Small Claims Court in Conway, Arkansas: Faulkner County Filing Guide

Faulkner County District Court

Conway sits in Faulkner County, part of the 20th Judicial District. The district court here handles small claims for Conway, Greenbrier, Vilonia, Guy, and the rest of the county.

Small claims are capped at $5,000 under A.C.A. § 16-17-704. Attorneys cannot appear in the Small Claims Division — if the defendant's attorney enters an appearance or files a responsive pleading, the case moves to the Civil Division where both sides can have lawyers and formal procedures apply.

File in Faulkner County if the defendant lives there or the dispute happened there. That covers a Conway landlord withholding a security deposit, a Greenbrier contractor who walked off with a deposit, or a Vilonia neighbor whose tree fell on your fence.

Filing Fees and Forms

The standard small claims filing fee at metropolitan-area courts across Arkansas is $65. Faulkner County may vary slightly — confirm with the district court clerk before visiting.

Pick up the complaint form at the clerk's office. Arkansas does not use a statewide standard form, so each court has its own version. Fill in:

• The defendant's full legal name and physical address
• A plain-language description of what happened
• The exact dollar amount you are claiming (up to $5,000)

Bring three complete copies of your complaint and every attachment — contracts, receipts, photos, invoices. One set for the court, one for you, one for the defendant. If you are suing a business, look up the exact legal name through the Arkansas Secretary of State Business Entity Search first.

Service and Timeline

You have 120 days from filing to get the defendant served (ARCP Rule 4(i)). Three authorized methods:

• Certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt — the defendant must sign the green card; if someone else signs, it does not count
• Faulkner County Sheriff — personal delivery, typically around $50
• Private process server — only with a court order under ARCP Rule 4(c)

The defendant needs at least 10 days' notice before the hearing. If service fails on the first try, request an alias summons and try a different method before the deadline.

After service, the defendant has 30 days to file a written answer. If they do not answer and do not show up, you can request a default judgment.

The Hearing

Faulkner County small claims hearings are informal. You tell the judge your side, present printed evidence (three sets), and answer questions. The defendant does the same. No complex legal arguments — just a straightforward presentation of facts.

The judge may rule from the bench or take the matter under advisement. Either party can appeal within 30 calendar days from the docket entry of judgment to Circuit Court under District Court Rule 9 ($165 fee, de novo trial).

Full Process Guide

The Arkansas Small Claims Filing Guide covers every step from the demand letter through judgment collection, with checklists and deadline calendars designed for self-represented filers.

See more Arkansas guides →