Ouachita County Court Records

According to Arkansas Administrative Orders No.19, Section III, Ouachita County court records consist of case and administrative records of local courts. These records contain pertinent information about local courts' management, daily functions, and the cases they handle. Legal professionals and other interested parties typically review them for legal research to understand what occurred during a local court case. Additionally, court records provide details of legal precedent that can be useful in future cases.

Examples of Ouachita court records include case files, transcripts, case dockets, case indices, jury reports, meeting minutes, court budget and fiscal records, memoranda, and correspondence.

Are Court Records Public in Ouachita County?

Yes. Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Arkansas Administrative Order No. 19, records maintained by government entities, including courts, that detail the performance of their official functions are public. As a result, Ouachita County public records include court records, which are accessible to anyone who requests them. However, FOIA is not absolute, and several records are exempt from public access. These include, but are not limited to:

• Juvenile records
• Grand jury minutes
• Sealed and expunged record
• Medical, education, and adoption records
• Records protected by court order, rule, or a specific law
• Unpublished drafts or judicial or quasi-judicial opinions and decisions.

Ouachita County Court Records Search

Interested parties can conduct an Ouachita County court records search through or at any of the following:

• Clerk's office of local courthouses
• Arkansas Judiciary Case Search Portal
• Reputable third-party websites that provide court record search services

Ouachita County Courts

Ouachita County's court system consists of two (2) types of courts: a Circuit Court and five (5) district courts. The addresses and contact information of these courts are provided below:

Ouachita County Circuit Court
145 Jefferson St SW,
Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 837-2230
Fax: (870) 837-2252

Ouachita County District Courts
Ouachita County District Court - Bearden
P.O. Box 134,
Bearden, AR 71720
Phone: (870) 687-2204
Fax: (870) 687-3555

Ouachita County District Court - Camden
213 Madison St,
Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 836-0331
Fax: (870) 837-5530

Ouachita County District Court - Chidester
118 Willow St,
P.O. Box 26,
Chidester, AR 71726
Phone: (870) 685-2906
Fax: (870) 685-2876

Ouachita County District Court - East Camden
P.O. Box 994,
Camden, AR 71711
Phone: (870) 574-2900
Fax: (870) 574-2905

Ouachita County District Court - Stephens
P.O. Box 8,
Stephens, AR 71764
Phone: (870) 786-5818
Fax: (870) 786-5749

Ouachita County Criminal and Civil Records

Ouachita County criminal records may be categorized into law enforcement agency records and judicial records. Good examples of the former are Ouachita County arrest records, and the latter are criminal case records.

Generally, arrest records are generated and maintained by local law enforcement agencies, such as the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments, after they conduct arrests within the county. Thus, record seekers can access Ouachita arrest records by querying the specific agency that created and maintains them. Depending on how agencies operate, queries may be in-person, by mail, or by phone. It is generally advised to contact an agency to inquire about the methods of request they accept. Interested persons can find the contact information of some local law enforcement agencies on the County Sheriff's contact directory page. It is worth noting that the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office also offers an inmate roster portal that provides arrest details and other information about individuals recently arrested and booked in the county jail.

On the other hand, Ouachita criminal and civil case records are preserved by the clerk's office of the specific court that handled the case. Depending on the specifics of a case, it may fall under the jurisdiction of either the County Circuit Court or the District Court. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over most criminal and civil cases. Meanwhile, district courts handle traffic violations, minor criminal offenses, civil claims involving up to $25,000, and small claims of up to $5,000.

Record seekers can access court records, including criminal and civil cases handled by the Ouachita County Circuit Court, by visiting or contacting the Circuit Clerk's office at:

145 Jefferson St SW,
Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 837-2230
Fax: (870) 837-2252

Meanwhile, interested persons can contact the clerk's office of the specific District Court that handled a civil or criminal case to request the case's court records. The contact information of each district court clerk's office is the same as that of their respective court, which has been provided in previous sections. Alternatively, the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search Portal offers remote access to public court records of criminal and civil cases handled by Ouachita County Circuit and District Courts. The portal is searchable using either the name of a case's participants or the case number/citation number.

Ouachita County Marriage Records

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Vital Records Division, is the custodian of different Ouachita County vital records, including marriage, divorce, death, and birth records. Ouachita County marriage records, as far back as 1917, are available through the agency. These records are considered confidential and are only issued to eligible individuals, such as those named on the records, and their immediate family members, such as their mother, father, children, grandchildren, and maternal grandparents.

The ADH Vital Records Division charges requesters a $10 fee per copy of the marriage record, also known as marriage coupons, that they request. Furthermore, the Division offers different methods for ordering Ouachita County marriage certificates, including by mail, walk-in, or telephone. Eligible individuals can utilize the Marriage Coupon Application form (also available in Spanish) or other request form provided by the Ouachita County local health unit for mail-in requests. They can complete the application form and mail it with a copy or copies of acceptable ID, and required fees (via a check or money order made out to the Arkansas Department of Health) to:

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

Note that the processing time of mail-in requests is 10 to 14 days.

Walk-in requests can be made at the ADH vital records office during business hours, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Requesters must present valid ID and pay the required fees.Accepted payment methods include cash, credit or debit cards, or checks and money orders made payable to the ADH.If requesters arrive before 4:00 PM, they are generally guaranteed same-day processing. Others will need to return the next day to pick up the requested records, or can ask for the requested records to be mailed to them. For telephone requests, requesters can call (866) 209-9482 (toll-free).

Ouachita County Divorce Records

Eligible individuals can order Ouachita County divorce records from the ADH Vital Records office by mail, in person, or by telephone. Regardless of the request method, requesters are charged $10.00 per copy and must present an acceptable ID.

For mail-in requests, requesters use the Divorce Coupon Application form (also available in Spanish) or other request form provided by the Ouachita County local health unit. Eligible individuals can complete the application form and mail it to the ADH Vital Records office with other required items. Walk-in requests may be made in person at the ADH Vital Records office during regular business hours. Meanwhile, interested persons can call (866) 209-9482 for telephone requests.

Ouachita County Birth and Death Records

Like all other vital records, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Vital Records Division maintains Ouachita County birth and death records. Thus, interested individuals can direct all birth and death record requests to the ADH Vital Records Division. These records are protected under Arkansas law and are only accessible to eligible individuals. For Ouachita County birth records, these eligible individuals include the registrant (person named on the record, provided they are 16 years and older), their mother, father, child, spouse, maternal grandparents, grandchild, and guardian. Meanwhile, those eligible to access death records include the decedent's mother, father, child, spouse, grandchild, maternal grandparents, informant, funeral home, and beneficiary.

The ADH Vital Records Division charges $12 for the first copy of an Ouachita County birth certificate and $10 for each additional copy. Meanwhile, a death certificate costs $10 for the first copy and $8 for additional copies ordered at the same time. Requesters must present a valid ID when requesting these records. Typically, the ADH Vital Records Division accepts in-person, mail-in, and telephone requests for birth and death records under its custody. For mail-in requests, eligible individuals can use the request forms provided by the division, such as the Death Certificate Application (also available in Spanish) and the Birth Certificate Application (also available in Spanish). In-person requests can be made at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Vital Records Office during regular business hours, and telephone requests can be made by calling (866) 209-9482.

Ouachita County Probate Court Records

In Ouachita County, probate cases are handled by the County Circuit Court. Some examples of probate cases include administration of a decedent's estate and wills. Probate records are generally not restricted and are available to anyone requesting them. Interested persons can query the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk to request probate records. Queries may be made at the clerk's office during regular business hours. Alternatively, record seekers can access probate records online through the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search Portal.

Ouachita County Property Records

Ouachita County property records are official documents that contain details about local properties' ownership, transfer, encumbrances, and valuation. These records include mortgages, deeds, liens, and plats. They are crucial for establishing ownership rights, resolving property disputes, and transferring ownership.

The Ouachita County Circuit Clerk's and Assessor's offices are the primary custodians of local property records. The Circuit Clerk's office records and maintains various property documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recordable instruments against properties, while the Assessor's office evaluates properties for valuation and taxation purposes. Therefore, interested individuals can contact these public offices to access Ouachita County records. They may be reached at:

Ouachita County Assessor's Office
145 Jefferson St. SW
Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 837-2240

Ouachita County Circuit Clerk's Office
145 Jefferson St SW,
Camden, AR 71701
Phone: (870) 837-2230
Fax: (870) 837-2252

Ouachita County Court Records Online

In addition to traditional resources provided by the Arkansas Judiciary, interested persons can access Ouachita County court records online through third-party websites, like Arkansascourtrecords.us. These websites are a viable alternative to traditional resources, featuring user-friendly interfaces. Furthermore, only a subject name or case number is required to conduct searches on third-party websites, and they are not subject to geographical limitations. As a result, users can perform comprehensive searches for court records maintained by different courts across Arkansas Counties through third-party websites.

However, there are some drawbacks to using third-party websites. For instance, records they provide may contain partial or obsolete information, as they are typically not affiliated with government entities, and due to the frequency with which they update their records.