Montgomery County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Montgomery County dissolution of marriage records are handled by the combined County and Circuit Clerk in Mount Ida, Arkansas. Because the county combines both clerk functions into one office, you only need to contact one place for dissolution filings, property records, and other civil court matters. The clerk is Regina Powell, and the office is located at 105 Highway 270 East in Mount Ida. Records can be searched through Arkansas CourtConnect online or requested directly from the clerk's office. Certified copies of decrees are available at the standard $5 per page fee.
Montgomery County Overview
Montgomery County Combined Clerk Office
The Montgomery County combined County and Circuit Clerk is Regina Powell. The office is at 105 Highway 270 East, Suite 10, Mount Ida, AR 71957, and can be reached by phone at (870) 867-3521. Montgomery County is one of a small number of Arkansas counties where the county and circuit clerk functions are merged into a single office. This means dissolution of marriage cases, property records, and other civil filings all go through this one office rather than being split between two separate departments.
Combining the two clerk roles simplifies the process for people seeking records. You do not need to figure out which office to contact, since all civil court records are in one place. For dissolution of marriage records specifically, this means that whether you need the original petition, a court order, or the final decree, Regina Powell's office is the single point of contact for all of those documents.
Montgomery County is in the Ouachita Mountains region of western Arkansas. The county is rural and sparsely populated, which means the clerk's office handles a smaller volume of cases than those in urban counties. This can translate to faster responses on records requests and more direct assistance from staff when you call or visit.
Visit the Montgomery County profile at Arkansas County Association for current office information and contact details.
The county association profile includes links to county departments and can confirm current contact information before you submit a dissolution records request.
Searching Montgomery County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the primary online tool for searching Montgomery County dissolution cases. The portal is free and open to the public, with no account required for basic searches. Search by party name, case number, or filing date. CourtConnect covers all Arkansas circuit courts and will return Montgomery County results alongside any other Arkansas cases tied to the same name.
An additional resource is the county services platform for Montgomery County at mobile.countyservice.net. This platform aggregates county-level information and can be a useful supplement when looking for contact information or service details related to the clerk's office.
The county services resource for Montgomery County is available here.
This resource provides supplemental county information that can help when verifying contact details or preparing a records request for the clerk in Mount Ida.
For cases filed before the electronic records era, you will need to contact the clerk directly. Provide the names of both parties and an approximate year if you know it. The clerk will search paper records and can tell you whether the case is in the files and how to request copies. Montgomery County is a smaller county, so the paper records are more manageable and staff can often locate older cases more quickly than in a larger office with a higher case volume.
Filing for Divorce in Montgomery County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Montgomery 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 with the combined County and Circuit Clerk at 105 Highway 270 East in Mount Ida. The filing fee is approximately $165. There is also a $10 fee to the Arkansas Department of Health for the state-level divorce certificate. Cases with contested issues or children involved may cost more as additional motions are filed.
Arkansas law requires you to state a legal 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). The 18-month separation option does not require proving fault, which makes it the most common choice for mutual divorces. A 30-day waiting period under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B) applies after the judge grants the divorce before the decree is final.
Legal assistance is available statewide through Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423. The AR Law Help website explains the divorce process in plain language and includes information on filing without an attorney. These resources serve all Arkansas counties including Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Dissolution Record Access
Dissolution of marriage records in Montgomery County are public court records subject to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 and Administrative Order No. 19 from the Arkansas Supreme Court. These rules allow anyone to request copies of civil court records. You do not need to be a party to the case. The clerk may ask for a request form and applicable copy fees before pulling the file.
The state-level divorce certificate at the Arkansas Department of Health is separate from the court file. Under § 20-18-305, those certificates are restricted until 50 years after the event. If you need the court record, go to the Circuit Clerk in Mount Ida. For the ADH certificate, contact them at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or call 800-462-0599. Fees for certified copies at the clerk's office are $5 per page.
Note: Montgomery County combines county and circuit clerk functions into one office. Contact Regina Powell at (870) 867-3521 for all dissolution of marriage records requests in the county.
What Is in a Montgomery County Dissolution File
A dissolution of marriage case file in Montgomery County contains the petition for divorce, the other party's response if one was filed, any temporary orders the court issued, and the final decree. The decree is the most commonly needed document. It legally ends the marriage and sets out the agreed or court-ordered terms for property, spousal support, and if children are involved, custody and child support. You need this document when updating a name with federal agencies, remarrying, or confirming marital status for other legal purposes.
Contested cases include more documents. These may involve financial disclosures, written motions, hearing transcripts, and multiple orders from the judge addressing specific contested issues. Uncontested cases where both parties reached full agreement are simpler and have fewer pages. Call the clerk before requesting copies to find out what the file contains and get an estimate of the total copy cost. Staff are generally accessible in smaller county offices and can give you a useful overview of the file contents over the phone.
Adjacent Counties
Montgomery County is surrounded by several counties in the Ouachita region of Arkansas. Each has its own Circuit Clerk and dissolution of marriage record set.