Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Jacksonville

Jacksonville residents file dissolution of marriage cases at the Pulaski County Circuit Court in Little Rock, which serves as the official repository for all divorce decrees and dissolution filings for the city. This page covers where to find Jacksonville dissolution of marriage records, how to search online using the CourtConnect portal, what the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's office holds, and what steps to take when you need certified copies.

Pulaski County Circuit Clerk: Jacksonville's Filing Office

Jacksonville is in Pulaski County. All dissolution of marriage cases filed by Jacksonville residents go to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in Little Rock. The office is at 401 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Phone: 501-340-8500. The Pulaski County Circuit Clerk website has office hours, contact details, and information on requesting records.

The Circuit Clerk assigns a cause number when the dissolution petition is filed. That number tracks the case through every stage, from first filing to final decree. The clerk holds the complete case file, including the original petition, all responses, financial disclosures, and every order entered by the court. Once the judge signs the Final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, it becomes a permanent part of the public record kept at the courthouse.

Jacksonville also has a District Court located at 1412 W Main Street, Jacksonville, AR 72076. Phone: 501-982-9531. The District Court handles city-level cases such as misdemeanor criminal matters, small claims, and traffic violations. It does not handle dissolution of marriage cases. Those belong exclusively to the Circuit Court. If you need a dissolution record, the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in Little Rock is the right office.

Search Jacksonville Dissolution Cases Online

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal is the primary online tool for searching Pulaski County dissolution of marriage cases. It is free and open to anyone. You can search by party name or cause number. The system shows case status, filing date, assigned judge, and a list of docket events. Pulaski County is well covered in CourtConnect and records for many cases go back to the early 1990s.

CourtConnect shows the case index and docket history but not full document images in most cases. If you need the Final Decree itself or want certified copies of any filing, you must contact the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk directly. The clerk can assist in person at the courthouse or by mail. Bring the full names of both parties and the cause number if you have it. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the copy fees.

Jacksonville City Clerk and Public Records

The screenshot below shows the City of Jacksonville's official website. Visit cityofjacksonville.net for city department contacts and public records request information for municipal records.

Jacksonville's City Clerk-Treasurer handles Freedom of Information Act requests for city government records, including council minutes and city ordinances. Dissolution of marriage records are not maintained at city hall. They are held by the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in Little Rock.

What Records Are Kept for Jacksonville Dissolutions

When a dissolution of marriage case is filed in Pulaski County for a Jacksonville resident, the Circuit Clerk's office maintains the entire record. A typical case file contains the original petition, citation or waiver of service, any answer filed by the respondent, temporary support or custody orders, financial disclosure forms, and the Final Decree of Dissolution. All of these are public documents except for certain items that courts routinely seal.

Arkansas law under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301 governs grounds for dissolution. Public access rules come from Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Under these rules, most dissolution records are accessible to any member of the public without needing to be a party to the case. Financial source documents like tax returns and detailed asset statements may be sealed. Child custody evaluations and records identifying minor children may also have limited public access.

Need just a confirmation that a divorce occurred? The Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records keeps a statewide divorce index from 1923 forward. They issue verification letters for $10 per copy. The ADH office does not hold actual court documents. For the decree or the full case file, you need the Circuit Clerk.

Dissolution of Marriage Law for Jacksonville Filers

Arkansas requires legal grounds when filing for dissolution. The law does not allow a simple no-fault filing based only on incompatibility. Common grounds under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301 include general indignities, adultery, felony conviction, willful desertion, and 18-month continuous separation. Most couples use general indignities or the separation ground. The separation ground is straightforward: if the parties have lived apart for 18 months or more without cohabiting, the court can grant the dissolution on that basis alone.

Arkansas has a residency rule built into its dissolution statute. At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing and must still live here when the petition is submitted. After service on the respondent, the court must wait at least 30 days before entering a final decree. Uncontested cases move faster than contested ones. When both spouses agree on property, support, and custody, the process can sometimes wrap up in a few months. Disputed cases take considerably longer.

Legal help resources for Jacksonville residents include Arkansas Legal Services and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services, which serves the central Arkansas area at (501) 376-3423. The Arkansas Bar Association also has a lawyer referral service for those who want to hire an attorney for their dissolution case.

Nearby Cities With Dissolution Records

Jacksonville is in Pulaski County along with several other qualifying cities. All of them file dissolution cases at the same Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in Little Rock.