Jefferson County Court Records

Jefferson County court records are official documents with information on all case proceedings with the justice system in the county. Whether it is a criminal or civil case, this record has details on court processes, hearings, filing dates, pleadings, testimonies and physical evidence, appeals, complaints, audio and video recordings, orders, decrees, and judgments. These records are usually generated by the court and kept by courts and court clerks in the county.

Jefferson County court records are important to the legal process for several reasons. Their accuracy makes them the go-to resource for legal researchers like historians, political scientists, sociologists, and teachers. The legal system provides information on what happens during a trial, especially when a dispute over evidence or statements is presented in court. Judges and lawyers also use these documents to ensure that court procedures are done correctly, building fairness and transparency.

Are Court Records Public in Jefferson County?

Yes. According to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), all Jefferson County public records are open to inspection and copying by any citizen of Arkansas during the regular work hours of the custodian of the records. (§ 25-19-105 (a)(1)(A)). This means that all documents created or owned by an agency of the government in the transaction of public business are accessible upon request.

However, all court records are open to members of the county unless expressly exempt from public disclosure. The following shall not be made open to the public under the provisions of the Arkansas FOIA:

• Personnel records whose disclosure can cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
• Personal contact information, such as home or mobile telephone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses of subjects or witnesses in a court case
• Medical records, adoption records, and education records based on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 C.F.R. Part 99)
• Grand jury minutes and unpublished drafts of judicial or quasi-judicial opinions and decisions
• Undisclosed investigations by law enforcement agencies of suspected criminal activity
• Working papers and memoranda of Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeals Judges, and the Attorney-General
• Documents that are protected from disclosure by order or rule of court
• The identities of law enforcement officers currently working undercover with their agencies and identified in the Arkansas Minimum Standards Office as undercover officers.
• Records containing security data like passwords, personal identification numbers, and transaction authorization mechanisms.

Jefferson County Court Records Search

Individuals can search for Jefferson County court records through any of the sources below:

• The County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
• The Administrative Office of Courts (AOC)
• Third-party court record search websites.

Jefferson County Courts

The Jefferson County court system consists of Circuit and District Courts. Below is a list of the courts' contact information:

Jefferson County Circuit Court
101 West Barraque Street
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: (870) 541-5312
Fax: (870) 541-5453

Jefferson County District Court - Altheimer
P.O. Box 728
Altheimer, AR 72004
Phone: (870) 766-8229
Fax: (870) 766-4875

Jefferson County District Court - Humphrey
P.O. Box 128
Humphrey, AR 72073
Phone: (870) 873-4615
Fax: (870) 873-4657

Jefferson County District Court - Pine Bluff Division 1
P.O. Box 8747
Pine Bluff, AR 71611
Phone: (870) 541-4646
Fax: (870) 541-4640

Jefferson County District Court - Pine Bluff Division 2
223 East 3rd Avenue
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: (870) 850-7584
Fax: (870) 850-2440

Jefferson County District Court - Redfield
113 River Road
P.O. Box 304
Redfield, AR 72132
Phone: (501) 397-6111
Fax: (501) 397-2350

Jefferson County District Court - Wabbaseka
P.O. Box 3029
Pine Bluff, AR 71611
Phone: (870) 692-0326
Fax: (870) 766-4262

Jefferson County District Court - White Hall
101 Parkway Drive
P.O. Box 20100
White Hall, AR 71602
Phone: (870) 247-1420
Fax: (870) 247-2229

Jefferson County Criminal Records

The Act 1185 of Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1501 permits the Arkansas State Police to provide an Online Criminal Background Check System to any person upon request. For this reason, the Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) system was provided to help individuals search and obtain accurate criminal history information from the agency without written consent. This service requires the requester to create an account, provide signed written consent from the subject of the record, and make a $25 payment for each search. Criminal background check forms and a payment confirmation form are made available on the site.

All mail requests can be sent to the address below:

Arkansas State Police
Identification Bureau
1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209.

Get Jefferson County Civil Court Records

The Jefferson County Circuit Court has appellate jurisdiction over the judgments and final orders of the various county courts in all civil actions. It also handles juvenile, probate, mental health cases, civil commitments, and domestic relation cases. Generally, civil court records are filed with non-criminal suits or disputes by private individuals or companies. Individuals can access Jefferson County civil court records from the circuit court clerk's office.

Alternatively, interested persons may find civil court records online using the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search tool using date, case I.D. or citation number, case type, county, and location.

Jefferson County Marriage Records

Jefferson County vital records are legal documents containing information on events of citizens in the county, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce. However, Arkansas law limits access to vital records less than 100 years old to individuals on the record, their spouse, registered domestic partner, descendants, parents or guardians, or their attorney.

Eligible individuals can obtain certified copies of Jefferson County marriage records and certificates in person from the County Clerk's office. To obtain marriage records, both parties must be 18 years or older and have a valid photo I.D. Requesters will also have to pay $60.00 cash for copies of records and $5 for certified copies of Jefferson County marriage certificates.

Jefferson County residents can also perform an online search for marriage license records containing information such as name, marriage date, marriage official, and book and page number. One can also obtain certified copies through the mail by submitting a written request to P.O. Box 6317 Pine Bluff, AR 71611.

Alternatively, eligible individuals may request marriage records in person at the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records Division, or on the website online.

Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205.

Applicants will have to provide information such as the names of the spouses, the date and place of the marriage, a valid form of identification, proof of relationship, and the applicant's contact information. To make a copy is $10 while an identity verification fee is $1.85, which applies whether or not the department fulfills the order.

Jefferson County Divorce Records

Eligible individuals may obtain a certified copy of the Jefferson County divorce record by visiting the Arkansas Department of Health's vital records office in person or online. The cost for a divorce record is a nonrefundable $10.00 per copy but a standard online processing fee is $5. Applicants may also order a certified copy of the divorce record by mailing in a completed divorce application and a copy or copies of acceptable I.D. to the office.

Jefferson Birth and Death Records

A Jefferson County birth certificate can be used to prove one's identity. It's a requirement for passport applications, educational system enrollment, and social security benefits claims. Death certificates are mostly required when claiming life insurance benefits and inheriting the property of a deceased relative in legal court cases.

Eligible individuals may obtain Jefferson County birth and death records before 1935 (less than 50 years ago) at the Arkansas Department of Health's vital records in person, online, or through mail. Visit the Vital Records Office from 8:00 am until 4:15 pm, Monday through Friday. Applicants will have to provide the necessary documents and a service/processing/identity verification charge fee.

To get certified copies of birth and death records in the county, applicants can also mail a completed birth and death application form, a check made out to the department, and a copy of acceptable I.D. The first copy costs $12, and each additional copy of the same record costs $10. For death records, the first copy costs $10 and each additional copy of the same record costs $8.

Individuals can search and order Arkansas death certificates from 1935-1961 (more than 50 years ago) at the Arkansas Department of Health website. The requester will be required to provide details such as names, date of death, county of death, date of birth, and state of birth.

Jefferson County Probate Court Records

The Jefferson County Clerk handles all probate matters for the county. As Clerk to the probate court, the clerk files all instruments making them a matter of record in decedent estate cases. Other probate processes in the court include:

• Getting a property appraised
• Paying off debts and taxes
• Proving that a deceased person's will is legal
• Listing the deceased person's property.

Individuals may obtain Jefferson County probate records in person at the circuit court clerk's office or by sending a records request through mail:

Jefferson County Circuit Clerk's Office
101 West Barraque
Suite 104
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: (870) 541-5306

Jefferson County Property Records

The Jefferson County Assessor's office maintains current appraisal and assessment records, makes changes in valuations as they occur, stays abreast of property transactions within the county, and keeps a file on properties updated throughout the year. Individuals can access property records at the office in person or through email.

Jefferson County Assessor's Office
101 West Barraque
Suite 111
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: (870) 541-5334
Fax: (870) 541-5335

However, the office provides an online system that allows individuals to search for real estate and property records using either the name, parcel, assessment number, property I.D., physical and mailing address, or subdivision.

Jefferson County Court Records Online

Individuals can search for Jefferson court records and court case information through third-party search websites like Arkansascourtrecords.us. Searchers often use these sites because they are not restricted to any location. Some may find it easier to access court case information from various courts in Arkansas using third-party websites.

One thing to note about these search services is that they are not free. Some websites may charge up to $15 per search. However, the service cost may depend on the type of court record requested. Information obtained from third-party websites may vary and will need to be reviewed.