Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Fayetteville
Fayetteville residents file dissolution of marriage cases at the Washington County Circuit Court, which serves as the main repository for all divorce decrees and related court documents in the city. This page covers how to search those records, where to go in person, and what tools are available online.
Fayetteville Overview
Washington County Circuit Court: Where Fayetteville Cases Are Filed
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, which means the Circuit Clerk's office is right in the city. The Washington County Circuit Clerk is Kyle Sylvester. The office is at 280 N College Ave, Suite 302, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Phone: (479) 444-1538. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also reach the clerk by email at ksylvester@co.washington.ar.us.
The clerk's office handles dissolution of marriage cases along with separation, custody, paternity, and domestic abuse records. Since Fayetteville is the county seat, this is the main courthouse location and the records are kept here -- you do not need to travel to another city to file or pick up copies.
Washington County has kept court records for a long time. Circuit Court records go back to 1829. Chancery Court records -- which historically included divorce cases -- go back to 1839. Records from 1991 through the present are indexed in the state's digital systems. Older records may require in-person access at the clerk's office or through the county's historical archives.
Search Fayetteville Dissolution of Marriage Cases Online
The Arkansas CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the main online tool for searching Washington County dissolution records. It is free and open to the public. You can search by party name or case number. Results show the filing date, case status, assigned judge, and docket entries.
CourtConnect does not always show full document text. It shows the case index and docket. For a certified copy of the actual decree or any orders, you need to contact the Washington County Circuit Clerk directly. The clerk can provide copies in person during office hours or by mail request. When requesting by mail, include the case number, names of both parties, approximate filing year, and payment for the copy fee.
Note: Washington County's digital records index generally begins in the early 1990s. For cases filed before then, in-person research at the clerk's office or a records request by mail is the best path. The clerk can confirm what is available for older cases.
Dissolution of Marriage Records: What the Washington County Clerk Holds
When a dissolution of marriage case is filed in Washington County, the Circuit Clerk's office keeps all the paperwork. That includes the initial petition, any responses, financial disclosures, custody agreements, property settlement documents, and the final decree. The clerk assigns a case number when the petition is filed, and that number is what you use to look up the case.
Public access is the default for dissolution records in Arkansas. Admin Order No. 19 and Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 together set the rules for court record access. Most dissolution filings are public. However, documents that contain details about minor children -- such as custody evaluations or child support worksheets -- may be sealed or redacted in the public version. The clerk can tell you what is open for a specific case.
If you need proof of a divorce rather than the full case file, the Arkansas Department of Health maintains a statewide divorce index going back to 1923. ADH records are available by phone at (800) 462-0599 or in person at their Little Rock office. They do not hold the full decree, just the statistical record confirming the event occurred.
Washington County Court Records Search
The Arkansas CourtConnect public search portal is the main tool for looking up Fayetteville dissolution of marriage cases by name or case number without visiting the courthouse.
Use CourtConnect to find case numbers and filing dates before contacting the Washington County Circuit Clerk for certified copies or full document access.
Arkansas Dissolution Law: What Fayetteville Filers Need to Know
Arkansas requires you to state legal grounds when filing for dissolution of marriage. There is no pure no-fault option like some other states have. The most common grounds used are general indignities under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and 18-month continuous separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). Most contested cases use general indignities. Couples who have lived apart for a year and a half often use the separation ground because it does not require proving specific conduct.
Arkansas also has a residency requirement. At least one spouse must have been an Arkansas resident for 60 days before filing and must still be a resident when the petition is submitted (§ 9-12-303). After the other party is served, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be entered (§ 9-12-307(a)(1)(B)). Simple uncontested cases can sometimes be resolved in a few months. Cases involving contested property, custody disputes, or support disagreements take longer.
Free legal resources are available for Fayetteville residents who need help. AR Law Help has guides on Arkansas divorce law. Legal Aid of Arkansas serves northwest Arkansas and can be reached at (870) 972-9224. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services covers other parts of the state at (501) 376-3423.
Nearby Cities With Dissolution Records
Springdale is the other major city in Washington County and its dissolution records are also filed at the Washington County Circuit Clerk in Fayetteville. If you are searching for a case filed by a Springdale resident, you use the same clerk's office and the same online tools.
- Springdale -- Washington County, same Circuit Clerk
Rogers and Bentonville are in neighboring Benton County. Their dissolution records are at the Benton County Circuit Clerk in Bentonville, which is a separate office.