St. Francis County Dissolution of Marriage Records

St. Francis County dissolution of marriage cases are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Forrest City, the county seat. The clerk's office keeps official records of all divorce filings, hearings, and decrees issued in the county, and you can access case details through the statewide CourtConnect system or by contacting the office directly.

St. Francis County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's office in Forrest City handles all dissolution of marriage filings for St. Francis County. The courthouse is located in Forrest City, which sits along Interstate 40 in eastern Arkansas. The clerk maintains the official docket for domestic relations cases, including all motions, orders, and final decrees.

To get a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the clerk's office directly. Certified copies cost $5.00 each. You can request them in person at the courthouse or by mailing a written request with payment. Include both parties' names and the approximate year of filing so staff can locate the record efficiently. If you know the case number, provide that as well.

For contact information and a list of county offices, visit the St. Francis County profile on the Arkansas Association of Counties website. It lists courthouse addresses, phone numbers, and department contacts.

Visit arcounties.org/counties/st-francis for St. Francis County office listings and contact details.

The county profile page includes addresses and phone numbers for the Circuit Clerk and other offices.

Find Dissolution Cases Through CourtConnect

Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides free online access to circuit court cases statewide. St. Francis County cases are included. Search by party name or case number to find dissolution of marriage filings. The portal shows the filing date, case type, both parties' names, and a docket list of all documents filed.

Some older cases may not be in the online system. CourtConnect coverage depends on when records were digitized for each county. If a case does not appear in the search results, the clerk's office can help locate it manually. Most cases filed in recent years should be available online.

CourtConnect is free for basic searches. No login is required. Third parties searching for records should be aware of the access restrictions under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-18-305. Dissolution records are restricted to parties and immediate family for 50 years after the case closes.

Filing a Dissolution of Marriage in St. Francis County

To file in St. Francis County, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Arkansas for 60 days before filing. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-303 requires 90 days of total state residency before a final decree can be granted. If you meet the 60-day mark at filing but have not yet reached 90 days, the court will wait until that requirement is satisfied.

Arkansas requires a stated ground for dissolution of marriage. The most commonly used 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 the complaint is filed and served, the court must wait at least 30 days before entering a final decree under § 9-12-307(a)(1)(B). Cases involving property disputes or minor children typically take longer.

Filing fees start at approximately $165. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk for an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Income-qualifying filers may have fees waived or reduced.

Grounds for Dissolution in Arkansas

Arkansas does not have traditional no-fault divorce. Every dissolution petition must state a legal ground. The general indignities ground is broad and covers a range of behaviors that make living together unreasonable. It is the most frequently cited ground in contested cases.

The 18-month separation ground is simpler to prove but takes longer. You and your spouse must live apart continuously for 18 months without resuming cohabitation. If you reconcile and then separate again, the 18-month clock restarts. This ground works well for couples who have already been living separately for a long time.

Other grounds exist under § 9-12-301, including impotency, felony conviction, and habitual drunkenness. These are used less often but may apply in specific situations. An attorney can help you determine which ground fits your circumstances.

Arkansas Department of Health Divorce Certificates

After a dissolution of marriage is granted anywhere in Arkansas, the court notifies the Arkansas Department of Health. ADH keeps a statewide index of divorces dating back to 1923. 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. The phone is 800-462-0599. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The ADH certificate confirms the divorce took place and lists the parties and date. It does not include terms like property division or child custody. For full case details, request a certified copy from the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk at $5.00 per page. If you need both documents, plan to contact both offices separately.

Legal Aid and Self-Help

Free legal help is available for income-qualifying residents of St. Francis County. Arkansas Legal Services handles family law cases including dissolution of marriage. Call (870) 972-9224 for the office serving eastern Arkansas, or (501) 376-3423 for the statewide intake line.

AR Law Help at arlawhelp.org offers free online guides covering every stage of the Arkansas divorce process. You can find downloadable forms, explanations of legal terms, and links to local legal aid. Self-represented filers are welcome at the courthouse, but legal advice from an attorney gives you a clearer picture of your rights before you sign anything.

Nearby Counties

St. Francis County is in eastern Arkansas. Adjacent counties include Lee County to the north, Crittenden County to the northeast, Cross County to the northwest, and Monroe County to the south. Each has a Circuit Clerk who handles local dissolution filings. Verify your county of residence before choosing where to file.

For a full list of Arkansas counties and their court offices, visit the counties directory.