Paragould Divorce Decree Records

Divorce decree records for Paragould residents are kept by the Greene County Circuit Clerk, located at the courthouse in downtown Paragould. Paragould is the county seat of Greene County, so the filing office and the records office are right here in the city. This page explains how to search, request, and file divorce decree records in Paragould and Greene County, including contact details, fees, online search options, and what to expect when you go to the courthouse.

Greene County Circuit Clerk in Paragould

Paragould sits at the center of Greene County government. The Greene County Circuit Clerk's office is at 320 West Court Street, Room 124, Paragould, AR 72450. The phone number is (870) 239-6330. This office handles all domestic relations case files, including divorce petitions, final decrees, and certified copies. Because Paragould is the county seat, you do not need to drive to another city to file or get records.

Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Calling ahead is a good idea if you need a certified copy the same day, since staff availability can affect processing time. Bring a photo ID when you visit the courthouse in person. If you know your case number, have it ready. That speeds up the search considerably and cuts down on any wait you might face at the counter.

For mail requests, send your written request to the Greene County Circuit Clerk at the address above. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was granted, and payment by check or money order. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Plain copies are less. Make your check payable to the Greene County Circuit Clerk.

Note: The Circuit Clerk office does not provide legal advice. For questions about how to complete forms or handle your case, use a licensed Arkansas attorney or a free legal aid resource.

Search Paragould Divorce Decrees Online

The Arkansas Judiciary provides a free online case search tool called CourtConnect. You can use it to look up Greene County divorce cases by name, case number, or date range. CourtConnect shows case-level information like the filing date, parties involved, and current case status. It does not give you the full text of documents, but it confirms whether a case is in the system before you contact the clerk.

CourtConnect is free and covers all Arkansas circuit courts, including Greene County. It works best for cases filed after 2009. Older records may require an in-person or mail request to the Greene County Circuit Clerk. The search tool is available any time, so you can check before making the trip downtown.

Another useful resource for older divorce records is the Arkansas Court Records page for Greene County, which provides general information about court record access in the county.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

These two documents are not the same thing, and it matters which one you request. A divorce decree is the full court order from the Greene County Circuit Court. It includes the petition, any property division agreements, custody arrangements if children are involved, and the final judgment signed by the judge. This is the document you need to refinance a house, change your name on a deed, or enforce a court order.

A divorce certificate is a short abstract produced by the Arkansas Department of Health. It shows only the names of the parties, the county, and the date. Certificates cover all Arkansas divorces since 1923. They cost $10 each and can be ordered by mail: ADH Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. The phone is (501) 661-2336. Vital Records does not have the actual decree. For the full decree, you must contact the Greene County Circuit Clerk.

Most legal and financial uses require the certified decree, not the certificate. If you are unsure which one you need, check with the agency or institution requesting the document. Banks and courts usually specify what they will accept.

Filing for Divorce in Paragould

To file for divorce in Paragould, you go to the Greene County Circuit Clerk's office at 320 West Court Street, Room 124. Arkansas requires that at least one spouse has lived in the state for 60 days before filing. The final decree cannot be entered until one party has lived in the county for at least 90 days. These are firm requirements that the court checks before granting a final order.

Arkansas law recognizes fault-based grounds for divorce. Common grounds include general indignities, living separate and apart for 18 continuous months, adultery, cruel treatment, and felony conviction. General indignities is the most commonly used ground in Arkansas and covers conduct that makes the marriage intolerable. You do not need to prove fault to get divorced, but you do need to state a ground recognized under state law.

Filing fees run approximately $165, though the exact amount can vary based on the type of case and whether minor children are involved. Cases with children require additional steps, including a parenting education class before the court will enter a final decree. This class is designed to help parents manage the impact of divorce on their children.

The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds older divorce records and can assist with remote research requests. They offer up to two free hours of remote assistance for historical record searches.

Who Can Access Divorce Decree Records

Divorce decrees are court records held by the Greene County Circuit Clerk. Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, court records are generally public. The parties to the case and their authorized representatives have full access. Third parties can view case records but may not get certified copies of every document. Some items in a case file, such as Social Security numbers and detailed financial account data, may be redacted before release.

Records more than 100 years old are fully public. More recent cases follow standard access rules. If you are looking up someone else's divorce record for general research purposes, CourtConnect is the best starting point. It lets you search without visiting the courthouse and shows the basic case details that are public by default.

Note: Divorce records are not the same as vital records. The Circuit Clerk holds decrees; the Department of Health holds certificates. Each has a different request process and a different fee.

Legal Help and Nearby Resources

Self-help resources for Paragould and Greene County residents who want to file without an attorney are available through ARLawHelp.org. The site has step-by-step guides, interactive forms, and plain-language explanations of Arkansas divorce law. It is built for people who do not have a lawyer and want to understand the process before going to court.

The Arkansas State Archives can help with older records and genealogical research tied to Greene County divorces. Their research services team can be reached at 501-682-6900 or state.archives@arkansas.gov for remote requests.

Nearby qualifying cities with divorce decree pages on this site include Jonesboro in Craighead County, which is the largest city in northeast Arkansas. For the full county-level breakdown of Greene County courts and records, see the Greene County divorce decree records page.