Craighead County Dissolution of Marriage Filings
Craighead County dissolution of marriage records are maintained at two Circuit Clerk offices, one in Jonesboro and one in Lake City, reflecting the county's dual-seat structure. This page explains where to file, how to search for existing cases, and how to request certified copies of divorce records in Craighead County, Arkansas.
Craighead County Overview
Craighead County Circuit Clerk Offices
Craighead County has two Circuit Clerk locations. The Jonesboro office is at 511 S. Main Street, Suite 202, Jonesboro, AR 72401, and can be reached at (870) 933-4530. The Lake City office is at 107 Cobean Boulevard, Lake City, AR 72437, with a phone number of (870) 237-4170. Both locations handle dissolution of marriage filings and can issue certified copies of divorce decrees. The Jonesboro office is typically the primary location for most case matters given its larger staff and resources.
The County Clerk's office is also at 511 South Main St. #202, Jonesboro, AR 72401, phone (870) 933-4520, with hours from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Marriage records date back to 1878, and divorce records also go back to 1878 in Craighead County. This gives the county a deep historical record that may be important if you're researching older family cases.
Dissolution of marriage records in Craighead County include a range of documents. The full case file typically contains the petition, any summons issued, responses from the other spouse, financial affidavits if submitted, child custody arrangements, and the final decree. All of these are part of the Circuit Court's record and can be requested from either clerk's office once you have the case number. Certified copies of individual documents cost $5.00 each, and uncertified photocopies are $0.25 per page.
Craighead County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which covers several northeast Arkansas counties. Cases filed in Craighead County stay in the Craighead County court system unless a judge specifically transfers them, which is rare for standard dissolution matters.
Online Search: Craighead County Dissolution Cases on CourtConnect
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov has full case information for Craighead County. The portal is free and doesn't require registration. Search by party name or case number after selecting Craighead County from the county dropdown. For dissolution of marriage cases, select domestic relations as the case type. The system will return a list of cases matching your search terms, showing filing dates, case types, and party names.
CourtConnect shows docket events for each case, including when petitions were filed, when service was completed, hearing dates, and when the final decree was entered. It doesn't show the text of documents, but it does confirm a case exists and provides the case number you need to request a certified copy. This is useful when you want to verify basic information before making a formal records request.
The Craighead County divorce records resource compiles publicly available information on accessing and searching dissolution records in the county. Visit Craighead County Divorce Records for more.
This resource provides guidance on how dissolution of marriage records are organized and accessed in Craighead County, including what to expect from the Circuit Clerk offices in Jonesboro and Lake City.
Getting Certified Copies of Craighead County Divorce Decrees
Certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees from the Craighead County Circuit Clerk cost $5.00 per copy. You can request them at either the Jonesboro or Lake City office. For a mail request, send a written request to 511 S. Main Street, Suite 202, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Include the names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, the case number if you have it, and a check or money order for the fee. The clerk can confirm whether the case file is at the Jonesboro or Lake City location.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) handles divorce certificates for cases after 1950. The Jonesboro area ADH office is at 611 E. Washington Ave., Jonesboro, and the main ADH phone for vital records is (800) 462-0599. ADH certificate fees are $10 per copy plus a $5 processing fee and a $1.85 non-refundable proof-of-identity fee. Only the named parties, their children, parents, and grandparents can access ADH divorce certificates, and photo ID is required to prove the relationship. The main ADH vital records office in Little Rock is at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Court records governed by Arkansas Code § 9-12-301 include the full case filings for dissolution cases. Depending on whether the case was contested, the file may be thin or quite thick. A final decree is usually one to a few pages. If you need specific exhibits or attachments, mention those in your request.
Arkansas Dissolution Law and Craighead County Cases
All Craighead County dissolution of marriage cases proceed under Arkansas state law. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, the petitioner must allege a valid ground. The two most common grounds in Arkansas dissolution cases are general indignities under § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and the 18-month separation ground under § 9-12-301(b)(5). General indignities means one spouse treated the other with ongoing contempt, hostility, or mistreatment severe enough to make continuing the marriage unreasonable. The 18-month separation ground is more neutral, requiring only that the parties have lived apart for at least 18 months without reconciling.
The residency requirement under § 9-12-303 is 60 days of Arkansas residency before filing. Once the petition is served, the 30-day waiting period under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) begins. The dissolution cannot be granted until this period passes. In Craighead County, contested cases with custody disputes or complex asset division can take much longer than 30 days, sometimes a year or more if the parties can't reach agreement.
Note: Administrative Order No. 19 governs public access to Craighead County court records. Most dissolution of marriage documents are available to the public unless a judge has sealed specific materials.
Craighead County Court Records Resource
Beyond CourtConnect and the clerk offices, third-party resources aggregate court records information for Craighead County. These can be useful for preliminary research, though official copies must always come from the Circuit Clerk or the ADH.
Legal Aid and Filing Help for Craighead County Residents
Jonesboro is the county seat of Craighead County and has more legal resources available than most rural Arkansas counties. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 may serve Craighead County clients in qualifying cases. Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224 is based in northeast Arkansas and is more likely to have staff familiar with Craighead County courts. For attorney referrals, the Arkansas Bar Association at (501) 375-4606 can connect you with a local family law attorney.
Self-represented filers should start with AR Law Help for free guides and forms. The site explains how to complete a dissolution petition, what to file with the clerk, how to serve your spouse, and what happens at the final hearing. For a county with two courthouse locations, knowing which location to file at can also matter, so confirming with the clerk before you go in is worth the phone call.
Nearby Counties
Craighead County is in northeast Arkansas and borders several counties with Circuit Court offices for dissolution of marriage filings.