerk's office is 310 West Main Street, Perryville, AR 72126. Mailing address is P.O. Box 358, Perryville, AR 72126-0358. Phone: (501) 889-5126. The office email for general matters is perryclerk@arkansasclerks.com, and the fax number is (501) 889-5759.

Perry County uses two separate buildings for its court operations. The clerk's office, where records are held and requests are processed, is located in the historic courthouse. Court sessions themselves are held in a newer court building. If you are going to Perryville for a hearing, you will likely use the new court building. If you are going to request or view records, the clerk's office in the historic courthouse is where you need to go. It is worth calling ahead at (501) 889-5126 to confirm the locations and get directions if needed.

The Circuit Clerk's office handles civil case filings, domestic relations matters such as divorce and child custody, felony criminal records, probate records, and juvenile court matters. Real estate documents, including deeds, mortgages, and recorded liens, are also maintained here. Perry County has a combined Sheriff and Tax Collector position, but that does not affect civil court records access; the Circuit Clerk is the designated custodian of all circuit court documents.

The AR Courthouse Kiosk program is available at Perry County. The Perry County kiosk page lists civil case types including felony criminal, divorce, custody, child support, eviction, contract disputes, and other civil disputes. The kiosk provides free on-site case lookup, court form access, and legal aid resources without waiting for staff assistance.

Search Perry County Civil Cases Online

Free online access to Perry County civil court records is available through Search ARCourts. This is the official Arkansas Judiciary case search portal. You can search by party name, business name, or case number. The system displays case summaries, party information, docket entries, and available document images for cases that have been entered into the Contexte case management system.

Perry County's cases that are in the Contexte system are searchable without charge. However, older records filed before the county joined the electronic system may only exist in paper form at the Perryville courthouse. Cases filed before January 1, 2009 are also subject to the redaction requirements of Administrative Order No. 19, so certain older records may have limited online visibility even if they are in the system.

The AR Courthouse Kiosk program at the Perry County courthouse provides an on-site alternative for case lookup, form access, and legal aid resources. For Search ARCourts technical support, call the Administrative Office of the Courts at (501) 410-1900 (option 1) or toll-free at (866) 823-5778, or email acap.help@arcourts.gov.

Note: Perry County uses two courthouse buildings. Make sure you go to the clerk's office in the historic courthouse to access records, not the new court building where hearings are held.

Civil Case Types in Perry County Circuit Court

Perry County Circuit Court is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit. The civil division handles cases where the amount in dispute exceeds $25,000. Contract disputes, personal injury claims, property conflicts, and civil appeals from district courts are among the cases filed here. Under Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution, civil, criminal, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile matters all have their own divisions within the circuit court.

Domestic relations filings are common in smaller counties like Perry County. Divorce petitions, child custody determinations, support orders, and modifications of domestic orders all flow through the circuit court. These records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and are generally public, though certain personal information in domestic cases may be partially restricted. Probate cases, including wills, estates, guardianship proceedings, name changes, and conservatorships, are also civil records held at the clerk's office.

Real estate and property records make up another category of civil documents at the clerk's office. Deeds, mortgage instruments, lien releases, and judgment recordings are filed with the Circuit Clerk as part of the county's official land records. These records are public and searchable by the general public during business hours.

How to Request Perry County Civil Records

To get records in person, visit the Circuit Clerk's office at 310 West Main Street in Perryville during regular business hours. Bring any case information you have: party names, case number, year filed. Staff can locate records, make copies at standard per-page fees, and certify documents if needed. Call (501) 889-5126 before visiting to confirm current hours and procedures, and to verify which courthouse building the clerk's office is in at the time of your visit.

Mail requests are accepted at P.O. Box 358, Perryville, AR 72126-0358. Include a description of the records you need, all party names, the case number if you have it, and payment by check or money order for copy fees. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want copies returned by mail. Processing time varies by record type and age. You can also fax inquiries to (501) 889-5759 or email perryclerk@arkansasclerks.com for general questions.

Online access through Search ARCourts is free and available around the clock. Certified copies cannot be obtained from the web portal and must be requested directly from the clerk's office.

Arkansas Law and Civil Record Access

Civil court records in Perry County are public documents under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. Any person can inspect and copy public court records without providing a reason. The law covers civil filings, judgments, court orders, and recorded property instruments.

Certain categories are exempt from public access. Juvenile court records, sealed criminal records, adoption records, grand jury proceedings, and records shielded by court order are not available without legal authority to obtain them. Administrative Order No. 19 governs electronic access and defines these exemptions for online records. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. provides the full statutory framework for court record access in Arkansas, which Perry County's Circuit Clerk follows when responding to records requests.

Legal Resources in Perry County

Legal Services of Arkansas provides free civil legal help to income-qualifying residents. Perry County residents can contact them about family law, housing, and consumer civil matters. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation offers legal aid resources and self-help materials for civil court proceedings. The kiosk at the Perry County courthouse also provides legal aid application tools and fact sheets.

Perry County is in central Arkansas. For federal civil matters, the county is within the Eastern District of Arkansas. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas handles federal cases involving county residents. State civil matters go through the Perry County Circuit Court in Perryville.

Nearby Counties

Perry County is in central Arkansas. Neighboring counties with their own civil court records offices include Yell County, Conway County, Faulkner County, and Pulaski County. View all county pages at the Counties index.