Marion County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Marion County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Yellville, Arkansas. The county is part of the 14th Judicial District, which also includes Baxter, Boone, and Newton counties. The Circuit Clerk handles all civil court records including divorce petitions, decrees, and related filings. One important note for researchers: a courthouse fire in 1888 destroyed many older county records, so dissolution records from before that date may be incomplete or unavailable. Records from after 1888 are held at the courthouse and can be searched through Arkansas CourtConnect or requested directly from the clerk's office.
Marion County Overview
Marion County Circuit Clerk
The Marion County Circuit Clerk office is located at 300 E. Old Main St., Yellville, AR 72687. You can reach the office by phone at 870-449-6226. The clerk handles civil court filings for the county, including all dissolution of marriage cases. Staff can help with records requests, certified copies, and information about what is in a specific case file.
Marion County lost a large portion of its earliest court records in an 1888 courthouse fire. This means researchers looking for dissolution records from the nineteenth century may find gaps in the record set. If you are searching for a case from before 1888, the clerk can advise on what survived and where alternative sources might exist, such as genealogical databases or archival collections that may have indexed some records before the fire.
For cases filed after 1888, the Circuit Clerk maintains the full set of civil court records. Dissolution of marriage cases from that era forward are generally intact and available for request. Certified copies of decrees cost $5 per page at the clerk's office. A $10 fee for the state-level certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health applies separately when that document is needed.
Searching Marion County Dissolution Records
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the primary online tool for searching Marion County dissolution cases. The system is free, requires no login for basic searches, and lets you search by name, case number, or date. Results show the parties, filing date, and case status. CourtConnect covers cases from all Arkansas circuit courts, including Marion County, and is a good first step before contacting the courthouse.
For historical records, the genealogy resource at raogk.org for Marion County provides indexed data that can help locate older cases or confirm details before submitting a formal request to the clerk. This is particularly useful given the 1888 fire that destroyed many earlier records, since researchers have sometimes documented what survived in separate indexes or collections.
Visit the Marion County genealogy records page to search historical indices for dissolution and other civil records.
This resource supplements CourtConnect for older cases and may surface records not available through the online court system.
Filing Dissolution of Marriage Cases in Marion County
You must meet the 60-day Arkansas residency requirement under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303 before you file for divorce in Marion County. The petition goes to the Circuit Clerk at 300 E. Old Main St. in Yellville. The filing fee is around $165, with an additional $10 fee to the Arkansas Department of Health for the state divorce certificate. Total costs can be higher if the case involves children or property disputes that require extra motions.
Arkansas requires a legal ground for divorce under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301. The most frequently cited grounds are general indignities under subsection (b)(3)(C) and 18 months of separation under subsection (b)(5). The separation ground is the most commonly used when both parties want the divorce to proceed without allegations of specific fault. Once granted, a 30-day waiting period applies under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) before the decree is final.
Marion County is a rural county. Legal resources in the area include Arkansas Legal Services, reachable at (501) 376-3423. The AR Law Help website provides free guidance on divorce procedures in Arkansas and can help people who are navigating the process without an attorney. Both resources are available statewide regardless of which county the case is filed in.
Marion County Record Access and Arkansas FOIA
Marion County dissolution of marriage records are public under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 and Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 19. These rules make court records available to the public. Anyone can request a copy of a dissolution case file from the Circuit Clerk. You do not need to be a party to the case or provide a reason for the request.
The Arkansas Department of Health maintains a separate statewide divorce record under § 20-18-305. That ADH record is restricted until 50 years after the event. The court file at the clerk's office is separate and available sooner. Fees for certified copies from the clerk are $5 per page. If you need the ADH certificate instead, contact them at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or call 800-462-0599.
Note: Due to the 1888 courthouse fire, Marion County dissolution records from before that date may be incomplete or missing. Contact the Circuit Clerk at 870-449-6226 to check availability of specific historical records.
What Is in a Marion County Dissolution File
A dissolution of marriage case file in Marion County includes the original petition, any response filed by the other party, temporary orders if the court issued any, and the final decree. The decree is the document that legally ends the marriage. It sets out the terms for property, spousal support, and if children are involved, custody and child support. It is the document you will need most often when updating legal documents after a divorce.
Larger files come from contested cases. These may include financial affidavits, parenting plan proposals, written motions from both sides, and transcripts from any court hearings. An uncontested case with full agreement will have fewer documents. The clerk can tell you what is in a file before you pay for copies. This is worth doing if you are not sure whether the document you need is actually in the file or whether it is in a different part of the case record.
Counties in the 14th Judicial District
Marion County is part of the 14th Judicial District along with Baxter, Boone, and Newton counties. All four counties maintain separate dissolution of marriage records through their local Circuit Clerks.