Search Lonoke County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Lonoke County dissolution of marriage records are handled by the Circuit Clerk's office in Lonoke, Arkansas. The county combines county and circuit clerk functions into one office, which means dissolution cases, property records, and other civil matters are all handled at the same location. The clerk maintains an online records portal through lonokecircuitclerk.com, and cases are also searchable through Arkansas CourtConnect. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree from Lonoke County, you can request it in person, by mail, or through the online portal. This county offers some of the more convenient online access options compared to many other Arkansas counties.
Lonoke County Overview
Lonoke County Circuit Clerk
The Lonoke County Circuit Clerk is Deborah Oglesby. The office is located at 301 North Center Street, Lonoke, AR 72086, and can be reached by phone at 501-676-2316. This office handles combined county and circuit court functions, which is somewhat unusual in Arkansas and makes it a single point of contact for most civil court records in the county including dissolution of marriage filings.
The clerk maintains records of all civil cases filed in Lonoke County. Dissolution of marriage cases include the original petition, any agreed orders or contested hearing records, and the final decree. The clerk can provide certified copies of these documents. Staff can help you identify what is in a file and estimate costs before you pay. The office has also made some records available through its own online portal at lonokecircuitclerk.com, which is a helpful option for people outside the immediate area.
Visit the Lonoke County Circuit Clerk website to access online records and review current office information.
The clerk's online portal provides direct access to case records and forms without requiring a trip to the courthouse.
Lonoke County Dissolution of Marriage Lookup Options
You have several ways to search Lonoke County dissolution of marriage records. The first is the clerk's own online portal at lonokecircuitclerk.com. This gives access to records maintained directly by the county. The second is Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov, which covers cases from all Arkansas circuit courts and lets you search by name or case number for free.
Both sources work best when you have at least one party's name. A case number makes the search faster if you have it. If you only have a rough idea of when the case was filed, using a date range in CourtConnect can help narrow things down. For older cases that may not appear in any online system, the clerk will need to search paper records manually.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Lonoke County
To file for divorce in Lonoke County, you must meet the residency rule at Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303, which requires 60 days of Arkansas residency before filing. You bring the petition to the Circuit Clerk at 301 North Center Street. The filing fee is around $165, though the total cost can be higher depending on whether you are asking the court to decide child custody, divide property, or handle other matters. A $10 fee to the Arkansas Department of Health is also required for the state-level divorce certificate.
Arkansas law requires a stated ground for divorce under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301. The two most common grounds are general indignities under subsection (b)(3)(C) and 18 months of continuous separation under subsection (b)(5). After the judge signs the decree, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) before the divorce is legally final. During that time, neither party may remarry.
Lonoke County is near Little Rock and has access to legal aid resources in central Arkansas. If you need free legal assistance, call Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423. The AR Law Help website also explains the filing process in plain language and can help you understand what to expect at each step.
Arkansas FOIA and Court Record Access
Dissolution of marriage case files in Lonoke County are public records under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 and Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 19. These rules apply to all civil court records in the state. Most dissolution documents become accessible to the public once filed unless a judge issues a sealing order. Anyone can request copies from the clerk without being a party to the case.
The Arkansas Department of Health maintains a separate statewide record of divorces, governed by § 20-18-305. That health record is restricted until 50 years after the event. If you need the court documents rather than the health certificate, you get them from the Circuit Clerk. Fees for certified copies are $5 per page at the clerk's office. The ADH certificate costs $10 and is ordered through ADH at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or by calling 800-462-0599.
Note: Lonoke County combines county and circuit clerk functions in one office. This means you can handle most county court records needs including dissolution filings through a single contact at 501-676-2316.
Contents of a Lonoke County Dissolution Case File
A typical dissolution of marriage file in Lonoke County contains the petition for divorce, the other party's response if one was filed, any temporary orders issued by the court during the case, and the final decree of divorce. The decree is the key legal document. It states the marriage is ended and sets the terms for property, debts, spousal support, and if applicable, child custody and support arrangements.
Some files are thin. An uncontested case where both parties agreed on everything may have just a few documents. A contested case that went to a full hearing will have substantially more, including financial affidavits, hearing transcripts, written orders on specific issues, and possibly exhibits. The clerk can tell you what is in a specific file before you order copies. That saves time and money, especially if you only need one document from a large file.
Counties Near Lonoke
Lonoke County is in central Arkansas. Neighboring counties each maintain their own Circuit Clerk offices and dissolution of marriage records.