Access Madison County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Madison County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Huntsville, Arkansas. The county has records going back to 1836, making it one of the longer-running record sets in the state. Divorce and dissolution cases are civil court filings held at the courthouse. You can search Madison County dissolution records through the Circuit Clerk's own online portal, through the county government website, or through Arkansas CourtConnect. In-person and mail requests are also accepted at the Huntsville courthouse. Certified copies of decrees cost $5 per page at the clerk's office.
Madison County Overview
Madison County Circuit Clerk Office
The Madison County Circuit Clerk is located at PO Box 37, Huntsville, AR 72740, with physical courthouse access at the Madison County Courthouse. The office can be reached by phone at (479) 738-2747. The Circuit Clerk handles all civil court filings for Madison County, which includes dissolution of marriage cases, property records, and related civil matters. Staff can help with records requests, certified copies, and questions about what is in a specific file.
Madison County has made records accessible through two online portals. The first is the Circuit Clerk's own website at madisoncircuitclerk.com. The second is the county government's clerk page at madisoncogov.com. Both provide access to county records and can help you identify whether a dissolution case is in the system before you travel to the courthouse or mail a request. The Titlesearcher.com platform also provides online access for property-related records filed in Madison County.
Visit the Madison County Circuit Clerk website to access case records and review current office details.
The Circuit Clerk portal is the most direct way to check whether a dissolution of marriage case is in the Madison County system without visiting in person.
Madison County Dissolution of Marriage Case Search
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the statewide tool for searching dissolution records. You can run a free search by party name, case number, or date range. For Madison County specifically, the clerk's own portal at madisoncircuitclerk.com may offer additional functionality for county-level records. Using both resources together gives the best chance of locating a specific case, especially for records filed in recent years.
Madison County records go back to 1836. Records from the nineteenth century and early twentieth century exist only in paper form at the courthouse. These are not available through CourtConnect or the online portal. For historical dissolution records, you will need to contact the clerk directly and describe what you are looking for. The clerk can search older paper indices and let you know what is available and how to get copies.
The Madison County government clerk page at madisoncogov.com also provides access to county records and office information.
This page includes contact details and information on how to submit different types of records requests.
Divorce Filing Requirements in Madison County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Madison County, you must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before the filing date under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303. You file the petition at the Circuit Clerk in Huntsville. The standard filing fee is approximately $165. Cases involving children or contested property may cost more once additional motions are filed. You also pay a $10 fee to the Arkansas Department of Health for the state-level divorce certificate that gets recorded statewide.
Arkansas law requires a stated legal ground for divorce. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, recognized grounds include general indignities under subsection (b)(3)(C) and 18 months of continuous separation under subsection (b)(5). Once the divorce is granted by a judge, a 30-day period follows under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) before the decree becomes final. You cannot remarry during that 30 days.
If you need legal help, Arkansas Legal Services takes calls at (501) 376-3423. The AR Law Help divorce page has detailed information on how the process works and what forms are typically required. This is a free resource maintained by Arkansas legal aid organizations for people who may not have an attorney.
Who Can Access Madison County Divorce Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Madison County are public court records. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 and Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court govern access to these files. Anyone may request a copy of a dissolution of marriage case file from the Circuit Clerk. You do not need to have been a party to the case. The clerk may ask you to complete a request form and pay applicable fees.
Certified copies of decrees are $5 per page. The state-level divorce certificate maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health is separate and governed by § 20-18-305, which restricts access for 50 years. That certificate is ordered through ADH at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or by calling 800-462-0599.
Note: Madison County records date to 1836. Historical dissolution cases filed before the electronic records era will not appear in CourtConnect and require a direct request to the Circuit Clerk in Huntsville.
What Madison County Dissolution Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage case file in Madison County contains the petition, any response filed by the other party, court orders issued during the case, and the final decree of divorce. The decree is the primary document and addresses property division, spousal support, and if children are involved, custody and child support. The terms of the final decree are legally binding on both parties.
Contested cases have larger files with more documents. These can include financial affidavits, parenting plans, written briefs, hearing transcripts, and multiple orders from the court. Uncontested cases where both parties agreed on all terms tend to have shorter files. Before requesting copies, ask the clerk what is included in the specific file you want. That way you know what to expect in terms of page count and cost before you commit to the request.
Counties Bordering Madison County
Madison County is located in northwest Arkansas. Each bordering county has its own Circuit Clerk and maintains separate dissolution of marriage records.