Arkansas County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Arkansas County holds dissolution of marriage records through the Circuit Clerk's office in DeWitt. If you need to find a divorce decree, check the status of a dissolution case, or get a certified copy of a final decree, the Circuit Clerk is your main contact. Records are kept at the courthouse and some are available through the county's online portal. This guide covers where to search, what to expect, and how to get what you need.

Arkansas County Circuit Clerk Office

The Circuit Clerk for Arkansas County is Sarah Merchant. Her office is located at 101 Court Square, DeWitt, AR 72042. You can reach the office by phone at (870) 946-4321 or by fax at (870) 946-4399. For email inquiries, contact the county at accoclerkmelissa@centurytel.net. The Circuit Clerk's office handles all dissolution of marriage filings, final decrees, and case records for Arkansas County. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, this is the office to call.

Arkansas County is notable for having two county seats: DeWitt and Stuttgart. Most court business takes place in DeWitt, where the Circuit Clerk's office is based. If you're not sure which location handles the records you need, call ahead. The County Clerk is Melissa Roberts, reachable at (870) 946-1795. The County Clerk maintains marriage records going back to 1880 along with probate and court records. County Judge Eddie Best can be reached at (870) 946-1790.

Records are available in person at the courthouse. Some dissolution records are also accessible through the county's online portal. Visit the Arkansas County Circuit Clerk website to check what's currently available online before making the trip to DeWitt.

Search Arkansas County Dissolution of Marriage Cases Online

Arkansas County has made a portion of its court records available through an online portal. You can search dissolution of marriage cases by name or case number. This is useful if you need to verify that a case exists, check its status, or find a case number before contacting the clerk's office for a certified copy.

The statewide Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov also covers Arkansas County. CourtConnect lets you search by name, case type, or case number across all Arkansas counties. Not every case will appear, and older dissolution records may not be indexed. But it's a good starting point. The system is free to use and does not require an account.

For cases not found online, contact the Circuit Clerk's office directly. Staff can search by name, date, or case number and tell you what records are on file. Fees apply for copies.

The county's public records portal provides additional access points. The Arkansas County public records portal covers court and dissolution records. Check that site if you're looking for older filings or need to browse what record types are available in the county.

How to Get a Certified Copy of a Dissolution Decree

There are two types of records people usually need after a dissolution of marriage in Arkansas County. The first is a certified copy of the final decree, which comes from the Circuit Clerk. The fee is $5 per certified copy, plus $0.25 per page for the document itself. You'll need to provide the full names of both parties and, if possible, the case number and approximate year the case was filed.

The second type is a divorce certificate, which is a shorter summary document maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). ADH has kept divorce certificates since 1923. You can request one by mail or in person from the ADH Vital Records office at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. The phone number is 800-462-0599. The fee is $10 per copy. The divorce certificate is not the same as the full decree. It shows the basic facts of the dissolution but does not include the terms of the judgment.

For most legal purposes, you'll need the full certified decree from the Circuit Clerk rather than the ADH certificate. Banks, attorneys, and courts typically want the complete document. If you're not sure which one you need, ask the requesting party before you order.

Arkansas Dissolution of Marriage Laws and Residency Rules

Arkansas is not a pure no-fault divorce state. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, parties must plead specific grounds for dissolution. The most common grounds used in Arkansas County cases are general indignities under § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and 18-month separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). Most uncontested cases use one of these two grounds.

Residency is required before you can file in Arkansas County. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303, at least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. There is also a 30-day waiting period after the complaint is filed before the court can grant the dissolution. So from the time you file to the earliest possible final decree is at least 30 days, and often much longer in contested cases.

The filing fee to open a dissolution of marriage case is approximately $165. That covers the initial filing only. Service fees, motions, and other costs can add to the total. If you cannot afford the fee, you may be able to file a fee waiver request with the court.

What Records Arkansas County Keeps

The Circuit Clerk's office in Arkansas County holds dissolution of marriage records as part of the court's civil case files. These records include the original petition, all motions and orders filed during the case, the final decree of dissolution, and any post-decree modifications. Property settlement agreements and custody orders are also part of the case file when applicable.

The County Clerk, Melissa Roberts, maintains separate records that can be useful in dissolution research. Marriage licenses and marriage records going back to 1880 are kept in that office. If you need proof of a prior marriage as part of a dissolution filing, the County Clerk can provide certified copies of marriage records. Probate records are also available there.

Older dissolution records may be stored off-site or in archived form. If you're looking for a case from several decades ago, give the clerk's office advance notice when requesting copies. Some older files may take additional time to retrieve.

Public Records Access and Privacy Rules

Arkansas dissolution of marriage records are generally public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105. Anyone can request access to court records, including dissolution case files. However, access to divorce records less than 50 years old is restricted to the parties to the case and their immediate family under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-18-305. After 50 years, those records are open to the public without restriction.

Court records in Arkansas are also governed by Administrative Order No. 19, which sets rules for how courts manage public and restricted access to case files. Some documents within a dissolution case file, such as financial affidavits or records involving minor children, may be sealed or restricted even if the overall case is public.

If you're unsure whether a record is accessible to you, call the Circuit Clerk's office before submitting a formal request. Staff can usually tell you over the phone whether the record you need is open or restricted.

Legal Help for Dissolution Cases in Arkansas County

If you need legal assistance with a dissolution of marriage in Arkansas County, two organizations serve this area. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services can be reached at (501) 376-3423. Legal Aid of Arkansas serves the region at (870) 972-9224. Both organizations provide free or low-cost help to those who qualify based on income.

The AR Law Help website at arlawhelp.org has guides on the dissolution process, what forms to file, and how to navigate the court system without an attorney. It's a good starting point if you're handling your own case.

The Association of Arkansas Counties profile for Arkansas County also provides useful contact details for all county offices. That resource is helpful if you need to reach multiple offices or verify current information.

Arkansas County Dissolution Records: What to Expect

The Arkansas County Circuit Clerk website at arcocircuitclerk.com is the best online starting point for dissolution of marriage records in this county. The site provides contact information, office hours, and details about available records.

The screenshot below shows the Circuit Clerk's website. Visit the Arkansas County Circuit Clerk site to check current office hours and available online search options.

The site lists contact details and explains what types of court records the office maintains, including dissolution of marriage filings and final decrees.

The county profile page from the Association of Arkansas Counties shows an overview of county offices and services. Visit the Arkansas County profile for a full directory of county contacts.

This page is useful for finding all relevant county offices in one place, including the Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, and County Judge.

The county's public records portal offers direct access to court and dissolution records. Visit the Arkansas County public records portal to search for dissolution filings and other court records online.

The portal is one of the more accessible ways to look up dissolution of marriage records without calling the courthouse.