Little Rock Divorce Decree Records

Divorce decree records for Little Rock residents are held by the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in downtown Little Rock, and the office serves as the official keeper of all domestic relations case files, certified copies, and court documents for the county. Whether you need to search a case in CourtConnect, request a certified copy of a decree, or understand how to file for divorce at the Pulaski County Courthouse, this page covers the key details specific to Little Rock and Pulaski County.

Pulaski County Circuit Clerk for Little Rock

Little Rock residents file for divorce and access divorce records through the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk, Terri Hollingsworth, located at 401 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. The main line is (501) 340-8500 and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This office is the sole custodian of divorce decree records for all of Pulaski County, which includes Little Rock.

The Circuit Clerk office has several specialized departments. New cases and divorce filings go through Central Receiving at (501) 340-8431. The Chancery division, which handles divorce and name change matters directly, can be reached at (501) 340-8411. These are the two departments most relevant when you are starting a new case or following up on an existing one. Knowing which number to call saves time.

Electronic filing is available for licensed attorneys. Self-represented petitioners, also called pro se filers, must submit their paperwork in person or by USPS, FedEx, or UPS mail. The address for both in-person and mail filings is the same: 401 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $5.00 each and can be requested in person or by mail.

The official Pulaski County Circuit Clerk website lists all departments, services, and contact numbers for the Little Rock courthouse.

The site provides direct links to each clerk division, including Central Receiving and County Records, so you can find the right contact for your specific request.

Central Receiving and Filing Divorce Cases

New divorce cases for Little Rock residents go through the Central Receiving department at the Pulaski County Courthouse. The phone is (501) 340-8431. This department handles intake for all new civil and domestic relations filings, including divorce petitions. When you bring your paperwork to the courthouse, this is the first stop.

The Central Receiving page on the Pulaski County Clerk website explains what documents are accepted, how to submit them, and what to expect after filing. It is a good first read if you are planning to file without an attorney.

Pro se filers need to bring the original petition and any required attachments. The clerk will stamp and file the documents, assign a case number, and provide a receipt. If you mail your filing, include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return your copy. Processing time can vary based on case volume at the courthouse.

Getting Copies of Little Rock Divorce Decrees

Certified copies of Little Rock divorce decrees are available through the County Records division of the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Plain, uncertified page copies have a lower per-page fee. You can request copies in person at 401 West Markham Street or by mail.

The County Records page explains what types of records are available, how to submit a request, and what identification is required. For mail requests, include your name, the case number or names of the parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and a check or money order payable to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk.

Access to divorce decrees is governed by Arkansas law. Only the parties to the case, their immediate family, and authorized legal representatives can get certified copies. Records older than 100 years are fully public. Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, court records are generally open to the public, though sensitive financial data and Social Security numbers may be redacted.

Search Little Rock Divorce Records Online

The Arkansas Judiciary's free case search tool, CourtConnect, lets you search Pulaski County divorce cases by party name, case number, or citation. It returns case-level data including filing date, parties, and case status. CourtConnect does not provide the full text of documents, but it is a fast way to confirm a case exists before contacting the clerk for copies.

The FOIA portal at pulaskiclerkar.gov also handles public records requests under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. If you need records that are not available through CourtConnect, a formal FOIA request to the Circuit Clerk is an option. Most routine copy requests can be handled without a formal FOIA submission, but the option exists for broader or more complex record needs.

Note: CourtConnect covers cases filed in Arkansas Circuit Courts statewide, including Pulaski County. Records from before 2009 may require an in-person or mail request to the clerk.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Pulaski County

A Little Rock divorce decree is the complete court order entered by the Pulaski County Circuit Court. It contains the full case file including the petition, summons, any financial affidavits, property division terms, child custody and support arrangements, and the final judgment signed by the judge. This is what you need for legal purposes like refinancing a home, changing a name on a deed, or enforcing a support order.

A divorce certificate is a different document. It is a short abstract showing only the names, date, and county of the divorce. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains certificates for all divorces in the state since 1923. Certificates cost $10 each and can be ordered by mail to ADH Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or by calling (501) 661-2336. The Department of Health does not hold actual divorce decrees. Those remain with the Circuit Clerk.

Filing for Divorce in Little Rock

To file for divorce in Little Rock, you file with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at 401 West Markham Street. Arkansas uses fault-based grounds for divorce. Common grounds include general indignities, separation for 18 continuous months, adultery, cruelty, and felony conviction. At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. The final decree cannot be entered until one party has lived in the county for 90 days.

Filing fees run approximately $165 or more depending on the case type and whether minor children are involved. Uncontested divorces, where both parties agree on all terms, typically move faster than contested cases. Cases involving minor children require a parenting education class before the court can enter a final decree. The Arkansas Women and Children First court advocate can be reached at (501) 372-5630 for support services related to family court matters in Little Rock.

Self-help resources for pro se filers are available through Arkansas Legal Services. The site has interactive forms, plain-language guides, and step-by-step instructions for uncontested divorce cases. For legal advice, consult an attorney licensed in Arkansas who is familiar with Pulaski County procedures.

Nearby Cities and Legal Resources

Little Rock is the county seat of Pulaski County. Other qualifying cities near Little Rock with their own divorce decree pages include North Little Rock, which also files with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk, and Conway in Faulkner County. Other nearby cities with pages on this site include Jacksonville, Maumelle, and Bryant.

The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds historical divorce records and provides up to two free hours of remote research. Contact them at 501-682-6900 or state.archives@arkansas.gov. For general guidance on Arkansas divorce law and record access, ARLawHelp.org is the primary statewide free legal resource.

For the full county-level overview, see the Pulaski County divorce decree records page.