Arkansas public records

The Arkansas public records filed, processed, or under the custody of government agencies like public courts is available through different platforms. according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)1966 all the data is accessible to the citizens of Arkansas state. It means people can apply for a copy of the record. This act is practised throughout the state and regulates the records authorities under the public courts. 

It also includes the digital data, held by the agencies and the computer-based information that is regulated by the government institutes almost a large majority of residents in Arkansas have access to these records. 

The Arkansas public records did not include the licenses, leases or the software purchased by the government.

Who can Access to the Arkansas Public Records 

Arkansas public records are accessible to the residents of Arkansas. It is one of the nine states of the USA which has permission to rhea the public records. In 2024 this makes it crucial that only Arkansas residents will have access to these records.

The information is provided to the eligible requests who make requests through a valid source for non-confidential copies of the record. The requesters can receive a copy of the data within the working days after requesting that. In some cases, the copy will be collected from the custodian’s offices which have custody of the records. It is also available via an online portal which is regulated by the custodians of the record. The incarcerated person who has pleaded or was found guilty is not eligible to access these records.

If the incarcerated person wants to access these records. He should contact the lawyer for it,

You do not need to explain the purpose during the request for the data. You just tell the legal body about the purpose of obtaining the copy of the data the Freedom Act entertains to all citizens of Arkansas for the public record. Every year more than 25000 requests are received for a copy of the data.

Making the request to the custodians for a copy of the record the custodians can ask you for an ID card, passport, licence or the address of your house just to confirm your citizenship or the eligibility criteria for this request.

Freedom of Information Act 1966

This law regulates the custodians of the public record and ensures the access of every citizen of the state. This law proposed in the state that the record which is held by government agencies is accessible to every citizen. Here are the consequences of this act.

Principles of this act

Public Right of Access:

It shows the equal rights of every single person who is eligible to get a copy of the record. FOIA guarantees the public’s right to access information held by most federal agencies. This fosters an informed citizenry and holds the government accountable. It makes easy access to these public records for the citizens of the state.

Presumption of Openness:

By default, most agency records are considered open to the public. The burden falls on the agency to justify withholding information under an exemption. The requesters may access through the third party websites which are run in the state under the legal custodians of the records. The offices must justify the data or records which is withdrawn from these kinds of websites.

Practices of this act

Requesting Process

The eligible persons who have the citizenship of the state request to collect a copy of the record Individuals submit a written request to the specific agency holding the desired records.

Response Time for process

Processing times can vary based on request complexity and agency backlog. Fees may be associated with copying and searching for records. The response will received within the working days the custodians are bound to entertain the request that is received by the requester.

Appeals Processing

 In some cases, the requesters may receive the denial due to any fault or reason in this case. If a request is denied, the requester can appeal the decision through a formal process within the agency. After the appeal, the legal body entertains the eligible citizens against the copy of the records.

For more information about the Freedom Act, you can visit the Official U.S. government website with a wealth of information on FOIA: Freedom of Information Act: How to Make a FOIA Request

The information contained by the public records

The public records contain a bundle of information of all case documents information filled or created during the proceeding of the case. The types of the case and information varies from each case. This record held all data of the cases which is filed to the district courts and circuit courts of the state.

A particular case record has the following information.

Claims

The involved parties have what kind of claims to each other during the filing of the case.

Court summonses 

The information from the court orders for the appeal of the case.

List of case filings

List of the cases which are announced or under proceeding of the court. It shows all over the cases through different types. 

Miscellaneous documents 

The documents related to the court which is steppled with the case report.

Fines 

The fine sentence is called by the court to the parties involved in the case.

Final judgment

The final decisions or probations for the case are announced by the public court.

Subject’s details

The subjects which are mentioned at the top of the file of the case.

Names of legal representatives

The legal person who filed the case and handled the case proceedings throughout.

Case type, status, number, type, and filing date

The basic or initial information that is the identity of the particular case.

The hearing date and location

The location where the case was filed and under proceed and the dates of hire which are issued by the court.

Note: Per state laws, court clerks may redact or seal confidential portions of a record if it contains protected information

Types of the Arkansas Public Records

There are different types of records which are regulated by the different custodians of the record. Each type proceeds and is maintained by the district or circuit courts of the state. Here are a few of them

Arkansas Public criminal records

The criminal records of the individuals. The crimes and convictions which is done for criminal offences violate the state law. There are different probations of the criminal record arresting of the person, such as a summary of arrests, charges arising from the arrests, and history of convictions. Criminal records may typically include mugshots, fingerprints, and physical descriptors of the individuals.Visit Website 

 They usually contain:

• The criminal’s name and photograph which are held by the court
• Felony conviction record in the court
• For misdemeanor conviction record minor crimes you can exercise around one year of jail. 
• Pending felony arrests where the person has not yet gone to trial within the last three years. The current situation of the case
• Sex offender status and level, or if the person is required to register as one.

• Cases declared not guilty, dismissed, or not processed after arrest
• Traffic records the challan issued by the transport authority.
• Warrants out for a person
• Sealed records of the car, shop or any business query. 
• Federal criminal history or criminal history from other states. Within the state as well as outside of the state.

Connect with the Police for Records

Arkansas State Police,
One State Police Plaza Dr,
Little Rock, AR 72209,
501-618-8000

Arkansas Public Bankruptcy Records

It shows the financial activities which are under the public courts. According to the Freedom Act, the bankruptcy record will be accessible to every person in the state. It shows the creditor’s data and the source of income of the debtors. The bankruptcy might be against individuals or institutions. The National Archive of the Record Administration (NARA) holds the records of all cases reported from 1996 to 2001. You can also access these records through the official site: Arkansas Eastern Bankruptcy Court | PACER: Federal Court Records  This record contains the following information

The debtor’s name and address

It is the basic data of the person who filing for bankruptcy.

Creditors

Information of the person who owed the money from the other party. Its name address, and picture as well.

Debtor’s income and assets

The source of income and assets held by any debtor.

 Bankruptcy filed

The files for the bankruptcy case which is involved in the case during filing.

To visit the custodian office which holds the bankruptcy records you can visit physically to the office.

Little Rock
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
300 W. 2nd Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-918-5500

Fayetteville
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Divisional Office
35 E. Mountain Street, Room 316
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-582-9800

Arkansas Public Vitals Records

The vitals records are publicly available for every citizen of the country it includes the record of birth, death, marriage and divorce. Under the Freedom Act, every person has access to these records.

How to check Public Vitals Records

 Arkansas Public Birth Record

It contains the record of every recorded person who is under the record of the custodians. Every single person who was born in the state. This department issues the birth certificates of the person who was born in the state. For this record, you can visit the Vital Records.  This record contains (name, date of birth, place of birth etc.)

According to Arkansas Statute 20-18-305, all birth records older than 100 years and marriage, divorce, and death records older than 50 years can be accessed by the custodians. New records, like marriage records, are public but are only available to certain people with authorization. This is the authentication of the public vital records.

Arkansas Department of Health
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

 Arkansas Public Death Records

 The death records show the deaths that occur in the state it provides the death certificates to the persons who apply for the death certificate of their loved ones.

( it provides the death date, name of the person, death location etc.)  it maintains the date before February 1914.

Death Certificate Search and Order Service You can receive the certificate within 14 working hours after the application.

Arkansas Public marriage records 

The records of the marriage that took place in the state after the date of 1917 in the Arkansas state. It shows information like (the name of the spouse, date of marriage. Place where the marriage was arranged, witnesses for the marriage their names as well as the ID card information.) How to Find Arkansas Marriage Records • FamilySearch  Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)

Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or directly at the office:

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

The divorce certificate shows that the including parties are not interested in the marriage. And it is acceptable all over the state. You can collect this certificate through Vital Records . It shows the data from the year 1923 in the state. It provides information like (the reason for the divorce, date, place, and witnesses of the divorce)  According to the United States Census Bureau (USCB) report in 2018, Arkansas had the largest divorce rate state which is 13 per 1000 women mostly above the age of 15 years. 

How Much Do Public Records Cost in Arkansas?

There are few costs charged by the authorities to issue the certificates

of all above mentions vital records.

Costs for vital certificates 

• Birth certificate: $12 (first copy), $10 (additional copies)
• Death certificate: $10 (first copy), $8 (additional copies)
• Marriage record: $10 essential to pay 
• Divorce Record: $10 essential to pay
• Processing fee: $5 ( it is not payback)
• Identity verification fee: $1.85
• Shipping fees: Depends on the option chosen by the requesters. 

If you have queries about these charges you can contact

 Phone  (866)209-9482

Arkansas Public property records 

It provides the records of the property held by the person in the state it helps to calculate the income tax that is opposed to the owner of the property. The record of all property holders in the state, this information shows ( name of the owner, property value, address of the property, etc)ARCountyData.com. 

Arkansas Public Inmate Records

Inmate records provide details about offenders held in correctional facilities in the state. Per Arkansas public record laws, some of this information is accessible. public records may include this information 

• The inmate’s name
• Race and date of birth of the intimate
• Date of incarceration in the custody 
• Inmate’s crimes and location.

  Department of Correction (ADC) provides the inmate records Inmate Search.

Arkansas Department of Correction,
6814 Princeton Pike, 
Pine Bluff, AR 71602-9411

 

Conclusion 

We discussed the public records that the custodians provided to the public under the Information Freedom Act. Which regulates the proceeding of the public record through various courts, portals and government agencies working in the state. Arkansas public records include different types of records we discussed briefly every type of public record also the information contained by each type. Provides official sources for all of these records where you can apply and get a copy of the records after paying some fee charges which we mentioned above.

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