Arkansas Court System


Court System:

The Court system in the State of Arkansas consists of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Chancery Court, and Municipal Court. Credit and collection matters are generally within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court and Municipal Court. Circuit Court: This court has original jurisdiction over all civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $100, exclusive of interest. (Ark. C. 16-92-110.) Municipal Court: This Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court on all civil matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $3,000, exclusive of interest. (Ark. C. 16-17-704.) Small Claims: Small Claims divisions are established within the Municipal Court system. It has jurisdiction over matters of contract, recovery of personal property, and damage to personal property not exceeding $3,000. (Ark. C. 16-17-602 and 16-17-704.)

See history of appellate courts at Supreme Court Home
Court of Appeals

Administrative Office of the Courts
Small Claims Court from State Bar


See Small Claims Court, a brochure which may be downloaded from the Arkansas State Bar site. The following is a quote from that brochure: G. Is anyone barred from suing in the small claims division? Yes. No action may be filed in a small claims court by any collection agency, collection agent or any other person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation engaged/involved in the business of lending money with interest. Arkansas corporations, other than those which are classified as lending institutions, which have three or fewer stockholders; those in which 85% or more of the voting stock is held by persons related within the third degree; or those otherwise defined as closely held corporations may appear in small claims court provided they are represented by officers of the corporation.
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