Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Saline County
Saline County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Benton. The clerk's office serves residents throughout the county, including Benton and Bryant, and you can access case information through the AVA system, LAREDO, or the statewide CourtConnect portal online.
Saline County Overview
Saline County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk for Saline County is Myka Bono Sample. The office is at 200 N. Main Street, Suite 113, Benton, AR 72015. You can reach the office by phone at (501) 303-5615. Office hours follow standard county business hours, generally Monday through Friday during daytime hours. Call ahead to confirm current hours before making a trip.
Dissolution of marriage filings in Saline County go through the Circuit Court, Domestic Relations Division. The clerk files the complaint, assigns a case number, and keeps the official record of all subsequent filings. If you need a certified copy of a final decree, the fee is $5.00 per copy. You can get copies in person or request them by mail with a written request and payment enclosed.
Saline County offers online record access through the AVA system and LAREDO, which are both professional-grade search tools used by attorneys and title companies. For general public access, Arkansas CourtConnect is the easiest option. The Circuit Clerk website at salinecounty.org/government/circuit_clerk explains the office's services and provides contact details.
Visit the Saline County Circuit Clerk page for office information and service details.
The Circuit Clerk page lists available services, fees, and contact information for the Benton office.
Searching Saline County Dissolution of Marriage Cases
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the free statewide case search tool. Saline County is well covered in the system. Search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results show the case type, filing date, party names, and a list of all docket entries. Some documents are viewable directly from the portal.
For deeper searches, LAREDO is a subscription-based system that gives attorneys and legal professionals full document access. If you are not a subscriber, CourtConnect handles most common needs. Searches are real-time and updated as new filings come in.
How to File a Dissolution of Marriage
Filing in Saline County starts at the Circuit Clerk's office at 200 N. Main Street in Benton. You need to bring a completed complaint for dissolution of marriage and pay the filing fee. Starting fees run approximately $165. If you qualify for a fee waiver, ask the clerk for the In Forma Pauperis application before paying.
At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303. The final decree cannot be granted until 90 days of total state residency are established. If both requirements are met at the time of filing, the case can move forward without additional delay on residency grounds.
You must state a legal ground for dissolution. Arkansas does not allow no-fault divorce without meeting one of the statutory grounds. The most common are general indignities under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301(b)(3)(C) and 18-month continuous separation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). After filing and service of process, the court waits at least 30 days before entering a final decree under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B). Contested cases may take months longer.
Divorce Grounds and Arkansas Law
General indignities is the most flexible ground. It covers behavior that makes married life unreasonable or intolerable. Things like persistent verbal abuse, cruelty, neglect, or indifference can all qualify. You need to show a pattern of conduct, not a single incident.
The 18-month separation ground is straightforward but slow. Both spouses must live apart for 18 continuous months with no reconciliation. If you briefly move back in together, the clock resets. This ground suits cases where the parties have already been living separate lives for an extended period and simply want a legal end to the marriage.
Other grounds listed in Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301 include felony conviction, habitual drunkenness, impotency, and cruel and barbarous treatment. These apply in specific situations. Most filers use general indignities or the separation ground because they are easier to establish.
Arkansas Department of Health Records
After a Saline County court grants a dissolution of marriage, the court reports it to the Arkansas Department of Health. ADH maintains a statewide index of divorces from 1923 to the present. You can order a certified divorce certificate for $10.00. The ADH office is at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Call 800-462-0599 to reach the vital records office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The ADH certificate confirms the divorce and lists party names and the date. It does not contain terms or orders. For full case details, get a certified copy from the Saline County Circuit Clerk at $5.00 per copy. Plan to contact both offices if you need both types of documentation.
Free Legal Help in Saline County
Legal aid is available for income-qualifying residents. Arkansas Legal Services handles family law matters including dissolution of marriage. Call (501) 376-3423 to reach the statewide intake line. Staff can screen you for eligibility and connect you with an attorney if your case qualifies for free representation.
AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org offers free guides on the Arkansas divorce process. The site covers filing steps, grounds for divorce, what happens at a hearing, and how to handle property and custody issues without a lawyer. The clerk's office staff can answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice.
Note: Saline County has seen significant population growth in recent years. The Circuit Clerk's office handles a large volume of cases. Call ahead before visiting to confirm current wait times and procedures.
Cities and Nearby Counties
Saline County includes the cities of Benton and Bryant. Both cities are served by the Circuit Clerk in Benton. Neither Benton nor Bryant currently reaches the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site, but residents of both cities file at the same courthouse.
Neighboring counties include Pulaski County to the north and east, Grant County to the south, Hot Spring County to the southwest, and Garland County to the west. For filings in Pulaski County, see the Pulaski County dissolution of marriage page. For a full directory, visit all Arkansas counties.