Pulaski County Public Records /Pulaski County Court Records

Pulaski County Court Records

What Is Pulaski County Court Records

Court records in Pulaski County, Arkansas, are the official documentary materials generated and maintained by the judicial system in connection with legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing records. Each document type serves a distinct function: docket sheets provide a chronological index of all filings in a case, while pleadings and motions reflect the arguments submitted by parties, and judgments and orders represent the court's official rulings.

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, for example, are held by the Pulaski County Assessor and Recorder, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered by the Arkansas Department of Health. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through judicial proceedings and are custodied by the clerk of the relevant court.

The following courts in Pulaski County maintain official court records:

Circuit Court – handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $25,000, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile matters
District Court – handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $25,000, and traffic violations
Small Claims Court – a division of District Court for civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts
Probate Court – a division of Circuit Court handling estates, guardianships, and conservatorships
Family Court – a specialized division of Circuit Court addressing divorce, child custody, and support matters
Municipal/City Courts – handle ordinance violations and certain traffic matters within incorporated municipalities

Under Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-13-201, the Circuit Court is established as the court of general jurisdiction in each county, with authority over the full range of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Arkansas Pulaski County Circuit Clerk serves as the official custodian of all records generated by the Circuit Court.

Are Court Records Public In Pulaski County

Court records in Pulaski County are presumptively open to the public under Arkansas law. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq., establishes that public records — including judicial records — shall be available for inspection and copying by any person. This statutory presumption of openness applies broadly to records maintained by government entities, including the courts.

The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:

Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
Judgments and court orders in all case types
Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
Hearing schedules and calendars
Probate filings, including wills admitted to probate and inventories of estates
Domestic relations records, including divorce decrees and custody orders

Members of the public should note that federal court records — maintained by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas — are governed by federal law and accessed through the federal PACER system, which is separate from the state court system. State court records in Pulaski County are governed exclusively by Arkansas statutes and the administrative rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under current law. These include juvenile records, sealed case files, expunged criminal records, and documents containing sensitive personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers. The Arkansas Supreme Court's Administrative Order No. 19 governs the redaction of personal information from court records made available online.

All Arkansas court documents, including criminal, civil, probate, and domestic relations matters such as divorces, are public records available for anyone to search, as confirmed by the county records portal maintained by the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk.

How To Find Court Records in Pulaski County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Pulaski County court records through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the court in which the case was filed.

In-Person Requests

Visit the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Provide the case number, party name, or other identifying information to the clerk
Request certified or uncertified copies as needed; fees apply for copies
Present a valid government-issued photo identification when requesting certain sensitive records

Online Requests

Access the Arkansas judiciary's statewide case search portal to locate case information by party name, case number, or attorney
Use the Circuit Clerk's online records portal for documents filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court
Download available court forms from the Arkansas Judiciary to submit formal records requests when required

Written Requests

Submit a written request by mail to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office, specifying the case number, parties involved, and the type of documents requested
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and applicable copy fees if requesting documents by mail

Third-Party Research Services

Members of the public may authorize a licensed researcher or attorney to retrieve records on their behalf; the requester remains responsible for applicable fees

How To Look Up Court Records in Pulaski County Online?

Several official online portals provide access to Pulaski County court records without requiring an in-person visit.

Search ARCourts (Arkansas Judiciary Statewide Portal)

The Arkansas Judiciary operates Search ARCourts, a statewide case search tool that provides access to public court case information across all Arkansas counties, including Pulaski County. This portal offers enhanced search options, advanced filtering, and an intuitive interface for simplified access to public court information. Users may search by:

Party name (plaintiff or defendant)
Case number
Attorney name
Filing date range
Case type (civil, criminal, domestic, probate, traffic)

Arkansas Judiciary Case Search Portal

The Arkansas Judiciary case search system provides direct online access to case records. Users experiencing difficulty opening documents on their devices may consult the troubleshooting guidance available on the portal.

Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Online Portal

The Arkansas Pulaski County Circuit Clerk maintains a dedicated online presence through which members of the public may access county-specific court records, including civil, criminal, probate, and domestic relations filings.

Steps to Search Online:

Navigate to the preferred portal listed above
Select the appropriate search category (e.g., party name, case number)
Enter the known identifying information
Review the case summary and docket entries displayed
Select individual documents to view or download where available
Note any documents marked as restricted or sealed, which are not accessible to the general public

How To Search Pulaski County Court Records for Free?

Arkansas law guarantees the right of public inspection of court records at no charge. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105, custodians of public records are required to permit inspection of records during regular business hours without imposing a fee for the act of inspection itself. Fees may be assessed only for the reproduction of records.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

Search ARCourts — the statewide Arkansas Judiciary case search portal provides free online access to case summaries, docket entries, and certain documents
In-person inspection at the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office — members of the public may review case files at the public counter without charge
Docket sheet review — docket sheets for all publicly accessible cases may be viewed online or in person at no cost

Fees are assessed for printed or certified copies of documents. The Circuit Clerk's Office publishes a current fee schedule at the public counter and on its official website.

What's Included in a Pulaski County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:

Civil Case Records

Complaint or petition initiating the action
Summons and proof of service
Defendant's answer and any counterclaims
Motions filed by either party and corresponding responses
Court orders and rulings on motions
Final judgment or decree
Post-judgment filings, including appeals and enforcement actions

Criminal Case Records

Charging documents (information or indictment)
Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
Arraignment and plea records
Pre-trial motions and orders
Trial transcripts (where available)
Sentencing orders and conditions of probation or parole
Expungement orders (where applicable and not sealed)

Probate Records

Petition for probate of will or administration of estate
Inventory and appraisement of estate assets
Claims filed by creditors
Orders of distribution
Final settlement and discharge of executor or administrator

Family and Domestic Relations Records

Petition for divorce or legal separation
Child custody and visitation orders
Child support orders and modification filings
Protective orders (subject to applicable access restrictions)

Traffic Records

Citation information
Plea and disposition records
Records of fines assessed and paid

How Long Does Pulaski County Keep Court Records?

Pulaski County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Arkansas Supreme Court and the Arkansas History Commission. Retention periods vary by record type and case classification.

Felony criminal case files — retained permanently
Misdemeanor criminal case files — retained for a minimum of ten years following case closure
Civil case files — retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition
Probate records — retained permanently
Domestic relations records — retained permanently
Juvenile records — subject to special retention and confidentiality rules; generally sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood
Traffic case records — retained for a minimum of three to five years depending on the nature of the violation
Court docket sheets — retained permanently as part of the official record of the court

The Arkansas History Commission, in coordination with the Supreme Court, establishes and periodically updates the official records retention schedule applicable to all Arkansas courts. Agencies and members of the public seeking specific retention information may consult the Arkansas court records management guidelines published by the state judiciary.

Types of Courts In Pulaski County

Pulaski County is served by a multi-tiered court system operating under the authority of the Arkansas Constitution and state statutes. The hierarchy proceeds from municipal and district courts at the base level through the Circuit Court, then to the Arkansas Court of Appeals, and finally to the Arkansas Supreme Court as the court of last resort.

Pulaski County Circuit Court

Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office 401 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 340-8500 Arkansas Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction in Pulaski County. It maintains divisions for civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile matters.

Pulaski County District Court

Pulaski County District Court 3001 W. Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204 (501) 340-6990 Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, civil cases up to $25,000, and traffic violations.

Little Rock District Court

Little Rock District Court 400 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 371-4743 Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Arkansas Court of Appeals

Arkansas Court of Appeals Justice Building, 625 Marshall St., Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-7444 Arkansas Judiciary Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Building, 625 Marshall St., Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-6849 Arkansas Judiciary Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

What Types of Cases Do Pulaski County Courts Hear?

Each court within the Pulaski County judicial system exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as defined by Arkansas law.

Circuit Court

Felony criminal prosecutions
Civil disputes involving amounts exceeding $25,000
Divorce, legal separation, and annulment proceedings
Child custody, visitation, and support matters
Adoption proceedings
Probate of wills and administration of decedents' estates
Guardianship and conservatorship matters
Juvenile delinquency and dependency/neglect cases
Appeals from District Court decisions

District Court

Misdemeanor criminal offenses
Civil matters involving amounts up to $25,000
Small claims disputes
Traffic and ordinance violations
Preliminary hearings in felony matters

Little Rock District Court

Municipal ordinance violations within the City of Little Rock
Traffic infractions and misdemeanor offenses occurring within city limits
Civil matters within the court's jurisdictional limit

Arkansas Court of Appeals

Appeals from Circuit Court decisions in civil, criminal, domestic, and probate matters
Cases assigned by the Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court

Appeals involving constitutional questions
Cases involving the death penalty or life imprisonment
Matters of significant public interest
Supervisory jurisdiction over all Arkansas courts

How To Find a Court Docket In Pulaski County

A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and orders in a given case. Members of the public may access Pulaski County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Access

Use the Search ARCourts portal to search for case dockets by party name, case number, or attorney across all Pulaski County courts
The statewide Arkansas Judiciary case search system provides docket-level information for publicly accessible cases

In-Person Access

Visit the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office at 401 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72201, during public counter hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Request the docket sheet for a specific case by providing the case number or party name
Docket sheets are available for inspection at no charge; copies are subject to the applicable fee schedule

Steps to Search a Docket Online:

Access the preferred online portal
Enter the party's name or case number in the designated search field
Select the correct case from the results list
Review the docket entries, which are listed in chronological order
Select individual docket entries to view associated documents where available

Which Courts in Pulaski County Are Not Courts of Record?

A "court not of record" is a court that does not maintain a verbatim transcript or official record of its proceedings in the same manner as courts of record. Decisions rendered by courts not of record are generally subject to de novo review — meaning the case is reheard in its entirety — upon appeal to a court of record, rather than reviewed on the basis of a lower court transcript.

Under Arkansas law, District Courts are currently classified as courts not of record pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 16-17-703. This classification means that appeals from District Court decisions to the Circuit Court are conducted as new trials rather than appellate reviews of the District Court record.

In Pulaski County, the following courts operate as courts not of record:

Pulaski County District Court — misdemeanor, civil, and traffic matters
Little Rock District Court — municipal ordinance and traffic matters
Other municipal courts operating within incorporated cities and towns in Pulaski County

By contrast, the Pulaski County Circuit Court, the Arkansas Court of Appeals, and the Arkansas Supreme Court are all courts of record, maintaining official transcripts and documentary records of all proceedings. The Circuit Court's records are custodied by the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk, which serves as the official repository for all court-of-record filings in the county.