Crawford County Court Records

Crawford County records are paperwork, texts, details, and materials that form historical accounts of court cases within the county. These records ensure members of the public can follow up on court cases, attorneys can reliably research precedent, and courts can efficiently and transparently administer justice.

Records generated in Crawford County's circuit and district courts are also part of Arkansas court records hosted on the state judiciary's online database. Individuals can also contact the clerks of courts to order copies of court documents.

Are Court Records Public in Crawford County?

Yes, court documents and information are a part of Crawford County public records according to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Administrative Order 19 of the Arkansas Supreme Court. However, these laws and rules do not make the following publicly available:

• Juvenile court records
• Sealed and expunged Crawford County arrest records
• Personal information like credit card details, identification numbers, and medical records
• Police investigation data and tactics
• Certain unpublished judicial drafts
• Information about confidential witnesses and sources

Crawford County Court Records Search

Crawford court records are generated by the county's circuit and district courts. These courts only produce documents and data for matters within their jurisdiction. Understanding these justification limitations can help one identify which court official to approach.

Crawford County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court is the county's court of general jurisdiction, which means it can handle every type of case within Crawford County. However, the court focuses on more severe proceedings outside the purview of the county's district court. These cases include felonies, serious misdemeanors, and civil matters above $25,000. Be that as it may, it shares jurisdiction with the district court in certain cases like contract and personal property matters worth up to $25,000.

The circuit has the following divisions:

• Criminal
• Civil
• Domestic Relations
• Child support
• Juvenile
• Probate

Individuals interested in viewing and ordering records created by this court can approach the Crawford County Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder.

Individuals may use the state judiciary's case search (Search ARCourts) database to view court records online. The system allows name and case number searches. When searching by participant name, users can filter search results by county, specific court, case type, party type, and case status, among other things. Essential details about each court case are displayed on the website, including the names and designations of participants, case events, offenses, dispositions, sentences, and docket entries.

District Court

Crawford County is served by a state district court whose geographic jurisdiction comprises the entire county. However, it has multiple locations serving as court departments for various cities. According to the Supreme Court's Administrative Order 18, the Crawford County State District Court's jurisdiction includes the following:

• Exclusive jurisdiction on contract matters that do not exceed $100
• Concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court over contract and personal property disagreements worth up to $25,000
• Minor criminal misdemeanors and traffic violations

District court records can be obtained from the specific courthouses where the matters are held. For example, one can visit the Chief Court Clerk of the Van Buren District Court to inquire about court records. The state's online case search system also contains details about criminal and civil matters heard in different district court locations. One can select the specific district court when running a name search.

Crawford County Courts

The following are addresses and contact details of Crawford County's district and circuit courts:

Crawford County Circuit Court
317 Main St,
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: (479) 474-1821
Fax: (479) 471-0622

Crawford County District Court - Alma
804 Fayetteville Ave,
Alma, AR 72921
Phone: (479) 632-4170
Fax: (479) 632-4516

Crawford County District Court - Mountainburg
P.O. Box 433,
Mountainburg, AR 72946
Phone: (479) 369-2791
Fax: (479) 369-4674

Crawford County District Court - Mulberry
City Complex Building
207 N Main St,
P.O. Box 448,
Mulberry, AR 72947
Phone: (479) 997-1321
Fax: (479) 997-1232

Crawford County District Court - Van Buren
1003 Broadway,
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: (479) 474-1671
Fax: (479) 471-5005

Crawford County Criminal Records

Crawford criminal records are created and collected by law enforcement agencies, courts, prosecutors, and correctional agencies. Law enforcement authorities like the Crawford County Sheriff's Office and local police departments are primarily responsible for creating Crawford County arrest records.

The Sheriff's Office provides a website that displays details of inmates in its custody. One can scroll through the web page or use the search function to track an inmate. The site shows the arresting agency, bond information, offense, booking number, and booking date. It also contains the inmate's name, physical description, race, address, and photograph. One can also visit or call the sheriff's detention division to find details about people in its custody.

Police departments like the Alma PD and Mulberry PD are also open to members of the public who want to obtain Crawford County arrest records and police reports.

Details of arrests and criminal trials can be found within court records generated in the criminal divisions of the county's circuit and district courts. Interested parties can use options available for each court, as explained earlier.

One can also find comprehensive Crawford County criminal records using the ARCH (Arkansas Criminal History) system. The Arkansas Department of Public Safety provides the service and is open to members of the public. It costs $24 per search and displays the search subject's criminal history, including their arrests and convictions. Interested parties must provide the subject's first and last names, date of birth, and sex. The search results only display the names of possible matches, and requesters are expected to pay their search fee to view details. If multiple results exist, one can view only one name for free.

The DPS also provides state and national criminal background check services to statutorily eligible entities and parties with signed consent from the subject. The service provides more information about anyone's criminal history that may not be available through the Open Criminal History search option. Each national/FBI search costs $14.25 ($12.25 per volunteer-related search), and an Arkansas search costs $22 ($11 per volunteer-related search).

Get Crawford County Civil Court Records

Civil court records are also created during civil cases heard in the county's district and circuit courts. As mentioned, individuals interested in obtaining copies of court records should identify the court with jurisdiction over the case. To recap, the county's district court shares jurisdiction with the circuit court concerning disagreements worth up to $25,000 and exclusively handles contract matters worth $100 or less. Cases that are more than $25,000 are solely under the circuit court.

The civil division of the Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder's office is responsible for maintaining circuit court civil records. The chief clerk of each court location maintains district court records.

However, the Arkansas judiciary case search portal holds information about civil cases held at both courts. People using the participant search option can select the specific court that generated the record and filter their search results by specifying the case type.

Crawford County Marriage Records

Various institutions and offices, such as the county clerk and circuit court, create Crawford County marriage records to approve marriages and grant divorces.

The Vital Records Division of the Arkansas Department of Health offers marriage certificate ordering options. Requests can be made by mail, online, telephone, or walk-in. Each copy costs $10.

Only the following parties can obtain marriage records:

• Couples named on the document (must be at least 16 years old)
• Father, mother, children, grandchildren, and maternal grandparents of named individuals

Online

Individuals who intend to submit requests online can visit the division's online operator's website. The site allows credit card payments and provides expedited shipping options. However, one may pay additional processing fees ($5 per transaction) and shipping charges. The vendor may also charge a $1.85 identity verification fee (non-refundable).

Mail-in

Intending applicants can complete the Marriage Coupon Application form and send it to:

Vital Records
Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

One can also visit the health department's local unit in Crawford County at the following address to submit their mail-in request:

2040 Chestnut Avenue
Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
Phone: (479) 474-6391
Fax: (479) 474-0021

The application should include a money order or check payable to the Arkansas Department of Health and a copy of a valid identification document.

Walk-in

Those who want to order in person can do so at 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, during business hours. For eligible applicants, most applications are processed on the same day. However, one must provide valid identification, request information, and accept means of payment (cash, check, money orders, and debit or credit cards).

Telephone

The phone-in option involves placing orders by calling (866) 209-9482. However, like the online method, one can opt for expedited shipping, and additional fees, such as processing and shipping, may be accrued.

Crawford County Divorce Records

Divorce records are also part of Crawford County's marriage and vital records. They can be used to obtain restraining orders and process new marriage licenses for applicants who were once married. Interested parties can order divorce certificates by using any of the processes available for marriage records.

Further, one can obtain divorce or annulment court files through the circuit clerk's office.

Crawford County Birth and Death Records

Crawford County birth records and death certificates are issued to document births and deaths that occur within the county's borders. Only the following parties can request a Crawford County birth certificate:

• People named on the certificate, such as the child (must be 16 or older) and parents
• Spouse of the registrant
• Relatives, such as the registrant's child, maternal grandparents, and grandchildren.
• Legal guardian

On the other hand, only the relatives and spouses of the deceased individual are allowed to obtain the record. Funeral homes and certain beneficiaries with valid documents can also request death certificates.

Eligible individuals can send requests to the Department of Health's Vital Records division by mail, online, by phone, or in person. Like other Crawford County vital records, applicants must submit valid identification and pay the required fees to obtain birth and death certificates. However, birth and death records have different fees:

• Birth certificate: $12 for the first copy and $10 per subsequent copy
• Death certificate: $10 for the first copy and $8 per additional copy
• Online requests attract the same $5 processing fee and $1.85 identity verification fee.

Crawford County Probate Court Records

The probate division of the Crawford County Circuit Court handles matters related to guardianships and conservatorships, a deceased person's estate settlement, and adoptions. Sometimes, the district court may take over certain cases pending in the circuit court, such as estate administration and emergency commitments.

Individuals can contact the circuit clerk or the chief clerk for the district court where the case was held to obtain case records. Interested parties can also use the Arkansas judiciary's online court records search system.

Crawford County Property Records

Crawford County property records are official paperwork created during real estate transactions, surveys, and assessments. The office of the Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder officially maintains these records. However, other officials, like the County Assessor and treasurer, also hold certain real estate records.

One can visit or contact these offices to access physical copies of property records. Alternatively, interested parties can view property details using online resources available through the County Assessor's website.

Crawford County Court Records Online

Members of the public interested in finding Crawford County public records online are not limited to government websites. Third-party websites like Arkansascourtrecords.us also dispense publicly available data generated with Crawford County. These platforms are usually considered more convenient because searchers can find different types of records by name. However, private websites are not affiliated with public bodies and do not offer guarantees about the information and documents they provide.