Find Divorce Decrees in Clark County

Clark County divorce decree records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The Circuit Clerk is your primary source for certified copies of final decrees, case file documents, and docket information for divorces filed in the county. This guide covers where to go, how to request records, what fees to expect, and what state resources can help you track down what you need.

Clark County Circuit Clerk

The Clark County Circuit Clerk is Brian Daniel. His office is located on the second floor of the Clark County Courthouse at 401 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff members include Kendra Nash, Sandra Peterson, Misty Ward, and Anna Brazeal.

The Circuit Clerk serves as clerk of both the circuit court and juvenile court. As the county's ex-officio recorder, this office also records deeds, mortgages, and other property instruments. For divorce records, the clerk maintains the entire case file. That includes the petition, summons, financial disclosures, property settlement, any custody or support orders, and the final decree. The office handles all pending cases and retains records of every past case and its outcome.

One important note: the Circuit Clerk does not provide legal forms for divorces. The office will point you to Arkansas Legal Help or suggest you consult an attorney if you need paperwork assistance. For marriage license requests, contact the County Clerk at (870) 246-4491, as marriage records are held separately from divorce records.

The Clark County Circuit Clerk page provides contact details and explains office responsibilities for court proceedings, recording functions, and juvenile matters.

The Clark County Circuit Clerk office at 401 Clay Street manages all divorce decree records for the county, including custody and property settlement documents included in final decrees.

County Clerk and Related Offices

The Clark County Clerk, Tracy Pruitt, is located at the same courthouse address: 401 Clay Street, Second Floor, Arkadelphia, AR 71923. Fax is (870) 246-6505, and office hours match the Circuit Clerk at 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The County Clerk handles probate matters, marriage licenses, voter registration, and financial records for the county.

It's worth knowing which office handles what. Divorce decrees go through the Circuit Clerk. Marriage licenses come from the County Clerk. If you are doing genealogy or need to confirm both a marriage and a divorce, you may need to visit both offices or contact them separately.

The Clark County Clerk's website lists services, staff, and session schedule details for probate and county court proceedings.

The County Clerk's office handles probate and marriage records while the Circuit Clerk maintains divorce decrees and case files.

For a full rundown of what the County Clerk handles under Arkansas statute, see the Clark County Clerk duties page.

The duties page covers the County Clerk's role in probate cases, voter registration, Quorum Court proceedings, and financial recordkeeping under Arkansas law.

Online Case Search

Arkansas offers a free public case search portal called CourtConnect. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. Results show basic case-level data including filing date, parties involved, docket entries, and current status. This is a good first step before visiting or contacting the Circuit Clerk.

For CourtConnect help, call the Administrative Office of Courts at (866) 823-5778. The portal works for most Clark County civil and domestic relations cases, though very old records may not appear. If your search returns no results for a case you believe exists, call the Circuit Clerk directly at (870) 246-9552 (District Court line) or visit the office at 401 Clay Street.

Full document copies are not available through CourtConnect. The online tool shows case information only. To get the actual divorce decree text, certified copies, or full case file documents, you must contact the Clark County Circuit Clerk.

Decree vs. Certificate: What You Actually Need

Arkansas issues two separate types of divorce records, and they come from two different sources. The divorce decree is the court document. It contains the full terms of the divorce. Property division, child custody, support orders, name change approvals — all of that is in the decree. The Clark County Circuit Clerk keeps this record.

The divorce certificate is a short summary. Names, date, county. That's about it. These certificates are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health for divorces since January 1923. Cost is $10 per copy. You can call (866) 209-9482 to order by phone or mail a request to Vital Records Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205. Walk-in service runs Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM at that Little Rock address.

If you only need to confirm a divorce happened, a certificate usually works. If you need the actual terms — custody, property splits, support amounts — you need the decree from the Circuit Clerk. Some legal processes specifically require the certified decree, so check what is needed before you order the wrong document.

Arkansas Divorce Laws and Filing Rules

Arkansas requires grounds for divorce under § 9-12-301. Unlike many states, Arkansas does not allow a simple "no-fault" divorce based on irreconcilable differences alone. Accepted grounds include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness lasting one or more years, felony conviction, permanent insanity, and separation for at least 18 months. If both parties agree on all terms and the defendant signs a written waiver, proof of grounds is not required.

Residency requirements apply to both the filing and the final decree. One spouse must have been an Arkansas resident for at least 60 days before the petition is filed. Three months of county residency is required before the judge can sign the final decree. So a Clark County decree means at least one party lived in Clark County for three months.

Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, court records are generally open to inspection. Divorce case files are public under this rule. However, access to divorce certificates is restricted under § 20-18-305. That statute limits access to the parties, immediate family, legal representatives, and those with a clear legal interest. Records open fully to the public after 100 years from the divorce date.

Legal Aid and Self-Help

Need help with a divorce case in Clark County? Arkansas Legal Help has free interactive forms for divorce, custody, and related matters. The Circuit Clerk's office will refer you here for any form-related questions. The site does not provide legal advice, but the forms are free and available online.

The Arkansas Court Kiosk program is rolling out kiosks across all 75 counties. These kiosks let you print court forms, watch legal explainer videos, find fact sheets, and apply for legal aid. Check the Circuit Clerk's office in Arkadelphia to see if a kiosk is available. The program aims to put at least one kiosk in every county courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Clark County borders Pike, Hot Spring, Saline, Ouachita, Nevada, Hempstead, and Howard counties. If a divorce case you are looking for was filed in one of those counties, contact their Circuit Clerk directly. Each county maintains its own records and the clerks do not share databases with each other.

• Pike County - Murfreesboro
• Hot Spring County - Malvern
• Saline County - Benton
• Ouachita County - Camden
• Nevada County - Prescott
• Hempstead County - Hope
• Howard County - Nashville

For statewide certificate verification, the Arkansas Department of Health at (866) 209-9482 is the fastest route to confirm a divorce occurred without pulling the full file.