Divorce Decree Records in Boone County
Boone County divorce decree records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the Boone County Justice Center in Harrison, Arkansas. The office has kept court and divorce records since the county was formed in 1869. Whether you need to find a current case or request a certified copy of an older final decree, the clerk's office in Harrison is where you start. This page covers the search options, the fee structure, how to request copies by mail, and where to find free legal help in the county.
Boone County Divorce Records Overview
Boone County Circuit Clerk Office
The Boone County Circuit Clerk is David Martin. The courthouse is located at 100 N Main Street, Harrison, AR 72602. The main phone number is (870) 741-8428. The Circuit Clerk acts as ex-officio Recorder for the county, meaning the same office handles court records, deeds, mortgages, liens, conveyances, maps, plats, powers of attorney, and more.
The office maintains records for domestic relations, civil, criminal, and juvenile divisions of the circuit court. Divorce decrees are part of the domestic relations records. The clerk prepares dockets, issues summonses, draws jury panels, attends court sessions, and manages all case files through from filing to final disposition. Staff also prepares transcripts for cases under appeal.
The county courthouse was built in 1869 when Boone County was formed from Carroll and Madison Counties. Boone County has no known history of courthouse fires or flood damage, so records from the earliest period of the court system should be intact. For very old records, the office holds paper indexes, original case files, and microfilm that can be reviewed in person.
How to Search Boone County Divorce Records
The Boone County Circuit Clerk court records page explains three ways to search. First, all cases since August 1993 are available through an online database at judici.com. This is the fastest option for recent filings. Second, for cases before August 1993, you must visit the courthouse to review paper indexes, case files, and microfilm. Third, you can submit a written staff search request.
Written staff search requests require you to provide the year or years to search, the name or names to look for, and a prepaid search fee of $6 per name per year. If you want copies, add prepaid copy fees to your request. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow four to six weeks for results. This service is designed for cases that are too old to appear in the digital system or when an in-person visit is not possible.
The statewide CourtConnect portal also provides name-based searches for Boone County cases. You can search by participant name, case type, or case ID from any location. CourtConnect help is available toll-free at (866) 823-5778 if you have trouble with the system.
Note: To request information or documents from an existing case, you must present a valid ID in person at the Boone County Justice Center. Mail requests are accepted for copies but ID verification may be required before release.
Boone County Divorce Filing Fees and Family Court
Filing a divorce or legal separation case in Boone County costs $221, plus applicable service fees. This rate is slightly higher than the statewide base filing fee, reflecting local court scheduling and administrative costs. Paternity case filings run $85 plus service fees. The clerk's office does not provide paperwork to start a divorce case. You must bring completed forms or hire an attorney to prepare them.
Wednesday Divorce calls in Boone County are held in Courtroom 4 before Judge Balogh. Child support and paternity cases are heard on the first and fourth Wednesday of each month. Virtual court appearances are available through Zoom. The Zoom phone line is 1-312-626-6799. Court Clerk staff can provide meeting IDs by phone at 815-544-0371. Courtroom assignments may change due to ongoing courthouse renovations.
For people who cannot afford an attorney, Arkansas Legal Services provides free divorce forms and legal information online. The Boone County Child Support Office can also be reached at (859) 586-9100 for questions about child support enforcement separate from the divorce process itself.
Getting Certified Copies of Boone County Divorce Decrees
Certified copies of divorce decrees are available through the Circuit Clerk's office in Harrison. The standard certification fee in Arkansas runs $5 per document for the first 10 pages, then $0.50 per additional page. Plain copies are typically $0.25 to $0.50 per page depending on the county's current fee schedule. Contact the clerk at (870) 741-8428 to confirm the current rate before sending payment by mail.
Mail requests should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, a check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk will search the records and send the copies when located. For cases before 1993 that require a staff search, the process takes four to six weeks as described above.
If you only need basic proof that a divorce occurred, the Arkansas Department of Health provides divorce certificates at $10 per copy. Their records cover all Arkansas divorces since January 1923. The address is 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Orders can be placed by phone at (866) 209-9482, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Boone County Family and Juvenile Division Records
The Boone County Circuit Clerk family and juvenile division page explains how divorce and family matters are scheduled and processed at the courthouse. Family court handles divorce, custody, support, and paternity cases.
All juvenile records are confidential and are not available to the public. Divorce case records that involve minors may have certain sections sealed or restricted to protect the children involved.
The court records page on the Circuit Clerk's site outlines the three search methods available and provides the judici.com link for cases since 1993.
For records before 1993, the courthouse staff search service with the $6 per name per year fee is the formal process for locating and retrieving older divorce decree case files.
Virtual court appearances, including divorce hearings, can be attended through the Boone County virtual court information page. Zoom links and meeting IDs are available through the clerk's office.
Court Clerk staff can confirm the current Zoom meeting ID for divorce call days. Call 815-544-0371 before joining to make sure you have the correct access information.
Arkansas Divorce Laws That Apply in Boone County
Arkansas Code § 9-12-301 governs divorce filings statewide, including Boone County. The law requires 60 days of state residency before filing and three months of county residency before the final decree can be issued. These rules apply regardless of which county the case is in.
Legal grounds for divorce in Arkansas include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness for at least one year, felony conviction, permanent insanity, and indignities that make living together unreasonable. The 18-month separation ground applies when spouses have lived apart without sexual contact for at least that period. In an uncontested divorce where both parties agree, written consent from the defendant waives the need to prove grounds before the court.
Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, court records are open to public inspection during regular business hours. Fees for copies cannot exceed actual reproduction costs. Divorce records that are in active use may be delayed up to three working days. The Freedom of Information Act provides public access to divorce case files at the courthouse, separate from the more restricted divorce certificate records held by the state Department of Health.
Legal Help for Boone County Residents
Arkansas Legal Services Partnership offers free self-help tools for people going through a divorce in Boone County. The site includes interactive forms, guides for uncontested divorces, and referrals to local legal aid. If your income qualifies, you may be able to get assistance from a licensed attorney at no cost. For complex cases with property or custody disputes, working with an attorney is strongly recommended.
The Arkansas Court Kiosk program provides public-use terminals at courthouses to help people access records and find forms. Kiosks let you search court records, apply for legal aid, and watch video explanations of common court procedures. Boone County may have a kiosk available at the Harrison courthouse. Check with the Circuit Clerk's office to confirm current kiosk availability.
For historical research, the Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock provides up to two hours of free remote research. Staff can help locate older Boone County divorce records on microfilm. Contact them at 501-682-6900 or state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Nearby Counties
Boone County sits in northwest Arkansas and shares borders with several other counties. If you need to check whether a divorce was filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, each county has its own Circuit Clerk.
Harrison is the county seat and courthouse location. No cities in Boone County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Harrison's population is approximately 13,000, which is below the qualifying threshold.