Pope County Dissolution of Marriage Records Search
Pope County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Russellville and are accessible to eligible parties through the clerk's office or the Arkansas CourtConnect portal. Pope County has no known history of courthouse disasters, which means records should be complete and available going back a long period of time. This page explains how to search, request, and file dissolution records in Pope County.
Pope County Overview
Pope County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk for Pope County is at 100 W Main, Russellville, AR 72801. Phone: (479) 968-7499. This office processes all civil case filings in the county, including dissolution of marriage petitions, final decrees, and post-decree motions. Staff can search records by party name or case number and will tell you the current fee before processing your request.
Walk-in visits during regular courthouse hours let you review files and pick up certified copies on the same day. If you cannot visit in person, mail requests are accepted. Include both parties' full names, the approximate year of filing, the type of copy you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Call ahead to confirm the fee and verify the record is on file before mailing your check.
Pope County is in the 15th Judicial Circuit of Arkansas. Dissolution cases filed here are indexed under that circuit. Both the physical files at the courthouse and the online CourtConnect system hold these records, with the digital system covering more recent filings.
Pope County Dissolution of Marriage Online Search
Arkansas CourtConnect is the public portal for searching circuit court records across the state. You can look up Pope County dissolution cases by party name or case number and get filing dates, case status, and docket entries. Full document images may not always be available, but the basic case information is usually enough to confirm whether a case exists and to get the case number for a clerk request.
Visit CourtConnect to search Pope County dissolution of marriage records. Select civil cases and choose Pope County from the county list.
The Arkansas CourtConnect public search portal provides free access to Pope County dissolution of marriage case records, letting you search by party name or case number before contacting the Russellville clerk's office.
Always verify important details through the Circuit Clerk or CourtConnect before using any case information for legal purposes.
Certified Copies and How to Request Them
Certified copies of dissolution decrees are $5 per page. You need a certified copy when changing a name on a passport, Social Security card, or state-issued ID, and for most legal proceedings that require proof of dissolution. A plain copy does not meet those requirements.
To request by mail, send a written request to the Pope County Circuit Clerk at 100 W Main, Russellville, AR 72801. Include both parties' names, the year the case was filed, and what you need. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the fee. Call (479) 968-7499 first to confirm the total and verify the case number if you have it.
The Arkansas Department of Health keeps a statewide divorce and dissolution index starting from 1923. The ADH is at 4815 West Markham St, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: 800-462-0599. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Their certificate of record costs $10 and confirms the dissolution but is not the court decree itself.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Pope County
At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 90 days before filing. This requirement is set by Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303. You file the petition at the Circuit Clerk's office at 100 W Main in Russellville and pay the filing fee at that time. The fee is approximately $165, plus potential court costs depending on your case.
Arkansas does not allow simple no-fault filings. You must list a legal ground in your petition. The most common grounds are 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 served, a 30-day waiting period applies before the court can issue a final decree under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B).
Uncontested cases with full agreement on all terms tend to resolve more quickly. Contested cases involving children, property division, or disputes about grounds will need hearings and may take considerably longer. Cases with minor children require a parenting plan before the court will enter a final order.
Note: Russellville residents filing for dissolution will do so in Pope County Circuit Court. Russellville is the county seat, so the courthouse is in the city itself. There is no need to travel to another county courthouse.
Access Rules for Dissolution Records
Arkansas restricts access to dissolution records for 50 years after a case closes. During that period, only the parties to the case and their immediate family can view the file without special authorization. This rule comes from Ark. Code Ann. § 20-18-305. After 50 years, the records become fully public and anyone can request them.
If you are a party to the case, bring a valid government-issued ID to the clerk's office. If you are a family member, be prepared to show proof of your relationship. The clerk will ask for documentation before releasing restricted files. If you have a court order authorizing access, bring a copy of that as well.
Legal Help and Resources
Legal aid services are available in Arkansas at (501) 376-3423 or (870) 972-9224. The AR Law Help divorce page is a free online resource with forms, instructions, and plain-language explanations of the process in Arkansas. It is well-suited for people who plan to represent themselves.
The Circuit Clerk's office can provide a list of required forms and tell you how to file them, but they cannot give legal advice. For questions about grounds, property division, or contested child custody, contact a licensed Arkansas family law attorney or call legal aid to ask about free or reduced-cost help.
Pope County residents in Russellville may also have access to local legal clinics or bar association referral services. The Arkansas Bar Association can provide referrals if you need help finding an attorney who handles family law in the Russellville area.
Cities in Pope County
Russellville is the county seat and the largest city in Pope County. Residents filing for dissolution of marriage in Russellville file in Pope County Circuit Court.
Nearby Counties
Pope County is in west-central Arkansas. The counties listed below border Pope County and each maintains its own circuit court.