Centerton Dissolution of Marriage Records
Centerton residents filing or searching for dissolution of marriage records will deal with the Benton County Circuit Court in Bentonville, which holds all divorce decrees and dissolution case files for the area. This page explains how to find Centerton dissolution of marriage records using online tools, how to reach the Benton County Circuit Clerk, and what to do when you need certified copies or formal records of a dissolution case.
Centerton Overview
Benton County Circuit Clerk: Centerton's Filing Authority
Centerton is in Benton County. Dissolution of marriage petitions filed by Centerton residents go to the Benton County Circuit Clerk at 102 Northeast A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Phone: (479) 271-1015. The Benton County Circuit Clerk website includes an online records search tool for case lookups.
When a Centerton resident files a dissolution petition, the Circuit Clerk opens a case file and assigns a cause number. All documents submitted to the court during the case get filed under that number. The clerk stores the complete case file: the original petition, service documents, any waivers of service, responses from the respondent, temporary orders, financial disclosures, and the Final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. Once the case closes, the file stays at the courthouse indefinitely as a public record.
Centerton also has a District Court location at 220 Municipal Drive, Centerton, AR 72719. The District Court handles local misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and small claims matters for Centerton. It does not have jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage. Those cases are filed at the Benton County Circuit Court in Bentonville. If you are looking for a dissolution record, do not contact the Centerton District Court.
How to Search Centerton Dissolution Cases Online
Two online tools can help you find Centerton dissolution of marriage cases. The Benton County Circuit Clerk records search is county-specific and gives you direct access to the Benton County case index. The statewide Arkansas CourtConnect portal also covers Benton County and is free to use. Both tools let you search by party name or case number.
Either system is a good starting point. They show case status, filing dates, parties, and a docket of events. They do not give you full document text for most cases. If you need the decree or certified copies of any specific documents, contact the Benton County Circuit Clerk directly. In-person requests can usually be handled the same day. Mail requests take a week or two depending on the clerk's workload. Include the cause number, party names, filing year, and a payment for copy fees.
Note: Centerton has grown quickly in recent years, so the number of dissolution filings from the city has increased. The Benton County records search is the most direct way to look up specific cases. Call the clerk at (479) 271-1015 if a name search doesn't return what you need.
Centerton City Public Records Access
The screenshot below shows the Centerton public information request page. Visit centertonar.us to access the city's FOIA request process for municipal government records.
Centerton city hall is at 200 Municipal Dr., Centerton, AR 72719. Phone: (479) 795-2750. The city handles FOIA requests in person, by mail, by email, or by fax. Government agencies must respond within 3 business days. These city records cover local government matters. Dissolution of marriage records are court records filed with the Benton County Circuit Clerk.
Dissolution of Marriage Records in Benton County
A dissolution case file in Benton County contains every document filed from the opening petition to the final decree. The initial filing includes the petition for dissolution, which sets out the grounds, names the parties, and makes requests for property division, custody if there are children, and support. After that, the file grows as the case moves forward.
The full file typically contains the petition, citation or waiver of service, any response from the other spouse, temporary orders, financial disclosure statements, the sworn inventory and appraisement of marital property, any agreements reached by the parties, and the Final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage signed by the assigned circuit judge. Access to these records is governed by Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105. Most dissolution records are open to the public. Items such as detailed financial exhibits and documents related to minor children may be sealed or redacted.
If you only need a basic confirmation that a dissolution occurred, the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records keeps a statewide divorce index from 1923 to the present. A verification letter costs $10. ADH does not hold the case file or any court documents from the proceeding. Only the Benton County Circuit Clerk has those.
Arkansas Dissolution Law for Centerton Filers
To file for dissolution in Arkansas, you must state legal grounds in the petition. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, available grounds include general indignities, adultery, willful desertion for one year, felony conviction, and 18 months of continuous separation. The separation ground is used frequently in Benton County uncontested cases. If both spouses have lived apart for 18 or more months without resuming cohabitation, the court will grant the dissolution without requiring proof of any particular conduct.
Residency is a threshold requirement. One spouse must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before filing. After the respondent is served, there is a 30-day waiting period before the final decree can be entered. If both parties agree on all issues, an uncontested dissolution can be completed in a few months. Disagreements over property, custody, or support extend the timeline. Free guides from Arkansas Legal Services explain the dissolution process step by step for those handling the case themselves.
Nearby Cities With Dissolution Records
Centerton is in Benton County, one of the fastest-growing counties in Arkansas. All cities in Benton County file dissolution cases at the same Circuit Clerk office in Bentonville.