Crittenden County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Crittenden County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at 100 Court Square in Marion, where case filings, certified decrees, and related divorce documents are available to eligible requesters. This page covers where to search, who can access records, and how to request official copies of Crittenden County divorce filings.
Crittenden County Overview
Crittenden County Circuit Clerk Office
The Crittenden County Circuit Clerk's office is at 100 Court Square, Marion, AR 72364. Phone is (870) 739-3248. This office maintains all civil and domestic relations court records for the county, including dissolution of marriage cases. The Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of divorce decrees, case filings, and related court documents for every dissolution case filed in Crittenden County.
Crittenden County is one of Arkansas's more populous counties, bordering Memphis, Tennessee, to the east. The volume of court cases handled through the Marion courthouse reflects that. The Circuit Clerk's office processes a substantial number of domestic relations cases annually. If you're searching for a case filed in recent years, the clerk staff can typically locate it quickly with a name or case number.
Certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk. These are the official court-issued documents reflecting what the judge ordered in the case. They are needed for legal purposes such as name changes, remarriage documentation, and modifying prior court orders. Request copies in person at 100 Court Square or by mail. Include both parties' full names, the case number if known, the approximate year of filing, and the appropriate fee. The clerk can confirm current copy fees by phone.
Search Crittenden County Dissolution Cases on CourtConnect
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov has full case information for Crittenden County. This is a free, publicly accessible portal run by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. No registration is needed. Search by name or case number after selecting Crittenden County and domestic relations as the case type.
CourtConnect is a fast way to confirm whether a dissolution case was filed in Crittenden County. The portal shows the case number, filing date, parties, and docket events. You won't see full document text, but the case number returned by CourtConnect is exactly what you need to submit a records request to the Circuit Clerk. The system is updated frequently, so cases filed recently should appear within a short time of being entered at the courthouse.
If CourtConnect shows no results for a name, try alternate spellings. Common last-name variations or hyphenated names can cause mismatches. If you still get no results, contact the clerk's office directly at (870) 739-3248. Staff can search the in-house system and confirm whether the case is on file even if it's not appearing in CourtConnect.
Note: CourtConnect provides docket-level information only. Certified copies of Crittenden County dissolution decrees must be requested directly from the Circuit Clerk at 100 Court Square, Marion, AR 72364.
Certified Copies and Access Rules for Crittenden County Divorce Records
Certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees from the Crittenden County Circuit Clerk are available to the public generally, subject to the clerk's copy fee. These are official documents carrying the court's seal and are valid for legal purposes. For common requests such as confirming that a divorce was finalized or reviewing the terms of a prior decree, the Circuit Clerk is the right office.
For divorce certificates rather than full decrees, the Arkansas Department of Health is the other option. ADH certificates confirm that a divorce occurred and provide the names and date, but they do not include the terms. These cost $10 per copy from the ADH at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone is (800) 462-0599 and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Certified copies of ADH certificates are available only to the named spouses, their children, parents, and grandparents with valid photo ID to prove the relationship.
The restriction under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-18-305 applies specifically to vital records certificates from the ADH, not to court records from the Circuit Clerk. The court records access rules under Administrative Order No. 19 are more permissive, making court-issued certified copies accessible to a broader group than ADH certificates.
Dissolution of Marriage Law in Arkansas and Crittenden County
Crittenden County dissolution cases are governed by Arkansas state law just like every other county. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, the petitioner must state a valid ground. The most common grounds are general indignities under § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and 18-month separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). General indignities requires proof of ongoing mistreatment or contempt. The separation ground just requires showing the parties lived apart for at least 18 months, without needing to show fault.
Residency is required under § 9-12-303: you must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing in Crittenden County. Once the other party is served, the 30-day waiting period under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) begins. No final decree can be entered before that period runs. Cases involving disputes over children or significant assets often take much longer than the 30-day minimum before they reach a final hearing and decree.
Arkansas FOIA under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 gives the public general access to government records including court files. Administrative Order No. 19 adds the specific framework for court records access. Together, these laws support public access to Crittenden County dissolution records while protecting genuinely sensitive information that courts have specifically sealed.
Crittenden County Profile and Additional Resources
The Arkansas Counties organization maintains profiles for each county, including Crittenden County. These profiles list key county offices, contacts, and general government structure information. It can be useful when you're trying to identify the right office for a specific type of records request.
The Crittenden County profile at Arkansas Counties includes government contact information and links to county offices. Visit Arkansas Counties - Crittenden for more.
The Crittenden County profile page provides office contacts and government information that can help direct you to the right office for dissolution of marriage records and related requests.
Legal Help for Crittenden County Residents
Crittenden County is near Memphis, which means residents may have access to a wider range of legal services than many rural Arkansas counties. Within Arkansas, Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224 serves northeast Arkansas including Crittenden County. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 also handles cases statewide for qualifying clients.
AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org is the go-to free resource for understanding the dissolution process in Arkansas. It covers grounds for divorce, the filing process, service, waiting periods, and what happens at the final hearing. For attorney referrals in the area, call the Arkansas Bar Association at (501) 375-4606. They can connect you with a family law attorney familiar with Crittenden County's court procedures.
Nearby Counties
Crittenden County is in far northeast Arkansas along the Mississippi River. Neighboring counties have their own Circuit Clerk offices for dissolution of marriage cases.