Court records in Faulkner County, Arkansas, are maintained by the circuit clerk and the district court clerk and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. FaulknerCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Faulkner County. You can also search records through the state's Search ARCourts portal, visit the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk's office, or contact the district court clerk directly for assistance locating case filings and documents.
Faulkner Court System Overview
Faulkner County is part of Arkansas's 20th Judicial Circuit, which serves Faulkner County exclusively. Arkansas uses a unified court system with circuit courts serving as the state's general jurisdiction trial courts and district courts handling limited jurisdiction matters. The Faulkner County Circuit Court hears all civil and criminal cases at the circuit level, while the Faulkner County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, and preliminary felony hearings. The district court is staffed by two elected district judges, two head court clerks, and additional deputy clerks. The county seat is Conway, where both courts are located.
Courts Serving Faulkner
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Faulkner County Circuit Court (20th Judicial Circuit) | 801 Locust Ave., Conway, AR 72034 | (501) 450-4930 |
| Faulkner County District Court | 810 Parkway St., Conway, AR 72034 | (501) 450-6195 |
| Conway District Court (City of Conway) | 810 Parkway St., Conway, AR 72034 | (501) 450-6195 |
| U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas | 600 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201 | (501) 604-5351 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Arkansas | 300 W. 2nd St., Little Rock, AR 72201 | (501) 918-5500 |
Faulkner County falls within the Eastern District of Arkansas for federal cases. Municipal courts may also operate within incorporated cities in the county for local ordinance violations.
What Types of Cases Faulkner Courts Hear
Courts serving Faulkner County handle a wide range of case types across the circuit and district court levels:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic infractions and DUI/DWI
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts at circuit level; limited amounts at district level)
- Small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile — delinquency, dependency-neglect (Child in Need of Services)
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
The sections below explain which court handles each category and how cases move through the system.
District Court Cases in Faulkner
The Faulkner County District Court handles cases with limited jurisdiction, including:
- Misdemeanor criminal cases
- Preliminary hearings for felony charges (before bindover to circuit court)
- Civil cases up to $25,000
- Small claims up to $5,000
- Traffic violations and DUI/DWI arraignments
- Local ordinance violations
Criminal cases typically begin at the district court level. If a felony charge is filed, the district judge conducts a preliminary hearing to determine probable cause. If probable cause is found, the case is bound over to circuit court. Misdemeanors are resolved entirely at the district level. The Faulkner County District Court is staffed by two elected district judges who serve four-year terms, with cases assigned based on internal scheduling.
Magistrate Court Cases in Faulkner
Arkansas does not use a separate magistrate court division in the same way some other states do. Instead, district courts in Arkansas perform the functions that magistrate courts handle elsewhere. In Faulkner County, the district court judges preside over:
- Misdemeanor and infraction cases
- Felony preliminary hearings
- Civil disputes up to $25,000
- Small claims up to $5,000 (under Arkansas District Court Rule 10)
- Traffic violations
- DUI/DWI arraignments and hearings
- Orders of protection (temporary)
Small claims cases follow a simplified procedure and are designed for individuals representing themselves. The $5,000 limit applies to the amount in controversy. Given Faulkner County's population and caseload, the two district judges divide case assignments to manage volume efficiently.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Faulkner
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the Faulkner County Circuit Court. Family law cases are filed with the circuit clerk's office and assigned to a circuit judge. Temporary orders of protection may initially be filed through the district court.
Probate
Probate matters — including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes — fall under circuit court jurisdiction in Arkansas. These cases are filed with the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk and heard by a circuit judge in Conway.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases, including delinquency proceedings under the Arkansas Juvenile Code and dependency-neglect (child protective) cases, are heard in circuit court. Juvenile court records are confidential under Arkansas law and are not available through public case search tools. Contact the circuit clerk's office for questions about juvenile proceedings.
How Cases Move Through the Faulkner Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins when a criminal complaint, civil complaint, or petition is filed with the appropriate clerk — district clerk for limited jurisdiction matters, circuit clerk for circuit-level cases.
- Assignment to Judge: The case is assigned to a district or circuit judge based on case type and internal court scheduling.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned and advised of charges. Civil cases receive a scheduling conference or initial hearing date.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and — in criminal cases — may engage in plea negotiations. Civil cases may involve mediation or settlement discussions.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases are resolved by plea agreement, bench trial, jury trial, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from district court go to circuit court; appeals from circuit court go to the Arkansas Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Faulkner
The 20th Judicial Circuit is administered by the circuit judges, with support from a trial court administrator. Day-to-day operations for the circuit court are managed through the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk's office. Local rules for the 20th Judicial Circuit are published through the Arkansas Judiciary and govern scheduling, motion practice, and courtroom procedures.
Public Access to Records
- Most court records in Arkansas are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Arkansas court administrative orders.
- You can search court records online through Search ARCourts, which includes circuit court records dating back to January 1, 2009 for Faulkner County.
- Some records are restricted — juvenile cases, sealed records, adoption files, and certain mental health proceedings are not publicly accessible.
- To request county government records under FOIA, use the Faulkner County records request process.
Attending Hearings
Court hearings in Faulkner County are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be available via remote video or telephone appearance — contact the clerk's office for the specific case to ask whether remote attendance is an option.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Faulkner
- Court Case Search: Use Search ARCourts to look up circuit and district court cases in Faulkner County. The system includes case details and links to some filed documents. The ARCourts information page explains how to navigate the tool.
- Circuit Clerk / Court Records: The Faulkner County Circuit Clerk maintains all circuit court records. Electronic filing began June 1, 2016, and records back to January 1, 2009 are available online.
- FOIA Records Requests: For county government records not available through court portals, submit a request through the Faulkner County FOIA request page.
- Active Warrants: The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office warrant list provides information on active warrants.
- Jail Inmate Roster: Current inmates held at the Faulkner County Detention Center can be searched through the Sheriff's Office inmate roster.
- Arkansas Department of Correction Inmate Search: For individuals sentenced to state prison, use the ADC inmate search tool.
- Sex Offender Registry: Search registered sex offenders in Faulkner County through the Arkansas Sex Offender Notification System.
- Sheriff's Office: The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office provides community resources including most wanted lists, crime tips, and offender information.
- County Government Portal: The Faulkner County government website offers access to land records, tax information, and links to county departments.