Pulaski County Civil Court Records
Pulaski County civil court records are held by Circuit Clerk Terri Hollingsworth at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Little Rock and cover all civil case filings, judgments, domestic relations cases, probate records, and property documents for Arkansas's most populous county. This page explains how to search, access, and request those records through the online portal, in person at the courthouse, or by mail.
Pulaski County Civil Court Records Overview
Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Office
Circuit Clerk Terri Hollingsworth runs the Circuit Clerk's office for Pulaski County. The office is at 401 W Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201. The main phone is (501) 340-8500. This is the primary contact for all civil court records in Pulaski County, including case filings, orders, judgments, domestic relations records, probate matters, and real estate documents. The Pulaski County Circuit Clerk website has current information on services, e-filing, and how to request records.
Pulaski County is the most populous county in Arkansas, with around 400,000 residents. That means the circuit court here sees a much higher volume of civil filings than most other counties in the state. The 6th Judicial Circuit in Pulaski County has 17 circuit court judges, organized across multiple divisions. Those divisions include civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile, each handling its own category of cases. With that many judges and divisions, the Circuit Clerk's office manages a large volume of records and filings at any given time.
The Pulaski County Courthouse at 401 West Markham is the main hub for circuit court activity. It is also where the Circuit Clerk's office maintains records going back many years. The Arkansas State Archives holds historical Pulaski County court records from 1829 to 1963 as a separate resource for older research. For recent civil cases and current records, the Circuit Clerk's office is the right contact. The Clerk's office was one of the first in Arkansas to put court records online, and it has been a full participant in the statewide Contexte system for many years.
The scale of the Pulaski County court system reflects the size of the county. There are specialized court programs operating here that do not exist in most other Arkansas counties, including Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Court. Those programs handle cases that overlap with the civil and criminal dockets, and their records may be accessed through the same Circuit Clerk office. If you are looking for records from a specialty court division, the Clerk's office can direct you to the right records unit.
Search Pulaski County Civil Court Records Online
Pulaski County was among the first Arkansas counties to bring civil court records online and remains a full participant in the Search ARCourts portal operated by the Arkansas Judiciary. You can search by party name, business name, or case number at no cost, any time of day. The portal covers case summaries, party details, docket entries, and for many cases, document images as well.
Because Pulaski County has been in the statewide case management system for a long time and has a high volume of filings, its online records are among the most complete in the state. You can search for civil judgments against individuals or businesses, look up active civil cases, check hearing dates, or find out the outcome of a filed case. The search results show case type, parties, filing date, status, and other details. Attorneys and pro se litigants both use this system regularly for Pulaski County matters.
Under Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court, records filed before January 1, 2009 must have sensitive personal information redacted when viewed online. Very old records from before the electronic era may not appear in the portal at all. The Arkansas State Archives holds historical Pulaski County court records from 1829 through 1963, which can be useful for older civil case research. For post-1963 records that predate the electronic system, contact the Circuit Clerk at (501) 340-8500 to ask how to locate them.
For technical assistance with the online portal, 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. The portal is typically available 24 hours a day except for brief maintenance windows on weekday mornings and some weekend periods.
Types of Civil Cases in Pulaski County Circuit Court
Pulaski County Circuit Court hears civil cases across multiple divisions. The civil division handles disputes over $25,000, including breach of contract, personal injury, property disputes, business litigation, and civil appeals from the district court. Because Pulaski County is the state capital and the most populous county in Arkansas, it sees a wide range of civil filings from individuals, businesses, and state agencies.
The domestic relations division processes divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, adoption, and spousal support cases. Pulaski County sees a high volume of domestic relations filings given its population. The probate division handles wills, estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. Records from all of these divisions are public (unless sealed) and are kept by the Circuit Clerk at 401 West Markham.
Pulaski County also has specialized court programs that generate civil records. Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Court handle cases that may involve civil components alongside criminal charges. Records from those specialty courts are maintained within the circuit court system. If you are looking for records from one of those programs, ask the Circuit Clerk's office staff which division or records unit holds those files. Juvenile records remain restricted under Arkansas law regardless of which county they originate from.
How to Get Copies of Civil Court Records
Pulaski County civil court records can be accessed in person at the courthouse, by mail, or online through the Search ARCourts portal. The Circuit Clerk's office processes a high volume of requests, so knowing what you need before you contact the office saves time.
In person is the most reliable way to get certified copies and to access older physical files. Go to 401 W Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock during business hours. Bring the case number if you have it, along with the party names and approximate filing year. Staff can locate the file and provide copies. Certified copies require a certification fee on top of the per-page copy rate. Payment options are available at the office. Parking and access to the courthouse may require extra time during busy court days, so plan accordingly.
Mail requests are accepted at 401 W Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201. Include the case number or party names, the approximate year the case was filed, and a check or money order for copy fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want copies returned by mail. Call (501) 340-8500 ahead of sending your request to confirm current fees and expected processing time, as volume can affect turnaround.
The free Search ARCourts portal lets you view and print case summaries and, for many Pulaski County cases, document images as well. That is often the fastest route if you just need to review a case or print basic information. For court-certified copies, you must go through the Clerk's office directly.
Pulaski County District Court and Federal Courts
Pulaski County District Court is at 3001 W. Roosevelt Rd, Little Rock, AR 72204, and can be reached at (501) 340-6824. The district court handles civil claims up to $25,000, small claims up to $5,000, misdemeanor criminal cases, and traffic violations. District court records are separate from the circuit court records held by the Circuit Clerk. The district court has departments for criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, warrants, and special services matters.
Little Rock is also home to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, which handles federal civil and criminal cases. Federal civil cases, including federal lawsuits, bankruptcy proceedings in the federal system, and civil rights claims under federal law, are filed and heard there rather than at the state circuit court. The Eastern District courthouse is in Little Rock near the Pulaski County courthouse. Federal court records are separate from state court records and are accessed through the federal PACER system rather than the Arkansas state portal.
The Western District of Arkansas also has an office connection to the Little Rock area for some federal matters. If you are looking for a civil case and are not sure whether it was filed in state or federal court, one way to check is to search both the state's Search ARCourts portal and the federal PACER system. The nature of the claim often determines which court has jurisdiction.
Public Access and Arkansas Law
Civil court records in Pulaski County are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. Any person has the right to view and copy public court records without giving a reason. That right applies across all 75 Arkansas counties including Pulaski County, which has the highest volume of court filings in the state.
The Arkansas Supreme Court's Administrative Order No. 19 governs electronic access to court records. Under this order, records are presumed public unless restricted by a specific statute or court order. Juvenile records, adoption records, sealed cases, and certain mental health records are not open to the public. Sealed cases do not appear in online searches and cannot be retrieved through a standard public request. The Circuit Clerk staff will tell you if a record is sealed and what access options, if any, exist.
For records containing Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or other sensitive personal data, clerks must redact that information before making records publicly available. That is set out in Administrative Order No. 19 and applies to all courts in Arkansas. If you need a full unredacted record for a legal proceeding, there is a court process to request it. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-901 et seq. provides additional framework governing how clerks respond to records requests in Arkansas circuit courts. The Pulaski County Circuit Clerk follows all of these rules in handling the high volume of public records requests the office receives.
Cities in Pulaski County
Pulaski County is home to several cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Civil court filings from residents of any city in Pulaski County go through the same Circuit Clerk office in Little Rock.
Other communities in Pulaski County such as Alexander, Cammack Village, and Wrightsville do not meet the qualifying population threshold for separate pages. All residents in those areas access civil court records through the same Circuit Clerk office at 401 West Markham in Little Rock.
Legal Resources for Pulaski County Residents
Legal Services of Arkansas provides free civil legal help to income-qualifying residents throughout the state, including Pulaski County. They handle housing, family law, consumer, and other civil matters. Given the size of the county, their office in Little Rock is well-resourced and handles a high volume of cases. Apply online or by phone to check eligibility and get connected with help.
The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation funds legal aid and self-help programs statewide. The Arkansas Judiciary's online services page has forms and guides for common civil court filings. If you are representing yourself in Pulaski County Circuit Court, the ARCourtKiosk program also has resources at the courthouse to help you navigate the process. The Pulaski County Bar Association may also be a resource for referrals to private attorneys if your situation requires paid legal help.
Nearby Counties
Pulaski County is in central Arkansas and shares borders with several counties, each with its own Circuit Clerk and civil court records system.