| Circuit Clerk | Washington County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | Washington County Clerk |
| Clerk address | Circuit Clerk: 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 302, Fayetteville, AR 72701. County Clerk: 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 300, Fayetteville, AR 72701 |
| Phone | 479-444-1711 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.25 per page at most circuit clerks (set locally; e.g., Saline and Lonoke counties post $0.25) |
| Certified copy fee | $5.00 per document for the clerk's certificate and seal (Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-402), plus the per-page copy charge |
Washington County (Fayetteville, Springdale, part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers metro) keeps circuit court records with the Washington County Circuit Clerk, currently Kyle E. Sylvester, whose office handles felony criminal, civil, domestic-relations, and probate case files and reports to the Administrative Office of the Courts. The separate Washington County Clerk serves as clerk for the county court and the circuit court's probate division and holds will and marriage records dating back to the 1820s, plus current-day elections and vital records.
The county's circuit court sits at the Washington County Courthouse in downtown Fayetteville. A separate Washington County District Court, based in Elkins, and city district courts such as Fayetteville District Court handle misdemeanors, traffic, and small-claims matters and are not part of the circuit clerk's system or Search ARCourts.
Search Washington County court records online
Circuit Clerk
Washington County Circuit Clerk
- Cost
- Free case search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Circuit court criminal, civil, domestic-relations, and probate case records for Washington County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
The county's website blocks some automated requests; confirm current hours and any online-search links directly on the page before visiting.
County Clerk
Washington County Clerk
- Cost
- Free to inquire; fees for copies and licenses (marriage license $60)
- Coverage
- Clerk for the county court and the circuit court's probate division; will records from 1829, probate records from 1828, marriage records from 1845
- Records
- Probate
Separate office from the circuit clerk. The county's website blocks some automated requests; confirm current details directly on the page.
Other courts
Fayetteville District Court
- Cost
- Free to inquire; contact the clerk for records
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor, traffic, ordinance, and small-claims cases arising in Fayetteville
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic, Civil
A separate city court, not covered by Search ARCourts.
What is available online
Circuit court case information for Washington County is searchable through Search ARCourts (caseinfo.arcourts.gov). The county clerk's historical marriage, will, and probate index dates back to the 1820s–1840s, though the oldest records are not digitized for online search and require an in-person or written request. Springdale, Fayetteville, and the countywide Washington County District Court (based in Elkins) each keep their own separate district-court records.
Which clerk has your record
In Arkansas, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Arkansas page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (28 judicial circuits) | Felony criminal cases; Civil cases above the district-court limit; Divorce, custody, and other domestic-relations cases | Circuit Clerk of the county |
| District Courts (state and local) | Misdemeanor criminal cases; Traffic violations and city ordinance violations; Preliminary felony hearings (first appearance and bond) | Clerk of the individual district court |
| City Courts | Legacy municipal-court matters in cities that have not converted to district court | Clerk of the individual city court |
Request records in person or by mail
Washington County clerk offices
Circuit Clerk: 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 302, Fayetteville, AR 72701. County Clerk: 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 300, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: 479-444-1711
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Circuit court records (criminal, civil, family, probate). Search Search ARCourts, then contact the Circuit Clerk's office at 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 302, Fayetteville, AR 72701, for certified copies and case documents not available online.
County clerk, probate-instrument, and marriage records. Contact the Washington County Clerk's office at 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 300, Fayetteville, AR 72701, or by phone at 479-444-1711.
District court records. Contact the specific district court — Fayetteville, Springdale, or the countywide Washington County District Court in Elkins — since each keeps its own file separately from circuit court.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.25 per page at most circuit clerks (set locally; e.g., Saline and Lonoke counties post $0.25) |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per document for the clerk's certificate and seal (Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-402), plus the per-page copy charge |
Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-402 fixes the circuit clerk's certificate-and-seal fee at $5.00, an authentication certificate at $5.00, and certifying costs at $2.50, but leaves the plain per-page copy charge to each clerk; the large-county schedules we checked (Saline, Lonoke) charge $0.25 per page. Uniform filing fees are in § 21-6-403. Confirm with the clerk before mailing payment, since some counties add a technology fee or charge more for oversized or archived files.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Arkansas court records are presumed open, but several categories are not available in any public search:
The Arkansas guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search a Washington County circuit court case online?
Use Search ARCourts (caseinfo.arcourts.gov) for circuit court cases — felony criminal, civil, domestic relations, and probate. It does not cover misdemeanor or traffic cases from the district courts.
Is the Washington County Clerk the same as the Circuit Clerk?
No. The Circuit Clerk keeps circuit court case files. The County Clerk is a separate office that serves as clerk for the county court and the circuit court's probate division, and also issues marriage licenses and keeps historical will records.
Where do I find a Fayetteville traffic ticket?
Fayetteville District Court, a separate city court, handles traffic and misdemeanor cases arising in Fayetteville; it is not included in Search ARCourts.
How far back do Washington County probate records go?
The county clerk's office has probate records from 1828 and will records from 1829, though the oldest files are not digitized and require an in-person or written request to view.
Sources
- Washington County Circuit Clerk — https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/circuit-clerk
- Washington County Clerk — https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/county-clerk
- Fayetteville District Court — https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/251/District-Court
- Arkansas Judiciary — Circuit Courts — https://arcourts.gov/courts/circuit-courts
- Arkansas Judiciary — District Courts — https://arcourts.gov/courts/district-courts
- Arkansas Judiciary — Search ARCourts (CourtConnect) — https://arcourts.gov/administration/acap/courtconnect
- Arkansas Judiciary — Supreme Court — https://arcourts.gov/courts/supreme-court
- Arkansas Online Criminal Background Check System — https://cbc.ark.org/
- Arkansas Code § 16-90-1416 — Release of Sealed Records — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-6/chapter-90/subchapter-14/section-16-90-1416/
- Arkansas Code § 21-6-403 — Circuit Court Clerks, Uniform Filing Fees — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-21/chapter-6/subchapter-4/section-21-6-403/
- Arkansas Judiciary — Filing Fee Information — https://arcourts.gov/courts/clerk-of-the-courts/filing-information
- Arkansas Code § 21-6-402 — Circuit Court Clerks, Miscellaneous Fees — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-21/chapter-6/subchapter-4/section-21-6-402/
- Saline County Circuit Clerk — Filing Fees — https://www.salinecounty.org/government/circuit_clerk/circuit_juvenile_court/filing_fees_efiling_lite.php
- Lonoke County Circuit Clerk — Filing Fees — https://www.lonokecircuitclerk.com/filingfees.html
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas — https://www.are.uscourts.gov/
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas — https://www.arwd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Arkansas counties.