How to Get a Certified Copy of Your Arkansas Judgment and Transfer It to Circuit Court

Why You Need a Certified Copy of Your Arkansas Judgment

A District Court judgment sitting in the clerk's filing system does not, by itself, create a lien on real estate. To establish that lien, you need a certified copy — a court-stamped document the Circuit Court Clerk will accept for recording.

Under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-65-117, a District Court money judgment only becomes a lien on the debtor's real property once you file a certified transcript or copy with the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the property sits. Without that step, the debtor can sell, refinance, or transfer their land with no obligation to pay you first.

For out-of-county enforcement within Arkansas, you can transcribe the judgment with the Circuit Court Clerk in the new county or issue writs directed to that county's sheriff. To enforce in another state, follow that state's adoption of the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act.

How to Request One From the District Court Clerk

Walk into (or call) the District Court Clerk's office where your judgment was entered. Ask for a certified copy of the judgment. The fee is typically $5.00 per certification, though some counties charge up to $10.00.

You'll need to provide the case number and the names of the parties. The clerk stamps or seals the copy to verify it's a true and accurate reproduction of the court record. Most District Court clerks can prepare one the same day or within a few business days.

There is no time limit for requesting a certified copy, but the sooner you get one, the sooner you can record it. An action on a judgment must be commenced within 10 years under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-114, and a judgment lien lasts 10 years from the date of judgment under § 16-65-117(d)(1). To keep the lien active beyond that period, file a Notice of Outstanding Judgment under § 16-65-501 before it expires.

Transferring the Judgment to Circuit Court

Once you have the certified copy, take it to the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the debtor owns real estate. You don't need to file it in the same county where the District Court entered the judgment — you need the county where the property is located.

The Circuit Court Clerk records and indexes the judgment, at which point it becomes a statutory lien on all non-exempt real estate the debtor owns in that county. The standard recording fee is $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-306; county fee schedules may differ. Add authorized recording costs to the judgment balance.

If the debtor owns property in multiple counties, you'll need a separate certified copy and separate Circuit Court filing for each county. Each recording creates a lien only in that specific county.

What the Lien Actually Does

Once recorded, the judgment lien attaches to the debtor's real property. The debtor cannot sell or refinance without satisfying the lien. Title companies will flag it during any transaction.

The lien lasts 10 years from the date of judgment under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-65-117(d)(1). Before it expires, file a Notice of Outstanding Judgment under § 16-65-501 to revive the judgment; a writ of scire facias is no longer used for revival. The notice must be served on the debtor by first-class mail to the debtor's last known address. If the lien was recorded in another county, record a copy of the filed notice there before expiration to continue that lien.

Keep in mind: the lien doesn't automatically force a sale of the debtor's home. Arkansas's homestead exemption (Ark. Const. art. 9, § 3) protects a primary residence up to one-quarter acre in a city or 80 acres in a rural area from forced execution on ordinary contract debts. The lien still matters, though — it blocks any voluntary sale or refinance until the debtor pays you.

When to Transfer vs. When to Skip

Transferring to Circuit Court makes sense when the debtor owns real property and you expect them to sell or refinance within the next few years. It's a passive enforcement tool — you record it and wait.

If the debtor is a renter with no real estate, the recording fee and certified-copy cost are money spent for nothing. In that case, wage garnishment ($10 writ fee plus $50 sheriff service) or a bank account levy gets you to actual cash faster. Our Arkansas judgment collection guide walks through every enforcement tool and helps you pick the right one for your situation.

For a broader look at how liens work and when they make sense, see our post on Arkansas judgment liens on real estate.

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