Howard County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Howard County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Nashville and have been maintained in fire-proof vaults since 1873. This page covers how to find divorce cases, request certified copies, and use the online tools and local offices that manage these records in Howard County, Arkansas.
Howard County Overview
Howard County Circuit Clerk Divorce Records
The Circuit Clerk's office in Nashville is where all Howard County dissolution of marriage cases are filed and stored. The office is located at 421 North Main Street, Nashville, AR 71852. You can call the clerk at (870) 845-7502 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Staff manage the full civil docket for the county, including every domestic relations filing.
Howard County has kept its records in fire-proof vaults, and divorce records date back to 1873. That is a long and largely intact archive. If you are looking for a case from decades ago, the Circuit Clerk's office is your best starting point. For recent cases, the online CourtConnect portal may have the basic case details you need before making the trip to Nashville.
Certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees cost $5 each from the Circuit Clerk. You can request them in person or by mail. If you mail a request, include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and a check or money order made out to the Circuit Clerk. The staff can confirm fees when you call.
The Circuit Clerk does not give legal advice. For self-help forms and plain-language guidance on how to file for dissolution of marriage in Arkansas, visit AR Law Help.
Search Howard County Dissolution of Marriage Cases Online
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the free public portal for searching Arkansas court cases. Howard County dissolution of marriage filings appear in this system. You can search by name, case number, or filing type at no cost. Results include the parties' names, the date filed, case type, and scheduled hearings. Full documents are not always available through the portal, but you can confirm a case exists and get the case number to use when requesting copies from the clerk.
To narrow your search to Howard County divorce cases, select Howard County from the county dropdown and choose "Domestic Relations" as the case type. Enter the last name of either party. The system will show matching results. Write down the case number before you close the browser because you will need it for any copy request.
Note: Some older Howard County cases may not appear in CourtConnect. Records filed before the system went digital may only be accessible by contacting the Circuit Clerk directly at (870) 845-7502.
Certified Copies of Howard County Dissolution Decrees
There are two types of official documents you can get after a Howard County divorce is finalized. The Circuit Clerk issues certified copies of the full decree. These show every term the court ordered, including property division, debt allocation, custody arrangements if children were involved, and support orders. They cost $5 per certified copy. This is the document most people need when proving a divorce in legal or financial matters.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) issues divorce certificates, which are shorter summary documents. They confirm that a dissolution of marriage was finalized but do not include the specific terms. ADH certificates cost $10 each and are only available to the parties named in the case, their children, parents, or grandparents. You must show a valid government photo ID when requesting a certificate. The ADH office is at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. The phone number is (800) 462-0599. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. ADH has certificates going back to 1923.
If you need proof of the divorce for a name change or to remarry, most agencies accept either type. If you need the specific terms of the order, you need the Circuit Clerk's certified copy.
Arkansas Dissolution of Marriage Law and Howard County
Arkansas requires a legal ground for dissolution of marriage. There is no pure no-fault option. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, you must plead and prove a recognized ground. The two most common grounds used in Howard County and across the state are general indignities and 18-month separation.
General indignities under § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) cover ongoing contempt, mistreatment, or conduct that makes married life unreasonable. Separation for at least 18 consecutive months under § 9-12-301(b)(5) is often easier to prove. Both parties do not need to agree on the divorce, but one must live separately from the other for the full 18 months.
The residency rule under § 9-12-303 requires you to have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before you can file. After service is complete, there is a 30-day waiting period under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) before the court can enter a final decree. In practice, most cases take several months from filing to final decree.
Court records in Howard County, including dissolution of marriage filings, are public under Administrative Order No. 19 and Arkansas FOIA at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105. Some sensitive information may be sealed, but the basic case record is available for inspection.
Howard County Genealogy and Historical Divorce Records
Because Howard County has kept divorce records going back to 1873 in fire-proof storage, the county is a valuable resource for genealogical research involving dissolution of marriage cases. Researchers looking for ancestors' divorce records in southwest Arkansas often find that Howard County records are intact when records in neighboring counties are damaged or missing.
The Circuit Clerk's office handles requests for older records just as it handles current ones. You will need to provide the names of the parties and an approximate date range. For very old records, response times may be longer because staff need to locate physical files rather than digital entries.
The Howard County genealogy page covers records available for this county going back to the county's formation. Visit Howard County Genealogy Resource for this resource.
This genealogy resource lists the types of records maintained in Howard County, including dissolution of marriage filings and the years for which records are available.
CourtConnect Portal for Howard County Records
The statewide CourtConnect system provides online access to Howard County court records, including dissolution of marriage cases. This portal is free to use and does not require registration. It is the fastest way to confirm whether a case was filed in Howard County and to get the basic details before contacting the clerk.
Arkansas CourtConnect is the official state portal for searching court case information across all 75 counties. Visit Arkansas CourtConnect for this resource.
The CourtConnect portal lets you search Howard County dissolution of marriage cases by name or case number without any fee.
Legal Aid Resources for Howard County Residents
Two major legal aid organizations serve Howard County. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services handles much of southwest Arkansas and can be reached at (501) 376-3423. Legal Aid of Arkansas covers the northern and eastern parts of the state and operates a statewide line at (870) 972-9224. Both offer free or reduced-cost help to people who qualify based on income. Dissolution of marriage cases are among the matters they help with.
The Arkansas Bar Association's referral line is (501) 375-4606. If you are unsure whether you need full legal representation or just a consultation, this is a good first call. AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org offers free guides, court forms, and a step-by-step breakdown of the Arkansas divorce process that is written for people without legal training.
Note: Circuit Clerk staff can tell you what records exist and how to get copies, but they cannot advise you on how to proceed with your case or fill out legal forms.
Nearby Counties
Howard County sits in southwest Arkansas and borders several other counties, each with its own Circuit Clerk and dissolution of marriage records. If you are unsure which county handled a case, checking nearby counties is a reasonable next step.