Cross County Dissolution of Marriage Court Records
Cross County dissolution of marriage records go back to 1866 and are held by the Circuit Clerk in Wynne, where the county has maintained an unbroken record of court filings since its creation in 1862. This page explains how to find Cross County divorce records, what tools are available for online searches, and how to request official copies of dissolution documents.
Cross County Overview
Cross County Circuit Clerk: Dissolution of Marriage Records
The Cross County Circuit Clerk's office is at 705 Union Ave E, Wynne, AR 72396. Phone is 870-238-5735. This is the office responsible for all court records in Cross County, including dissolution of marriage filings. Cross County was created in 1862 and the courthouse has maintained records since that time, with divorce records going back to 1866. That gives Cross County one of the longer records histories in the state for this record type.
When a dissolution of marriage petition is filed in Cross County, it goes to the Circuit Clerk's office, which assigns a case number and creates the case file. From that point forward, every document related to the case, including the petition, service documents, any motions or orders, and the final decree, becomes part of that file. When the case concludes, the completed file is archived by the clerk's office. Older paper records from before digitization are held in physical form and may require an in-person visit to review.
Certified copies of dissolution decrees from the Cross County Circuit Clerk are available to anyone who submits a proper request and pays the required fee. For in-person requests, go to 705 Union Ave E in Wynne during regular business hours. For mail requests, send a written request to the same address with the names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, the case number if you have it, and a check or money order. The clerk can confirm the exact fee when you call at 870-238-5735.
Arkansas CourtConnect allows free searching of Cross County dissolution of marriage cases and other court filings. Visit Arkansas CourtConnect for more.
CourtConnect is the free statewide portal for finding Cross County dissolution cases online, returning case numbers and filing details that you can then use to request certified copies from the Wynne courthouse.
Online Search for Cross County Dissolution of Marriage Cases
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers Cross County and is available to the public at no cost. You don't need to register. Select Cross County from the county list and search by party name under domestic relations or civil case types. The results will show case numbers, filing dates, party names, and docket entries. That's usually enough to confirm whether a case was filed in Cross County and when it was resolved.
If you find the case on CourtConnect, note the case number. That makes the records request to the Circuit Clerk much faster. If CourtConnect returns no results, it doesn't necessarily mean the case doesn't exist. Older records entered before digital tracking may not appear in the online system. For records going back to the 1800s or early 1900s, an in-person visit to the Wynne courthouse is probably necessary. The clerk's staff can search older index books that aren't in the digital system.
Note: Cross County divorce records go back to 1866. Very old records may only be accessible in person at the Circuit Clerk's office at 705 Union Ave E, Wynne, AR 72396.
Requesting Copies of Cross County Divorce Records
There are two types of copies you can get for Cross County dissolution of marriage records. The first is a certified copy of the full divorce decree from the Circuit Clerk. This includes all terms of the dissolution as ordered by the court and carries the court's official seal. It's the document you need for most legal purposes. Request it in person at 705 Union Ave E, Wynne, or by mail. The standard fee for certified court copies in Arkansas is around $5 per copy.
The second type is a divorce certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health. These are shorter documents that confirm the divorce happened, listing names and the date, but not the terms. The ADH is at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone is (800) 462-0599 and hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. A certificate costs $10. ADH certificates are only available to the named parties, their children, parents, and grandparents with a valid photo ID. The ADH only has records for divorces finalized after 1950.
Cross County's divorce records going back to 1866 are significantly older than what the ADH keeps. For any dissolution case before 1950, the Circuit Clerk in Wynne is the only source for official records. For more recent cases, you can choose between the two depending on what level of detail you need.
Arkansas Dissolution of Marriage Law: What Cross County Filers Need to Know
Filing for dissolution of marriage in Cross County requires meeting the state's legal requirements. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301 lists the valid grounds. The most commonly used are general indignities under § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and the 18-month separation ground under § 9-12-301(b)(5). General indignities requires showing that one spouse treated the other with ongoing contempt, disrespect, or cruelty that made the marriage unsustainable. The 18-month separation ground requires only that the parties lived apart for at least 18 months, which is easier to prove and doesn't require any showing of fault.
The 60-day residency requirement under § 9-12-303 applies to all Arkansas county courts including Cross County. You must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before filing. After service on the other party, a 30-day waiting period under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) must pass before the court can grant the dissolution. Most uncontested cases can be finalized shortly after that waiting period ends, while contested cases take longer depending on what the parties dispute.
Court records in Cross County are governed by Administrative Order No. 19, which allows public access to most civil and domestic relations filings. The Arkansas FOIA statute at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 provides additional access rights and limits the fees government agencies can charge for copies to actual copy costs only. This means you should not be charged a search or labor fee on top of the per-page copy cost when requesting Cross County dissolution records.
Cross County Government Profile and Records Information
The Arkansas Counties organization maintains county profiles that list key government offices and contacts. These profiles can help you identify the right office for a specific records request, particularly in smaller counties where office roles sometimes overlap.
The Cross County profile at Arkansas Counties lists office contacts and general government information for the county. Visit Arkansas Counties - Cross for more.
The CDC's Arkansas vital records reference page gives guidance on obtaining divorce certificates and other vital records through the state health department. Visit CDC Arkansas Vital Records for more.
The CDC page explains how to request Arkansas vital records including divorce certificates from the state health department, which maintains records for divorces after 1950 including those from Cross County.
Legal Resources for Cross County Dissolution Cases
Cross County residents who need help with a dissolution of marriage case have several options. Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224 serves clients in east Arkansas and may be able to assist in qualifying cases. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 handles family law statewide for eligible individuals. Call before visiting to confirm whether your case and income level qualify for free assistance.
If you plan to file on your own without an attorney, AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org is the best free starting resource in Arkansas. It covers grounds for dissolution, how to fill out and file the petition, what to do once you have a case number, and how to prepare for the final hearing. The Arkansas Bar Association referral service at (501) 375-4606 can connect you with a private attorney if you decide you need professional help navigating the process in Cross County.
Note: The Cross County Circuit Clerk staff cannot provide legal advice. They can confirm what records are on file and explain how to request copies, but they cannot help you with your case strategy or forms.
Nearby Counties
Cross County is in eastern Arkansas, surrounded by counties with their own Circuit Clerk offices for dissolution of marriage records.