Pulaski County, Arkansas State Court Records
Pulaski County court records are the official documents and electronic entries generated in the Arkansas state trial courts when a case is filed, heard, and resolved. They include filings, motions, orders, judgments, docket entries, and related case files. Court records document the events in a case and preserve the court’s official actions. If granted access, these documents also serve as an official reference for the parties, the court, and the public.
For most Pulaski County state court matters, especially circuit court records, the trial-level custodian is the Pulaski Circuit and County Clerk. The circuit clerk is the primary county-level recordkeeper for circuit court files, including criminal, civil, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile matters.
In Arkansas, the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) generally presumes that records maintained by government agencies are public records. However, the Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 19 specifically shapes access to court records. The order defines what court case information is public and what is restricted online. In essence, Pulaski County court records are generally public, but access may be limited by statute, court rule, or sealing/confidentiality requirements.
In Pulaski County, court records may overlap with other public record systems, but they are different. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. At the same time, local law enforcement is responsible for creating and maintaining arrest reports, incident reports, booking logs, and jail custody records. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas manages federal court records for Pulaski County. These are accessible throughPACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), not the Arkansas state court record system.
Are Pulaski County Court Records Public?
Yes. Most Pulaski County court records are public unless certain restrictions prevent the disclosure of specific documents. In Arkansas, the Administrative Order No. 19 governs public access to court records. Administrative Order No. 19 begins with a presumption of openness of court records but also excludes certain categories of records and data from public access. In other words, the public may view most docket sheets, filings, orders, judgments, parties, charges, dispositions, and hearing information in state cases, unless a law, court rule, or sealing order makes them confidential.
In Pulaski County, case types generally open to the public include standard civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and many domestic-relations cases filed in Arkansas state courts, subject to redaction and confidentiality rules. Examples of information that are often inaccessible to the public are as follows:
- Confidential information in divorce, custody, paternity, and support matters.
- Juvenile arrests, detentions, and proceedings are confidential under Arkansas Code section 9-27-309.
- Adoption cases
- Sealed or expunged cases
- Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other confidential identifiers
What Information is Available in Pulaski County Court Records?
Depending on the case type, the components of a typical Pulaski County court record often include the following:
- Basic case-identifying information: case number, names of parties or participants, and the judge assigned to the matter.
- Filed documents: complaints, petitions, answers, motions, notices, and other papers submitted by the parties or entered by the court.
- Orders, notices, minutes, and judgments: These include court-generated documents such as notices, minutes, orders, and judgments.
- Docket and case-management information: This category usually comprises details used for case management, such as the docket, case index, and party index.
- Charges and case outcomes in criminal matters: In criminal and similar cases, typical court records may show the charges, related case events, and the disposition or outcome of those charges.
- Future court events and hearing settings: Court records often show upcoming procedural events, such as future hearings, settings, or other scheduled case activity.
- Final rulings and monetary awards: These may include judgments showing the court’s final decision, sentencing outcome, dismissal, or monetary award, depending on the case type.
Note: A case that exists in the public system may still have certain information withheld or redacted under Administrative Order No. 19.
Pulaski County Court Records Search
Online Access
Requesters may access Pulaski County state-court case information via Search ARCourts. This online platform provides public access to court case information via the Contexte Case Management System. Users may access Pulaski County circuit court matters, such as civil, criminal, probate, traffic appeals, and many domestic relations cases. Using a participant name or case number, requesters may obtain case details, like the parties involved, judges, filings, charges, dispositions, upcoming events, and judgments.
It is worth noting that access may differ by case type, and some confidential or non-public records will not be available online.
In-person Access
Those seeking physical copies of Pulaski County circuit court records may visit the office of the Pulaski Circuit and County Clerk (official custodian of court records) at 401 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The clerk’s office may assist with locating or copying records, but access still depends on public-access rules, which outline the specific procedures and limitations for obtaining these records. To confirm in-person search options (e.g., public terminals), information seekers may call the office’s main phone number at 501-340-8500.
Mail Requests
As of March 2026, official Pulaski County clerk pages do not publish a step-by-step mail procedure, even though mail requests are possible. The clerk’s official fee page verifies that they only accept mailed payments via check or money order. Individuals requesting copies by mail are therefore advised to confirm the exact copy cost, the payable name, and mailing instructions with the clerk before sending payment.
Fees for Court Records in Pulaski County
Based on the fee schedule of the General Circuit Court Clerk, copy costs in Pulaski County are as follows:
- Regular copy first page: $0.50
- Regular copy of additional page: $0.25
- Certified copy: $5.00
- Authenticated copy: $5.00
- Research: $2.00
Online subscription access: No paid public subscription fee for Search ARCourts.
To verify exact Pulaski County court-copy fees, requesters are advised to contact the Pulaski Circuit and County Clerk before ordering. The clerk’s office is located at 401 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201; phone 501-340-8500.
Vital Record Fees (through the Arkansas Department of Health)
- Divorce record: $10.00 per copy
- Online order surcharge for divorce records: $5.00 standard processing fee plus $1.85 identity verification fee
- Birth record: $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Pulaski County Courthouse Locations
Pulaski County Courthouse
401 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-340-8500
Main case types/divisions: This courthouse is the primary Pulaski County circuit court location, organized into civil, criminal, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile divisions.
3001 West Roosevelt Road
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: 501-340-6767 (juvenile case assistance)
Main case types/divisions: Juvenile division matters.
Little Rock District Court
600 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-340-8000 (Division 1), 501-371-4454 (Division 2)
Main case types/divisions: Criminal Court (1st Division) for criminal offenses, Traffic Court (2nd Division) for traffic offenses, Environmental Court (3rd Division) for code violations
Pulaski County District Court (State District Court)
3001 West Roosevelt Road
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: 501-340-6832
Main case types/divisions: This court hears criminal cases, traffic cases, game-and-fish matters, preliminary felony and video arraignment matters, civil cases, and small claims.
Sherwood District Court (State District Court)
2201 East Kiehl Avenue
Sherwood, AR 72120
Phone: 501-835-3693
Main case types/divisions: This court hears traffic, misdemeanors, permit and planning violations, hot-check cases, civil cases, and small claims. It also conducts preliminary felony hearings and certain 72-hour/first-appearance matters for the circuit court.
North Little Rock District Court (State District Court)
1 Justice Center Drive/200 West Pershing Boulevard
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Phone: Division 1: 501-791-8559 or clerk 501-791-8697; Division 2: 501-791-8562
Main case types/divisions: Division 1: criminal, civil, and small claims, Division 2: traffic, environmental, and code court
Maumelle District Court
100 Millwood Circle, Maumelle, AR 72113
Phone: 501-851-7800
Criminal Records Access in Pulaski County
In Arkansas, the Arkansas State Police handles statewide criminal history checks, not Pulaski County courts. Therefore, individuals seeking a statewide criminal background check are expected to submit their requests through the Arkansas State Police via the Department of Public Safety, not the county court.
In Pulaski County, requesters may access local criminal case information through the Arkansas Judiciary’s Search ARCourts portal, which provides public case information for participating courts using the state’s case management system. The portal allows searches using a party name or case number.
Alternatively, interested parties may visit the Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk’s office to access publicly available trial court records. The clerk’s office maintains county court records and may assist during regular business hours at 401 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72201.
Pulaski County Probate Records
Pulaski County probate records are the legal documents created in probate affairs handled by the probate division of the Pulaski County Circuit Court. In Arkansas, probate cases comprise matters involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, commitments, and conservatorships, so these records often overlap with what the public refers to as estate records or wills and probate filings.
Common features of a probate record include a petition to probate a will, estate administration papers, guardianship filings for a minor or incapacitated adult, and conservatorship or trust-administration filings.
Requesters may search for recent Pulaski County probate records online via Search ARCourts. However, dated files, fuller document packets, or more detailed records may require an in-person visit to thePulaski County clerk’s office. It is worth noting that not every probate matter is open in full. Some probate-related proceedings are specifically closed, confidential, and sealed by law (e.g., adoptions). Administrative Order No. 19, which governs access to court records, may also permit the restriction of confidential information.
Pulaski County Family Court Records
Requesters are most likely to access family case types, such as divorce, custody, and support cases, via the public court portal (Search ARCourts). The platform provides public case information for circuit courts, including the parties, judge, filings, future events, judgments, and, when available, links to some public documents. However, family-law records containing confidential information are not public and will not appear online under Administrative Order No. 19.
In Arkansas, adoption records are more restricted than divorce or support documents. The state’s law permits these records to be closed, confidential, and sealed unless opened by law or court order.
Requesters seeking in-person access to family court records may call the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at 501-340-8500 for inquiries on in-person visits to the office. The clerk’s office is located at 402 West Markham, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note that certified copies (e.g., divorce decree) may be obtained from the clerk’s office, not the public search portal.
Federal Court Records in Pulaski County
Pulaski County federal court records are separate from county and state court records. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas typically handles federal civil and criminal cases connected to Pulaski County, not the Pulaski County Circuit Court. This court hears cases involving federal crimes, lawsuits based on federal law, and specific matters from different states that meet federal requirements.
The Eastern District court maintains multiple courthouse locations, but the federal courthouse in Little Rock is more directly associated with Pulaski County. Requesters may visit the Clerk’s Office for assistance with basic case information and obtaining copies, including certified copies when available. The Clerk’s Office is located at:
Richard Sheppard Arnold United States Courthouse
600 West Capitol Avenue
Room A149
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.
Phone: (501) 604-5351
Email: clerksoffice@ared.uscourts.gov
Alternatively, requesters may access federal records through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), the federal judiciary’s official system for locating and viewing federal case and docket information. This portal provides electronic public access to federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy court records. Registered users may search the court where a case was filed or use the nationwidePACER Case Locator.