Grant County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Grant County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Sheridan, with complete records going back to March 1877 held in fire-proof vaults at the courthouse. This page explains how to find divorce cases, request certified copies of decrees, and access resources for people dealing with dissolution matters in Grant County, Arkansas.
Grant County Overview
Grant County Circuit Clerk Dissolution of Marriage Records
The Grant County Circuit Clerk's office in Sheridan is the primary source for all dissolution of marriage records in the county. The office is at 101 W Center Street, Sheridan, AR 72150. Phone is (870) 942-2631. Standard courthouse hours apply, Monday through Friday. This is where all civil and domestic relations cases are filed and stored.
Grant County court records were destroyed in a courthouse fire through March 13, 1877. From that date forward, records are complete and stored in fire-proof vaults at the Sheridan courthouse. If you're researching a dissolution case from after 1877, the Circuit Clerk's office should have the original file. Certified copies of dissolution decrees cost $5 per copy and can be requested in person or by mail at 101 W Center Street, Sheridan, AR 72150.
For mail requests, include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, your return address, a daytime phone number, and a check or money order for the fee payable to Grant County Circuit Clerk. If you're researching records from before March 1877, those were lost in the fire and no records exist for that period.
Online Search for Grant County Dissolution Cases
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov includes Grant County dissolution of marriage cases. The portal is free and requires no login. Search by party name or case number to get case-level information including the filing date, case type, parties involved, and hearing dates. This is a good starting point when you need to confirm a case exists and find the case number before requesting certified copies.
When searching for Grant County cases, select Grant County from the county list and choose "Domestic Relations" as the case type. Enter one party's last name and review the results. Older cases from the 19th and early 20th centuries may not appear in the online system. For those, call the Circuit Clerk at (870) 942-2631. Staff can search physical records that aren't part of the online database.
Keep in mind that CourtConnect shows case summary information only. It does not show the full text of documents or the final decree. To get actual court documents, you need to submit a certified copy request to the Grant County Circuit Clerk.
Note: Grant County records prior to March 13, 1877, were destroyed by fire. Records from that date onward are complete and stored in fire-proof vaults. Contact the Circuit Clerk at (870) 942-2631 for older cases not found in CourtConnect.
Arkansas CourtConnect provides free online access to Grant County dissolution of marriage and other civil court records. Visit Arkansas CourtConnect to search now.
CourtConnect is the statewide system maintained by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts and covers all 75 counties including Grant County dissolution cases.
Getting Certified Copies of Grant County Divorce Decrees
Certified copies of Grant County dissolution of marriage decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk for $5 per copy. These are official court documents with the judge's signature and the court seal. They contain all the terms of the dissolution: property division, custody arrangements, support obligations, and debt allocation. You need this type of document for legal proceedings, real property transfers involving court-ordered divisions, and any situation requiring the actual court order rather than just proof that a divorce occurred.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) issues divorce certificates for $10 per copy. These are shorter, simpler documents that confirm a divorce occurred and list basic information: names, date, and county. ADH records go back to 1923. Access is restricted to parties, their children, parents, and grandparents, and a government-issued photo ID is required. The ADH Vital Records office is at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone is (800) 462-0599. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
For most everyday uses, the ADH certificate works fine. For specific court orders or settlement terms, use the Circuit Clerk's certified copy. If unsure, call the office where you plan to submit the document and ask which one they accept.
Arkansas Law for Dissolution of Marriage Cases
Dissolution of marriage in Grant County is governed by Arkansas state law. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301 requires petitioners to state a recognized ground for divorce. Arkansas does not allow truly no-fault divorce filings. The two most widely used grounds are general indignities under § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and 18-month separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). General indignities covers ongoing contempt, cruelty, and disrespect that makes marriage untenable. The separation ground is used when both parties have lived apart continuously for 18 months.
Under § 9-12-303, you must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before filing in Grant County. After the respondent is served, a 30-day wait period applies before finalization under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B). The practical minimum is about 90 days from filing to final decree. Contested cases take longer.
Grant County dissolution records are open to the public under Administrative Order No. 19 and Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105. Some records may carry access restrictions under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-18-305 for up to 50 years. The Circuit Clerk can tell you about access for any specific case.
Grant County Genealogy and Historical Records
The RAOGK (Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness) volunteer network maintains a Grant County page that connects researchers to local record indexes and Arkansas-based volunteers who can assist with genealogical searches. This is especially useful for dissolution records from the late 1800s and early 1900s when digitization is incomplete. Grant County records from after March 1877 are preserved in fire-proof vaults, but not all of those older records are searchable online.
If you're doing genealogical research on Grant County dissolution records, the RAOGK resource can point you toward county-specific indexes and local researchers who know the courthouse records well. This kind of help is free and often faster than submitting blind mail requests to the clerk's office when you're not sure of exact names or dates.
The Grant County genealogy resource at RAOGK connects researchers to records indexes and volunteers for dissolution of marriage and other civil records dating back to 1877. Visit RAOGK Grant County for more.
The RAOGK Grant County page is a useful starting point for locating older dissolution records that aren't yet available through CourtConnect or other digital systems.
Legal Aid and Self-Help for Grant County
The Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 and Legal Aid of Arkansas at (870) 972-9224 both serve parts of Arkansas and can assist qualifying Grant County residents with dissolution of marriage cases. Call either organization to ask about current service areas, eligibility requirements, and what types of help they offer. Both focus on civil legal matters including family law cases.
AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org has free guides on Arkansas dissolution law, court forms, and plain-language instructions for self-represented filers. The Arkansas Bar Association's lawyer referral line at (501) 375-4606 can connect you with a licensed attorney in the Sheridan area if you want private representation. Many attorneys offer an initial consultation at low or no cost to help you understand your options.
Note: The Grant County Circuit Clerk staff cannot provide legal advice. For case strategy, form help, or legal questions, contact Legal Aid of Arkansas, the Center for Arkansas Legal Services, or a licensed attorney.
Neighboring Counties
Grant County is in south-central Arkansas. These counties share borders with Grant County, and each has its own Circuit Clerk handling dissolution of marriage filings.