Calhoun County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Calhoun County dissolution of marriage records are kept at the combined County and Circuit Clerk's office in Hampton. The office has limited online presence, so most records need to be requested in person or by mail. If you need to find a divorce decree, get a certified copy, or verify a dissolution filing in Calhoun County, this page explains the process, the contact information, and what to expect when working with this small rural county's records system.

Calhoun County Clerk and Circuit Clerk Office

Calhoun County has a combined County and Circuit Clerk position held by Jeanie Smith. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1175, Hampton, AR 71744. The physical office is at 309 West Main Street, Hampton, AR 71744. Phone: 870.798.2517. Fax: (870) 798-2428. Email: hogskinholidays@hotmail.com. The County Judge is Floyd Nutt, reachable at (870) 798-4818.

Because the County and Circuit Clerk positions are combined, this single office handles both administrative county records and all circuit court filings. That includes dissolution of marriage petitions, final decrees, marriage records, and probate matters. It's a small office, so calling ahead is always a good idea before visiting. Verify current hours before making the trip to Hampton.

Calhoun County has limited online presence. There is no publicly available online search portal for court records specific to this county. Dissolution records are primarily available through in-person visits or written requests to the clerk's office. For statewide searches, the CourtConnect portal may cover some Calhoun County cases, but coverage is not guaranteed for all records.

How to Search Calhoun County Dissolution Records

The most reliable way to find a dissolution of marriage record in Calhoun County is to contact the clerk's office directly at 870.798.2517. Staff can search by party name, approximate year, or case number. Since online access is limited, a phone call or in-person visit is typically needed to locate older records.

The statewide CourtConnect portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is worth checking as a first step. Search by the names of the parties involved in the dissolution. Some Calhoun County cases may be indexed in CourtConnect, particularly more recent filings. If you don't find what you need there, follow up with the clerk's office directly.

For a broader view of Calhoun County records and county office contacts, the Association of Arkansas Counties profile at arcounties.org/counties/calhoun/ provides a directory of county offices and general information. It's a useful reference when you need to find which office handles a specific type of record.

Requesting Certified Copies of Dissolution Decrees

Certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees from Calhoun County cost $5 per copy, plus $0.25 per page. To request a copy, call the clerk at 870.798.2517 or visit the office at 309 West Main Street, Hampton. Have the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the dissolution ready. A case number will help, but if you don't have one, the staff can often locate the file by name and year.

Mail requests are possible but require some planning. Write a request that includes the party names, year, case number if known, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Call first to confirm the fee amount, as it depends on the number of pages in the decree. Calhoun County is a small office, and mail requests may take longer to process than in larger counties.

If you only need a brief record confirming the dissolution, the Arkansas Department of Health keeps divorce certificates going back to 1923. Contact ADH Vital Records at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: 800-462-0599. Fee: $10. The ADH certificate confirms the dissolution but does not include the full decree or any terms of the judgment. For most legal purposes, the full certified copy from Calhoun County's clerk is what you need.

Dissolution of Marriage Law in Calhoun County

Like all Arkansas counties, Calhoun County handles dissolution of marriage under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301. Arkansas is not a no-fault divorce state. The filing party must plead recognized grounds. The most common grounds in uncontested cases are general indignities under § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and 18-month separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). In most uncontested Calhoun County dissolutions, parties use one of these two grounds to complete the process.

Residency under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303 requires at least one spouse to have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. The mandatory 30-day waiting period under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) applies from the date of filing. The court cannot enter a final decree until that 30-day period has passed. So even the simplest uncontested dissolution takes at least 30 days from filing to finalization, and often longer in practice.

The filing fee in Calhoun County is approximately $165 to start a dissolution case. Service fees and other costs can add to this. If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver. You'll need to complete an affidavit showing your financial situation. The court will review it and let you know whether the fee can be waived.

Calhoun County is in the 10th Judicial District. This district covers multiple counties in south and southeast Arkansas. Circuit judges assigned to Calhoun County rotate with the rest of the district and hold court on a set schedule at the Hampton courthouse.

What Records Calhoun County Keeps for Dissolution Cases

The combined clerk's office in Calhoun County maintains all dissolution of marriage records as part of the circuit court civil case files. A typical dissolution file includes the petition, any responsive pleadings, service of process documents, all orders issued during the case, the final decree, and any property or custody agreements filed with the court. Post-decree modifications to custody or support terms are also filed with the clerk and become part of the court record.

Marriage records in Calhoun County go back to 1851, held by the same combined clerk's office. Probate records are also available there. If you're doing historical research or need to document a chain of marriages and dissolutions, this single office can often provide both types of records in one request.

Because Calhoun County is a small county with limited staff, it's good practice to be as specific as possible when requesting records. The more detail you can provide, including exact names, approximate years, and any case numbers, the faster the clerk can locate what you need.

Public Access to Calhoun County Dissolution Records

Arkansas law makes dissolution of marriage records public under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105. However, records less than 50 years old are restricted to the parties and their immediate family under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-18-305. After 50 years, those records open fully to the public. Administrative Order No. 19 may restrict specific documents within a case file even when the overall case is public.

For parties to a dissolution, access is generally straightforward. You can request your own records at any time. For third parties seeking records less than 50 years old, access is limited without a court order or proof of family relationship. The clerk's office can explain what documentation you'd need to bring.

Researchers looking at historical dissolution records from Calhoun County, particularly those more than 50 years old, should be able to access them without restriction. Contact the clerk's office to discuss your research needs and arrange a visit if necessary.

Legal Help for Calhoun County Dissolution Cases

Legal Aid of Arkansas covers Calhoun County at (870) 972-9224. Free help is available based on income guidelines. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services provides assistance at (501) 376-3423. Both organizations handle dissolution cases and related family law matters.

The AR Law Help website at arlawhelp.org has self-help forms and step-by-step guides for uncontested dissolution cases. This is the best source for forms since the clerk's office does not provide blank filing paperwork. If your case is contested or involves property, business interests, or children, working with an attorney will save time and reduce the risk of errors that can delay the process.

Calhoun County Profile and Records Reference

The Association of Arkansas Counties maintains a county profile for Calhoun County with a full directory of county offices and services. Visit arcounties.org/counties/calhoun/ to access this reference page.

This profile page is one of the most useful online resources for Calhoun County since the county has limited direct online presence. It lists all county offices, including the combined clerk's office, and provides verified contact information for dissolution records inquiries.