Mississippi County
Mississippi County was established in 1833 and is named after the Mississippi River, which forms its eastern boundary. The county has two seats, Blytheville in the northern district and Osceola in the southern district. Spanning approximately 902.1 square miles, Mississippi County is one of Arkansas's largest counties by land mass. The county is known for its rich agricultural heritage and economic contributions from steel manufacturing, with a population exceeding 40,361 residents.
The court system in Mississippi County operates within Arkansas's Unified Judicial Structure, and it comprises the Circuit and District Courts. The Circuit Court serves as a general jurisdiction trial court for the county. It handles cases such as felonies, certain misdemeanors, civil disputes exceeding $25,000, and family law matters, including divorces, child custody, and protective orders. It also has exclusive jurisdiction over civil equity claims. Additionally, cases such as wills, estates, and guardianships, as well as those involving juvenile delinquency, adoptions, and termination of parental rights, fall under its purview. Moreover, the Circuit Court shares jurisdiction with the District Court for certain civil claims and other specific matters. Conversely, the District Courts, including those in Blytheville and Osceola, handle certain criminal and civil matters. These include most misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for all criminal cases, city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, small claims cases, and civil disputes under $25,000.
Mississippi County court records are maintained to ensure public access and judicial transparency. They contain information such as writs, case filing, pleadings, judicial rulings, summonses, and subpoenas generated from legal proceedings within the county. Records include:
- Criminal records
- Civil case records
- Family law records
- Probate records
- Juvenile case records
The County Clerk's Office is responsible for maintaining and providing public access to court records. However certain records, such as juvenile, sealed, and confidential case files, are restricted to protect privacy under Arkansas law.
Interested persons can search for records online via the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search Portal, which allows users to perform case or name-based lookups. Alternatively, request can be made in person by visiting the County Clerks' Offices at the respective court locations:
Mississippi County Courthouse (Osceola)
200 West Hale Avenue
Osceola, AR 72370
Phone: (870) 563-6471
Mississippi County Courthouse (Blytheville)
217 North 2nd Street
Blytheville, AR 72315
Phone: (870) 763-5744
Fees apply for obtaining physical copies of court records, with additional charges for certified copies.
