Pike County Dissolution of Marriage Case Search
Pike County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Murfreesboro and are available to parties and eligible requesters through the clerk's office or online through the Arkansas CourtConnect portal. A courthouse fire in 1895 destroyed most earlier records, so records from that period forward are the ones in the active archive. This page covers how to search, request, and file dissolution records in Pike County.
Pike County Overview
Pike County Circuit Clerk Contact
The Circuit Clerk for Pike County is Sabrina Williams. The mailing address is PO Box 219, Murfreesboro, AR 71952. Phone: (870) 285-2231. Email: Sabrina.Williams@PikeCountyAR.org. This office processes all civil case filings in the county, including dissolution of marriage petitions and final decrees. You can reach the clerk by phone or email to ask about fees, record availability, or the filing process before you visit.
Walk-in visits during regular business hours allow you to review files and get certified copies on the spot. If you request by mail, include both parties' names, the approximate filing year, the type of copy you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Email is also an option for initial inquiries, though physical requests for certified copies typically need to be made in person or by mail.
Pike County is in the 8th Judicial Circuit of Arkansas. All dissolution cases here are indexed under that circuit and can be searched through CourtConnect for cases entered into the digital system.
Pike County Dissolution Records Online
Arkansas CourtConnect is the public case search tool for all Arkansas circuit courts. You can search Pike County dissolution of marriage cases by party name or case number. The system displays filing dates, case status, and docket history. It does not always have scanned documents, but it gives you case information to bring to the clerk when you need more detail.
Visit CourtConnect to search Pike County circuit court records. Select the civil case type and choose Pike County from the dropdown list.
The Pike County profile on arcounties.org also provides current contact information and general county office details.
That page lists the clerk's office contact information along with other county offices, which is useful if you are not sure which office to contact for a specific type of record.
Historical Records Note
A courthouse fire in 1895 destroyed most of Pike County's earlier court records. Cases filed after 1895 are generally complete and accessible at the clerk's office. If you are looking for records from before that fire, it is unlikely original documents survived. Alternative sources such as the Arkansas State Archives or historical newspaper collections may have limited information from that period.
For records filed after 1895, the clerk's office holds the physical files. More recent cases are also indexed in CourtConnect. If a case does not appear in the online system, it may predate the digital index or may need to be pulled from older physical records at the courthouse. The clerk can usually search by hand for cases that are not in the online database.
Note: Under Arkansas law, dissolution of marriage records are restricted to the parties and their immediate family for 50 years after the case closes. After 50 years, the records become fully public. Anyone requesting access to a restricted file must show identification and may need to document their relationship to the parties.
Certified Copies and Fees
Certified copies of dissolution decrees cost $5 per page. Certification is required when you need the document for legal purposes such as a name change on a Social Security card, passport, or state ID. A plain copy is not sufficient for most official uses. If you are not sure whether you need certified or plain copies, the clerk can clarify.
The Arkansas Department of Health maintains a statewide index of dissolution and divorce records going back to 1923. You can reach that office at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: 800-462-0599. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The ADH issues a certificate of record for $10. That document confirms the dissolution occurred but does not replace the court-issued decree.
For some legal purposes you may need both the ADH certificate and the court decree. The ADH and the Circuit Clerk serve different functions, so check which document your specific situation requires before making your requests.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Pike County
To file in Pike County, at least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 90 consecutive days before the petition is submitted. This is a firm requirement under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303. You file the petition at the Circuit Clerk's office in Murfreesboro. The filing fee is approximately $165, plus potential court costs.
Arkansas requires that you state a legal ground for the dissolution. Common grounds include general indignities under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and an 18-month continuous separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). After the petition is filed and the other party is served, a mandatory 30-day wait must pass before a final decree can be entered. This is required by § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B).
Cases where both parties agree on all terms tend to move through the court faster than contested cases. When minor children are involved, the court requires a parenting plan and may schedule a separate hearing to review child-related issues before entering a final order. Property and debt disputes can also extend the timeline.
Legal Help in Pike County
Legal aid services in Arkansas are available by phone at (501) 376-3423 or (870) 972-9224. The AR Law Help divorce page provides forms, step-by-step instructions, and plain-language explanations of the Arkansas dissolution process. It is a free resource designed for people who plan to handle their own case.
You can also email Circuit Clerk Sabrina Williams at Sabrina.Williams@PikeCountyAR.org with general procedural questions. The clerk cannot give legal advice, but staff can confirm what forms are required and how to submit them. For guidance on legal strategy, grounds, or contested issues, a licensed Arkansas family law attorney is the right person to contact.
Nearby Counties
Pike County is in southwest Arkansas. The counties listed below border Pike County, and each has its own circuit clerk and courthouse.