Access Johnson County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Johnson County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Clarksville and have been maintained since 1838, when the county's equity records began. This page covers how to search for divorce cases, request certified copies, and use the local clerk's office and online tools to find dissolution of marriage records in Johnson County, Arkansas.
Johnson County Overview
Johnson County Circuit Clerk Dissolution of Marriage Records
The Circuit Clerk's office at 215 West Main Street, Clarksville, AR 72830 is where all Johnson County dissolution of marriage case files are kept. The phone number is (479) 754-2977. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular courthouse hours. Staff manage all civil and domestic relations filings, and dissolution of marriage cases are filed under the county's equity records, which date back to 1838.
Johnson County records from 1838 are in good condition. That is notable for a county of this age in Arkansas, where courthouse fires and other events have interrupted many county record collections. If you are researching a dissolution of marriage from the late 1800s or early 1900s, there is a reasonable chance the records still exist at the Clarksville courthouse.
Certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees cost $5 each from the Circuit Clerk. You can get them in person at 215 West Main Street or by mail. For mail requests, write out the names of both parties, the approximate filing year, and include a check or money order made out to the Johnson County Circuit Clerk. Call (479) 754-2977 to confirm current hours and procedures before visiting.
The clerk's staff cannot give legal advice or fill out forms for you. For free resources on how to file for dissolution of marriage in Arkansas, visit AR Law Help.
Search Johnson County Divorce Cases on CourtConnect
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides free access to court case information for all 75 Arkansas counties, including Johnson County. Dissolution of marriage cases filed in Clarksville appear in the system. No account is needed. You can search by name, case number, or case type and see the filing date, party names, case status, and scheduled hearings. Full case documents are not always in the portal, but you can confirm a case exists and get the case number before contacting the clerk.
Select Johnson County from the dropdown menu and choose "Domestic Relations" as the case type. Enter a party's last name to see matching cases. If you don't find a case online, it may be an older file that was not entered into the digital system. In that case, contact the Circuit Clerk at (479) 754-2977.
Note: Johnson County dissolution of marriage records in the equity files from the 1800s may not appear in CourtConnect. For older cases, a direct request to the clerk is necessary.
Certified Copies of Johnson County Dissolution Decrees
After a dissolution of marriage is finalized in Johnson County, you can get certified copies of the court decree from the Circuit Clerk at 215 West Main Street, Clarksville. Each certified copy costs $5. The decree contains all orders entered by the court in the case, including property division, debt allocation, child custody and support if applicable, and any other terms the judge ordered. This is the official document needed for legal matters that involve the specific terms of the dissolution.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) issues a separate document called a divorce certificate. These cost $10 each and are summary documents that confirm a divorce occurred without listing the case terms. ADH certificates are available only to the named parties, their children, parents, or grandparents, and require a valid government photo ID. The ADH address is 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Call (800) 462-0599 for information. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. The ADH has records going back to 1923.
For simple proof of divorce such as a name change request or proof of eligibility to remarry, either document will often work. If the actual court orders matter, you need the Circuit Clerk's certified copy from Clarksville.
Arkansas Divorce Law and Johnson County Filings
Arkansas does not have a straightforward no-fault dissolution option. The petitioner must plead a ground for divorce under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301. The two grounds filed most often in Johnson County cases are general indignities and 18-month separation. General indignities at § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) involves persistent contempt or hostile behavior. Separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5) requires 18 consecutive months of living apart with no return to cohabitation.
To file in Johnson County, you must have been a resident of Arkansas for at least 60 days, per § 9-12-303. After the other party is served with the petition, the court cannot enter a final decree for at least 30 days under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B). In practice, most cases run longer than the legal minimum. Scheduling, contested matters, and negotiation all add time.
Dissolution of marriage records in Johnson County are public records under Administrative Order No. 19. Arkansas FOIA under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 also covers access to court records. A judge can seal specific documents in individual cases, but the general case file is open to the public.
Johnson County Court Records and Genealogy Resources
Johnson County's dissolution of marriage records, filed among its equity records since 1838, are a solid resource for genealogical research into northwest Arkansas families. The records are in good condition. Researchers who need to trace marital status changes going back to the mid-1800s can contact the Circuit Clerk in Clarksville with names and approximate dates. For more recent cases, CourtConnect is a faster starting point.
Third-party resources aggregate information about Johnson County court records and can be useful for context and contact details. Always verify what you find with the Circuit Clerk before relying on it for any legal purpose.
The Johnson County genealogy resource covers records available for this county and the years from which dissolution of marriage filings are on file. Visit Johnson County Genealogy Resource for this resource.
The genealogy resource lists source materials, record dates, and types of records available for Johnson County including divorce and equity filings.
Legal Aid Resources for Johnson County Residents
Johnson County residents who need legal assistance with a dissolution of marriage case and cannot pay for a private attorney can contact the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423. Legal Aid of Arkansas serves the northern and eastern regions at (870) 972-9224. Both organizations provide free or low-cost help to people who meet income eligibility requirements. They handle family law matters including dissolution of marriage, custody, and support cases.
The Arkansas Bar Association's lawyer referral line is (501) 375-4606. This service connects callers with attorneys in the area for a low-cost initial consultation. For people who plan to represent themselves in a Johnson County dissolution case, AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org is the most useful free resource. It has guides, forms, and plain-language explanations of the process.
Note: Circuit Clerk staff can locate records and help with copy requests, but they are not allowed to give legal advice or help complete court documents.
Nearby Counties
Johnson County is in the Arkansas River Valley. If a dissolution of marriage case was filed in a bordering county, that county's Circuit Clerk keeps the records.