Bentonville Dissolution of Marriage Case Records

Bentonville is the county seat of Benton County, and dissolution of marriage cases for city residents are filed at the Benton County Circuit Court located right in the city. This page covers how to search those records, what online tools exist, and where to go for certified copies of decrees.

Benton County Circuit Court: Bentonville Is the County Seat

Bentonville is the county seat of Benton County, which means the Circuit Clerk's office is right here in the city. The Circuit Clerk is Brenda DeShields. Her office is at 102 Northeast A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Phone: (479) 271-1015. Since Bentonville is the county seat, this is the primary location for dissolution of marriage filings, records requests, and certified copy issuance.

The Benton County Domestic Relations Division handles dissolution of marriage along with annulments, separate maintenance, custody, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse orders. When a case is filed, the clerk's office assigns a case number and maintains the full file, including the petition, any responses, court orders, and the final decree. The full record stays at the courthouse in Bentonville unless transferred for appeal.

For marriage license records (not divorce), the Benton County Clerk is a separate office at 215 East Central Avenue, Bentonville, AR 72712. Phone: (479) 271-1013. The circuit clerk and the county clerk are different offices. Dissolution of marriage records go to the circuit clerk. Marriage licenses are with the county clerk. If you need both types of records, you may need to visit or contact both offices.

Search Bentonville Dissolution of Marriage Records Online

The Benton County Circuit Clerk has a dedicated online records search at bentoncircuitclerk.com/search-records/. This is one of the more robust county-level online tools in Arkansas. You can search by name or case number. The index covers data from May 1945, and document images are available starting from January 1933. That is nearly 90 years of records available at least in some digital form.

Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov also covers Benton County Circuit Court. CourtConnect is the statewide portal, while the Benton County-specific search may offer more local detail and a broader historical index. Both tools are free. Use CourtConnect if you want to search across multiple counties at once. Use the Benton County search if you want the most complete local records access.

Neither online tool gives you certified copies. They show you the index data and docket. For a certified copy of a dissolution decree -- which you may need for a name change, a new mortgage, or an insurance matter -- contact the clerk at (479) 271-1015. The clerk can confirm whether documents are available for a specific case and what the copy fee will be. Copy fees vary depending on the type and number of pages.

Benton County eRecording and Document History

Benton County adopted eRecording in 2008, making it one of the earlier adopters of digital filing in Arkansas. Electronic recording allows documents to be submitted, recorded, and returned digitally without a physical trip to the courthouse. This applies to property-related records primarily, but the same digital infrastructure supports the court system's modern case management.

The practical benefit for people researching dissolution records is that Benton County has a more complete and better-organized digital archive than many other Arkansas counties. The image archive starting in 1933 is notable. If you are researching a dissolution of marriage that occurred decades ago -- for genealogical purposes, estate matters, or family history -- the Benton County Circuit Clerk may be able to help further back than you expect.

The Benton County eRecording page explains the digital filing system and what types of documents are accepted electronically. While eRecording applies primarily to property records, it reflects the county's broader commitment to digital records access. The same office handles dissolution records, and the same attention to digital indexing applies.

Benton County Circuit Clerk Records Search

The screenshot below shows the Benton County Circuit Clerk's online records search. This tool covers dissolution of marriage cases and other civil filings going back to 1945 in the index, with images from 1933. Visit bentoncircuitclerk.com/search-records/ to search cases directly.

The Benton County online search is one of the more complete county-level tools in Arkansas, with records extending back to the mid-20th century.

Benton County eRecording System

Benton County's eRecording system has been in place since 2008. The screenshot below shows the eRecording page, which explains how electronic document submission works. Visit bentoncircuitclerk.com/erecording-2/ for more details about the system.

Electronic recording since 2008 has contributed to a well-maintained digital archive for Benton County dissolution and other civil records.

Arkansas Dissolution Law and Bentonville Residents

Arkansas requires legal grounds for dissolution of marriage. There is no general no-fault option like many other states have. Grounds most people use include general indignities (Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C)) and 18-month continuous separation (§ 9-12-301(b)(5)). General indignities is broadly defined -- it covers persistent conduct that makes life together unreasonable. The 18-month separation ground works when the couple has simply lived apart for the required period without a major dispute about the split itself.

Residency rules apply. At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing and must remain a resident when the petition is filed (§ 9-12-303). After the other party is served, a 30-day waiting period runs before the court can finalize the dissolution (§ 9-12-307(a)(1)(B)). Even fully agreed cases must wait out this period. The judge cannot sign the final decree until 30 days after service is complete.

For free legal guidance, AR Law Help provides plain-language information on Arkansas dissolution law. Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224 and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 both serve Arkansas residents who qualify. The Arkansas Department of Health at (800) 462-0599 can confirm whether a dissolution was recorded in the statewide index if you only need proof of the event, not the full court file.

Arkansas CourtConnect Portal

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal provides statewide case search access, including Benton County dissolution of marriage records. Visit caseinfo.arcourts.gov to search by name or case number across any Arkansas county.

CourtConnect is free and covers Benton County Circuit Court records. Use it alongside the county-specific search tool for the most complete results when researching Bentonville dissolution cases.

Nearby Benton County Cities With Dissolution Records

Several other qualifying cities in Benton County file their dissolution cases at the same Benton County Circuit Court in Bentonville. Records from all of these cities are at the same clerk's office.

• Rogers -- Benton County, same Circuit Clerk
• Siloam Springs -- Benton County, same Circuit Clerk
• Centerton -- Benton County, same Circuit Clerk
• Bella Vista -- Benton County, same Circuit Clerk