Sebastian County Dissolution of Marriage Search
Sebastian County is one of only two Arkansas counties with dual county seats, and dissolution of marriage cases can be filed at either the Fort Smith courthouse or the Greenwood courthouse. The Circuit Clerk maintains records at both locations, and you can search case information online or contact either office directly for documents and filings.
Sebastian County Overview
Sebastian County Circuit Clerk Locations
The Circuit Clerk for Sebastian County is Susie Hassett. The county has two courthouse locations, and the clerk's office operates at both. The Fort Smith courthouse is at 901 South B Street, Room 205, Fort Smith, AR 72901. The phone number for the Fort Smith location is (479) 782-1046. The Greenwood courthouse is at 301 East Center, Room 103, Greenwood, AR 72936, and can be reached at (479) 996-6885.
Public access terminals are available at both courthouse locations. You can walk in and search records without an appointment at either site. Staff at both offices can help with certified copy requests and filing questions. If you are not sure which courthouse your case is assigned to, either office can look it up for you.
Certified copies of dissolution decrees cost $5.00 per copy. You can get them at either courthouse or by mailing a written request with payment to the courthouse where the case was filed. Include the full names of both parties and the filing year. Case numbers speed up the process if you have them.
The Sebastian County official website covers county services and provides links to court resources. It is a good first stop for office hours and department contact details.
Visit sebastiancountyar.gov for county office information and court services at both courthouse locations.
The official site provides links to court services and department contacts at both Fort Smith and Greenwood.
Search Sebastian County Dissolution of Marriage Cases
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides online access to Sebastian County Circuit Court cases. Note that Sebastian County has partial coverage in the system, so some cases may not appear in CourtConnect. Search by party name or case number to find dissolution filings that are in the system.
For cases not appearing in CourtConnect, contact either courthouse directly. The Fort Smith office at (479) 782-1046 and the Greenwood office at (479) 996-6885 can both conduct manual record searches. Older cases in particular may exist only in paper form and require a staff search to locate.
The public access terminals at both courthouses let you search and view records on-site without contacting staff. These terminals may provide access to records not yet available through CourtConnect's online portal. They are available during courthouse business hours.
Filing a Dissolution of Marriage in Sebastian County
You can file a dissolution of marriage at either the Fort Smith or Greenwood courthouse. At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. The court cannot grant a final decree until 90 days of total state residency are met under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303. Make sure you meet both requirements before you begin the process.
Filing fees start at approximately $165. Additional costs may apply for service of process, extra motions, or hearing fees. If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the clerk for the Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Income-qualifying filers can have fees waived or reduced.
Arkansas requires a legal ground for all dissolution filings. The two most common grounds 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 you file and serve your spouse, a mandatory 30-day waiting period applies under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B). The court cannot enter a final decree until that time passes, even if both parties agree to all terms.
Arkansas Divorce Grounds Explained
General indignities is the most widely used ground in Arkansas. It covers conduct that renders the condition of the other spouse intolerable. Courts have applied this to patterns of verbal abuse, emotional cruelty, persistent neglect, and demeaning treatment. A single incident rarely qualifies. You need to show ongoing behavior over a period of time.
The 18-month separation ground is simpler in concept. Both spouses must live apart continuously for 18 months without resuming cohabitation. No fault needs to be shown. If reconciliation occurs at any point, the separation period resets. Many couples who have already been living separately for more than a year use this ground because it requires less courtroom conflict.
Other grounds under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301 include habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, impotency at the time of marriage, and cruel and barbarous treatment. These apply in specific cases. Most Sebastian County dissolution filings rely on general indignities or the separation ground because they are the clearest paths to a final decree.
ADH Divorce Certificates for Sebastian County Cases
After a dissolution of marriage is granted in Sebastian County, the clerk reports it to the Arkansas Department of Health. ADH keeps a statewide index of divorces from 1923 to the present. You can order a certified divorce certificate from ADH for $10.00. Their 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 is a short confirmation of the divorce. It lists party names and the date of the decree but does not include terms or orders. If you need the full text of the decree, including any property division or child custody terms, request a certified copy from the Circuit Clerk's office at $5.00 per copy. Some purposes, like applying for a marriage license or changing a name, require the full decree rather than the ADH certificate.
Legal Help in Sebastian County
Sebastian County has a larger legal community than many rural Arkansas counties, given the size of Fort Smith. Still, free legal aid is available for income-qualifying residents. Arkansas Legal Services handles family law cases including dissolution of marriage. Call (501) 376-3423 for the intake line. The organization can screen you for eligibility and connect you with help if you qualify.
AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org provides free online guides for the Arkansas divorce process. These guides explain filing steps, what to expect in court, and how to handle property and custody if you are representing yourself. The clerk's offices in Fort Smith and Greenwood can help with procedural questions but cannot give legal advice.
Note: Sebastian County has two courthouses. Make sure you know which courthouse your case is assigned to before making a trip. Either office can tell you where your case is on file.
Cities and Nearby Counties
Sebastian County includes the city of Fort Smith, one of Arkansas's largest cities. Fort Smith residents file dissolution cases at the Fort Smith courthouse at 901 South B Street. Greenwood residents file at the Greenwood location.
Nearby counties include Crawford County to the north, Logan County to the east, Scott County to the southeast, and Polk County to the south. See the Scott County dissolution of marriage page for information about filings in Waldron. For the full directory of all Arkansas counties, visit all Arkansas counties.