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Benton County, Arkansas State Court Records

Court records, or case records, in Benton County, Arkansas, refer to the official documentation filed with or preserved by court clerks in connection with actions or proceedings heard in the local circuit or district courts. These records encompass various case types, including criminal, civil, traffic, probate, divorce, and family law, and are essential for promoting governmental accountability and public accessibility to the courts.

Although court records are primarily maintained by the judiciary, they frequently intersect with other public documents, such as vital, arrest, and property records. This connection can help contextualize the legal circumstances leading to a case’s initiation or corroborate actions taken post-judgment. For instance, court records form the basis for the creation of vital records such as divorce and marriage certificates. Such certificates, in turn, have numerous practical applications in daily life, particularly when documenting changes to legal status.

Are Benton County Court Records Public?

Yes. Following the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and Administrative Order No. 19, court records in Benton County are openly disclosed to members of the public. These regulations ensure broad public access to court records, meaning a person’s citizenship or residency will not prevent them from viewing a court record unless a legal exemption applies.

Case information or documents classified as confidential include

  • Expunged or sealed records
  • Social Security and financial account numbers
  • Records excluded from public access by federal/state law or order/rule of court. An example is a record of juvenile delinquency.
  • Notes, communications, and deliberative materials used by judges, court staff, jurors, or judicial agencies

Nonetheless, while the public is generally restricted from viewing confidential court records (unless there is a compelling reason to override privacy interests), some persons have "greater access" under the law. According to Admin. Order No. 19, Section II, these parties include

  • The participants of a case or their counsel;
  • Employees of the court, court agency, or clerk of court;
  • Governmental or private persons or entities who assist the court in providing court services; and
  • Public agencies whose access is defined by other statutes, rules, orders, or policies.

What Information is Available in Benton County Court Records?

Certain information commonly appears in Benton County court records, regardless of the case type. This information serves to provide reviewers with on-the-spot insight about a judicial proceeding, such as the

  • Names of the litigating parties, typically referred to as the plaintiff and defendant, and their attorneys
  • Case number
  • Case type
  • Case status
  • Case filing date
  • Assigned judge
  • Future hearing dates and locations
  • Register of action/docket sheet: A chronological list of all documentation (motions, orders, evidence, etc.) filed in the case
  • Final court disposition (e.g., guilty, dismissed, settled) and the disposition date

Benton County Court Records Search

To find court records in Benton County, members of the public typically need to contact the local circuit or district courts. The courts provide the following access options:

  • Online Access: A court records search can be conducted on ARCourts, an online case management system maintained by the Arkansas judiciary. This system can be used to look up cases or claims filed in circuit courts and some state district courts across Arkansas. The Benton County Circuit and District Courts provide case information through ARCourts, but coverage for the district courts is limited (not all use the centralized case management system).

ARCourts accepts queries by name (i.e., Participants) or case/citation number (i.e., Cases). Users can also filter searches by date of birth, county name, court location, date, case type, etc. The filters available depend on whether the search is executed by Participants or Cases.

ARCourts is a free platform; no fees are collected to view case information or print non-confidential documents (filings). However, under the Arkansas Supreme Court Admin. Order 19, certain records are confidential, not available on the internet, and can only be disclosed upon a direct inquiry from an authorized person.

  • In-Person Access: To search Benton County court records in person, one may visit the courthouse where a case was filed. At the courthouse, staff can assist with record requests, including producing copies for the requester. However, fees may apply to obtain a copy of a court record.

Inquiries regarding the retrieval of court case records in Benton County, including how to send mail-in requests, can be addressed to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at (479) 271-1015 (if the case was processed by the circuit court). Otherwise, one can contact the state district court in Benton County where the case was originally tried.

Older or historical court records may be sourced from the Benton County Archives Department.

Fees for Court Records in Benton County

The fees for obtaining court records in Benton County depend on several factors, a principal one being the court where the case was filed. Courts in Arkansas do not apply a standardized fee schedule (as seen in states like North Carolina and Florida). As a result, the cost of obtaining a copy in the circuit court will differ from that in the district court, although these fees are generally nominal and are charged per page or document.

According to the Benton County Circuit Court Clerk, plain (uncertified) copies of a pleading or any document cost 25 cents per page. Certified ("raised seal") copies cost $5 per certification, plus the standard copy costs.

Notably, Arkansas law permits the free inspection of court records and printing of non-confidential documents through ARCourts. Submitting a request at the courthouse or to the clerk’s office may, however, incur fees to cover the costs of reproduction. For district court copy fees, one can confirm with the relevant court.

Finally, neither the courts in Benton County nor their clerks’ offices handle vital records. To obtain a vital record in Benton County, one may contact the county clerk’s office (for marriage license searches and records) or the Arkansas State Bureau of Vital Records (for birth and death records). The Bureau also issues divorce and marriage certificates.

Benton County Courthouse Locations

The Benton County court system comprises circuit and state district courts, which together manage all legal proceedings within the county at various locations. The circuit court addresses its caseload by splitting into five distinct divisions: criminal, civil, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile. In contrast, the state district court handles a specific range of matters, including traffic violations, minor criminal cases, civil claims up to $25,000, and small claims up to $5,000. The courts are located at the following addresses:

Circuit Court Locations in Benton County

Benton County Circuit Court

Benton County Courthouse

102 NE A Street

Bentonville, AR 72712

Phone (Civil/Domestic): (479) 271-1015

Phone (Criminal): (479) 271-1016

Fax: (479) 271-5719

Benton County Circuit Court - Juvenile

Juvenile Justice Center

1301 Melissa Drive

Bentonville, AR 72712

Phone (Juvenile): (479) 271-5702

Phone (Child Support): (479) 271-5711

State District Court Locations in Benton County

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Bella Vista Division

2706 South Walton Boulevard

Bella Vista, AR 72715

Phone: (479) 367-7625

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Bentonville Division

2706 South Walton Boulevard

Bentonville, AR 72712

Phone: (479) 271-3120

Fax: (479) 271-3134

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Cave Springs Division

134 North Main Street

PO Box 36

Cave Springs, AR 72718

Phone: (479) 418-9244

Fax: (479) 248-7521

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Centerton Division

220 Municipal Drive

Centerton, AR 72719

Phone: (479) 341-8005

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Decatur, Gentry, & Gravette Divisions

PO Box 459

Gentry, AR 72734

Phone: (479) 736-8579

Fax: (479) 736-8743

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Little Flock Division

1500 Little Flock Drive

Little Flock, AR 72756

Phone: (479) 372-4581

Fax: (479) 636-2318

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Lowell Division

216 North Lincoln Street

Lowell, AR 72745

Phone: (479) 770-2185 ext. 625

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Pea Ridge Division

City Hall

977 Weston Street

PO Box 10

Pea Ridge, AR 72751

Phone: (479) 451-1122 ext. 101

Fax: (479) 358-9126

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Rogers Division

1901 South Dixieland Road

Rogers, AR 72756

Phone (Civil, Small Claims): (479) 621-1138

Fax (Civil, Small Claims): (479) 621-6058

Phone (Criminal, Traffic): (479) 621-1132

Fax (Criminal, Traffic): (479) 621-1136

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Siloam Springs Division

410 North Broadway

PO Box 80

Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Phone: (479) 524-4947

Fax: (479) 238-0995

Arkansas District Court of Benton County - Sulphur Springs Division

PO Box 459

Sulphur Springs, AR 72768

Phone: (479) 298-3103

Fax: (479) 298-3515

Criminal Records Access in Benton County

To obtain criminal records in Benton County, individuals can search ARCourts, the Arkansas courts’ public case management system, or they can stop by the presiding court or contact its clerk’s office during standard working hours to view or copy records associated with a particular criminal case.

The courts, nevertheless, can only release information or documents tied to criminal proceedings, and these do not constitute a person’s complete criminal history. For comprehensive statewide criminal histories (across Benton and other Arkansas counties), the Arkansas State Police is the proper contact. The agency disseminates open criminal histories to the general public for $24 per search, and criminal background checks for $22 per search to persons who have the subject of the record’s signed consent.

Benton County Probate Records

The Benton County Circuit Court’s Probate Division is the source of Benton County probate records. This division handles cases involving estates, wills, guardianships, and trust proceedings. The records from these proceedings are known as probate court records (or sometimes "estate records" in other jurisdictions) and are kept by the Benton County Clerk’s Office. Although the circuit clerk stands as the official custodian of records for the Benton County Circuit Court, the court’s Probate Division is administered by the county clerk.

Probate records, which are generally accessible under the Arkansas FOIA and Supreme Court Admin. Order No. 19, can be viewed online using the ARCourts system. Alternatively, a formal request can be submitted to the county clerk’s office, or one can visit the clerk’s Bentonville office to submit a request.

Benton County Clerk’s Office

102 NE A Street

Room 206

Bentonville, AR 72712

If looking for older, physical files (from 1860 to 1980), one can check with the Archives Department at 2111 West Walnut, Rogers, Arkansas, or email archives@bentoncountyar.gov with sufficient details about the record(s).

It should be noted that confidential probate records are released only to legally authorized entities.

Benton County Family Court Records

The Domestic Relations Division of the Benton County Circuit Court, managed by the circuit clerk’s office, is responsible for maintaining family court records. These records pertain to family law cases heard in the Benton County Circuit Court, encompassing issues such as divorce, adoption, paternity, child support, and alimony (spousal support).

Options to inspect or copy family court records in Benton include

  • Online through the ARCourts system.
  • In person at the Benton County courthouse on 102 NE A Street.
  • A written or oral request to the Benton County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office during normal business hours.

However, requesters should keep in mind that not all family court records are disseminated publicly. Given that family law addresses a number of sensitive issues, some records are available only to the parties involved, their legal counsel, and others who are permitted by law or court order.

Federal Court Records in Benton County

The federal court for Benton County is the Arkansas Western District Court in Fayetteville. This court handles all federal cases (criminal, civil, and bankruptcy) arising in Benton County and can be contacted for the related federal court records at the following address:

John Paul Hammerschmidt Federal Building

35 East Mountain Street

Room 510

Fayetteville, AR 72701-5354

Phone: (833) 853-0345

Fax: (479) 575-0774

Visiting the courthouse during normal business hours allows individuals to access case information for free on public terminals.

Alternatively, individuals can use PACER, the federal court system’s case locator. PACER users may be subject to a nominal fee (e.g., 10 cents per page and $2.40 per audio file) unless they qualify for free access.