Find Divorce Decrees in Benton County
Benton County divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Circuit Clerk's office in Bentonville. The county is in the 19th Judicial District in northwest Arkansas. Whether you are searching for a recent case or need a certified copy of an older dissolution record, the Circuit Clerk is the place to start. This page covers the online search portal, office contact details, copy fees, and what you need to know about Arkansas divorce law as it applies to Benton County filings.
Benton County Divorce Records Overview
Benton County Circuit Clerk Office and Location
The Benton County Circuit Clerk's office is located at the Administration Building, 102 Northeast A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. The main phone number is (479) 271-1015. The Criminal Division can be reached at (479) 271-1016. Fax requests go to (479) 271-5719. The Circuit Clerk acts as ex-officio County Recorder, so land records and court records are managed by the same office.
A separate juvenile courthouse is located at 1301 Melissa Drive, Bentonville, AR 72712, with a direct line at (479) 271-5702. All divorce and domestic relations cases are handled through the main courthouse at Northeast A Street, not the juvenile location. Family court cases in Benton County cover divorce, termination of parental rights, adoption, and juvenile matters.
The County Clerk's office, a separate office from the Circuit Clerk, is at 215 East Central Avenue, Bentonville, AR 72712, phone (479) 271-1013. The County Clerk handles marriage licenses and maintains a joint archive with the Circuit Clerk for older marriage records. Divorce decrees are exclusively with the Circuit Clerk. Archives staff can be reached at archives@bentoncountyar.gov for microfilm-format record inquiries.
Benton County Divorce Decree Online Search
Benton County has one of the better online search systems among Arkansas counties. The Benton Circuit Clerk search portal provides public access to records indexes and images. Public records index data is available from May 3, 1945 to the present. Public records images go back to January 31, 1933. For internal records, index data runs from August 1, 2002, and images start from the same date.
Through the portal, users can search judgments, which includes final divorce decrees. Judgment index data is available from February 3, 1992, with images accessible from November 1, 1970. This makes Benton County's online access more extensive than most other Arkansas counties. For account questions about the portal, contact BIS Online Services at 866-658-0865 or onlineservices@bisonline.com. First-time logins use "Password2017" as a default credential.
The statewide CourtConnect portal from the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts is also searchable for Benton County cases. You can look up cases by participant name, case type, or case ID. Help is available at (866) 823-5778. Self-service public terminals for viewing records are also available at most Benton County courthouse locations.
Note: The online portals provide index and image access to many records but do not replace a formal certified copy request when a certified document is needed for legal purposes.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
The distinction matters. A Benton County divorce decree is the complete court order covering all final terms. It includes property division, debt assignment, spousal support, and custody arrangements if children were involved. Only the Circuit Clerk in Bentonville holds the original for cases filed there. The decree is generated by the court and is maintained permanently under Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 7.
A divorce certificate is a different record entirely. It is a short document issued at the state level by the Arkansas Department of Health. The certificate shows the names of the parties, the date, and the county where the divorce was granted. It does not include custody terms, support orders, or property details. The fee is $10 per copy. Phone orders go through (866) 209-9482. The mailing address is 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, divorce court case files are generally accessible. Copies cannot be charged at more than actual reproduction cost. If any copy fee estimate exceeds $25, the clerk may require prepayment. The restriction under Arkansas Code § 20-18-305 applies specifically to divorce certificates, not to the full decree at the courthouse.
Benton County Circuit Clerk Search Portal
The Benton Circuit Clerk search portal offers online access to public records indexes and images, making it easier to find divorce decree case data before requesting a formal certified copy.
The portal covers decades of records with both index data and scanned images for many document types, including judgments that encompass final divorce decrees.
The Benton County court records page provides additional guidance on how to search for divorce and other court records, including address and phone information for each courthouse location in the county.
Multiple District Courts serve communities throughout Benton County, but divorce filings go through the Circuit Court at the Bentonville administration building, not through district courts.
Filing Requirements and Arkansas Divorce Law
To file for divorce in Benton County, at least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. The same spouse must have lived in Benton County for three months before the court issues the final decree. These residency requirements apply statewide under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301.
Arkansas law still requires stating a legal ground for divorce in most cases. Common grounds include adultery, cruel treatment, habitual drunkenness for at least one year, felony conviction, permanent insanity, and conduct that makes living together unreasonable. Spouses who have lived apart for 18 months can use separation as grounds. If both parties agree to the divorce and the defendant waives proof in writing, grounds do not need to be proven before the judge.
The new domestic relations filing fee in Benton County is $165. This covers the initial petition for divorce. Service fees for any summons or subpoenas add to that cost. For people who cannot afford an attorney, Arkansas Legal Services (arlawhelp.org) offers free interactive divorce forms and guides. The site is specifically designed for self-represented litigants and covers the Benton County court system.
Under Arkansas Code § 16-90-104, courts redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor children's identifying details from public copies of court records, including divorce decrees. This protects sensitive information while keeping the general terms of the decree accessible.
Legal Help for Benton County Residents
Benton County residents have access to several free or low-cost legal resources. Arkansas Legal Services Partnership covers the northwest Arkansas region and provides forms, legal information, and referral services. Divorce forms through this site are free and interactive, guiding users through each required field. The organization does not provide direct legal representation but can point you to attorneys who handle low-income family cases.
The Arkansas Court Kiosk program has placed public-use terminals in courthouses across the state. At these kiosks, you can access court records, find forms, apply for legal aid, and watch video walkthroughs of court procedures. Benton County, as one of the state's largest counties, is likely to have kiosk access at the Bentonville courthouse. The program is working toward placement in every county in Arkansas.
For genealogical research involving older Benton County divorce decrees, FamilySearch holds an Arkansas divorce index for 1923 to 1939. The Arkansas State Archives also offers remote research assistance and microfilm orders for older records statewide.
Nearby Counties and Qualifying Cities
Benton County borders Carroll and Madison counties in Arkansas, as well as Missouri and Oklahoma to the north and west. Each neighboring Arkansas county has its own Circuit Clerk office and maintains divorce records independently.
Several cities in Benton County have pages on this site. These cities have populations above the qualifying threshold: