Saline County, Arkansas State Court Records
Saline County court records are official documents generated, filed, and maintained by local courts in the course of legal proceedings they handle. These records are maintained by the clerk's office of local courts. For example, the Saline County Circuit Clerk maintains court records of civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile cases heard by the County Circuit Court.
Saline County court records are broadly interconnected with other government records in different ways. For instance, arrest records generated by local law enforcement agencies are among the first official documents produced in a criminal case, and information they contain is often carried over to criminal court records. Additionally, vital records issued by the Arkansas Department of Health, specifically divorce certificates, usually feature information from domestic relations cases.
Are Saline County Court Records Public?
Yes. Public access to Saline County court records is governed by the Arkansas Administrative Order No.19, Section III, which is supported by the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Under these laws, everyone has the right to access Saline County court records. They do not have to be citizens of Arkansas or provide a reason for requesting court records to enjoy these privileges.
Notwithstanding, certain court records are generally exempt from public access. These include, but are not limited to:
- Tax records
- Adoption records
- Grand jury minutes
- Juvenile case records
- Social Security numbers
- Sealed and expunged records
- Documents protected by court rule or order
- Unpublished drafts of judicial or quasi-judicial decisions and options
What Information is Available in Saline County Court Records?
Saline County court records typically contain the following information:
- Filing date
- Judgments
- Case filings
- Case number
- Scheduled court events
- Charges and dispositions
- Names of case participants, such as the presiding judge, plaintiff, defendant, attorneys, e.t.c.
Saline County Court Records Search
Record seekers may conduct Saline County court records searches through the clerk's office of local courts or resources provided by the Arkansas Judiciary. They must identify the specific court that heard the case in question to direct their request to the appropriate custodian. They must also possess sufficient identifying information about the sought-after case, such as the case number, names of involved parties, and the case's approximate filing date, to facilitate their search.
Generally, there are several ways to search for Saline County court records, including the following:
Online Access
Individuals may access public information about Saline County court cases online through the Arkansas Judiciary's Search ARCourts portal. Users may search for cases on the portal by participant name or case number. Only basic case information is accessible through the portal. These include:
- The case parties' names
- The case judge
- The filings in a case
- Charges and disposition
- Future events
- judgements
It is worth noting that links to some public court records may also be provided on the Search ARCourts portal. Furthermore, confidential records and information are inaccessible through the portal.
In-Person Access
Interested persons may access Saline County court records in person by visiting local courthouses. Per Arkansas Administrative Order Number 21, local courts are required to provide public computer terminals in their respective clerk's offices that allow users to access public court documents electronically. Alternatively, record seekers may inspect physical records on-site for free or request copies of court records from the court's clerk's office for a fee.
Mail and Phone Requests
To request Saline County court records by mail, record seekers must draft a written request containing sufficient identifying information about the sought-after case and mail it to the appropriate court clerk's office. The drafted request must be mailed along with appropriate fees. Accepted forms of fee payment for mail-in requests include checks and money orders. It is important to contact a court clerk before mailing a request to ensure they accept mail-in requests. Interested persons may find the mailing addresses and contact information for Saline County local courts on the county's court directory page. For instance, individuals may request public Circuit Court records by mailing a request or contacting the Saline County Circuit Clerk at:
200 N. Main Street, Suite 113
Benton, AR 72015
Phone: (501) 303-5615
Fees for Court Records in Saline County
According to the Saline County Circuit Clerk's Fee Schedule, record seekers may be charged the following fees for requesting copies of court records:
- Regular copies: $0.25 per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 per document
- Foreign judgment: $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page
Note: Public court records may be inspected in person or accessed electronically through public computer terminals at local courthouses for free.
Saline County Courthouse Locations
There are only two types of courts in Saline County: the Circuit Court and District Courts. The Saline County Circuit Court has a single courthouse, while there are five (5) District Courthouses. The addresses and contact information of these courthouses are listed below:
200 N Main St, Suite 113
Benton, AR 72015
Phone: 501-303-5615
Fax: 501-303-1592
Saline County District Court - Alexander
15605 Alexander Rd
PO Box 610,
Alexander, AR 72002
Phone: 501-455-2585
Fax: 501-455-5531
Saline County District Court - Bauxite
208 SW 3rd St,
Bryant, AR 72011
Phone: 501-943-0440
Fax: 501-943-0853
Saline County District Court - Benton
1605 Edison Ave,
Benton, AR 72015
Phone: 501-303-5670
Fax: 501-303-5696
Saline County District Court - Bryant
208 SW 3rd St,
Bryant, AR 72022
Phone: 501-943-0440
Fax: 501-943-0853
Saline County District Court - Haskell
2520 Hwy 229
Haskell, AR 72015
Phone: 501-776-2666
Fax: 501-776-1201
Criminal Records Access in Saline County
In Saline County, state-level criminal history checks, also known as criminal background checks, may be conducted through the Arkansas State Police. The agency provides two (2) systems for conducting these checks: the Online Criminal Background Check system and the Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) system. The former is available to individuals or entities who are legally required to conduct criminal background checks or those with a signed consent form from the subject being searched, at $22 per search. The ARCH system, on the other hand, may be used to perform a personal search inquiry for other purposes at $24 per search.
Meanwhile, Record seekers may use the Arkansas Judiciary's Search ARCourts portal to access public court records or information about criminal cases handled by the Saline County Court System. Alternatively, they may identify the local court that heard the criminal case and visit or contact the clerk's office to request the case records. In Saline County, the Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over criminal cases, while the District Courts handle traffic and minor criminal cases. Public computer terminals are usually available at each court clerk's office that individuals may use to electronically view public court documents of criminal cases handled by that court. Individuals may also view physical criminal case records for free in person or request copies by mail, in person, or by phone for a fee, depending on how a court operates.
Saline County Probate Records
Saline County probate records are legal documents that detail how a decedent's properties, assets, and other valuables are distributed among their heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors. Similar to other types of court records, probate records are generally accessible to the public. Notwithstanding, there are certain exceptions. For instance, wills are considered confidential during a testator's lifetime and become public after the testator's death per Ark. Code Ann. § 28-25-108.
Saline County Family Court Records
In Saline County, family law cases, often referred to as domestic relations cases, fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. Some examples of these types of cases include divorce, annulment, domestic abuse, child custody, and visitation. Most family law cases are public. However, they may contain confidential information, such as identifiable information about juveniles, that is usually redacted before they are made public.
Interested persons may use the Arkansas Judiciary's Search ARCourts portal to search and access public Saline County family law cases online. They may also visit the Saline County Circuit Clerk's office during regular business hours and use on-site computer terminals to access public family law case records electronically. Record seekers may also request certified copies of case records from the Circuit Clerk in person at a $5.00 per document fee. They must provide sufficient identifying information about the sought record to facilitate their search. Additionally, they may be required to provide acceptable identification when requesting confidential records.
Federal Court Records in Saline County
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas (E.D. Ark) is the primary federal court that serves Saline County. Thus, this court hears all federal bankruptcy, civil, and criminal cases originating in Saline County. E.D. Ark has three court locations:
Richard Sheppard Arnold United States Courthouse
500 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-604-5351
Jacob Trieber Federal Building
617 Walnut
Helena, AR 72342
Phone: 501-604-5351
E.C. Gathings Federal Building and United States Courthouse
615 South Main Street
Room 312
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: 870-972-4610
Court documents of cases heard by the E.D. Ark are accessible online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. Individuals must log in or register for an account to access PACER. Furthermore, they are charged $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document, to access case information on PACER. However, these fees are waived if they accrue $30 or less in charges in a quarter.
Alternatively, record seekers may visit the Clerk's Office of the E.D. Ark Federal Courthouses in Little Rock or Jonesboro to obtain court documents of federal cases. Public terminals are available at the clerk's office for individuals to use to access and print court documents. They may also request copies of court documents directly from the clerk. According to the E.D. Ark Fee Schedule, the following fees are applicable:
- 0.10 cents per page for documents printed from public terminals.
- 0.50 cents per page for documents prepared by the clerk's office.
- $12.0 for certification per document plus 0.5 cents per page.
