Craighead County Divorce Decree Search

Craighead County divorce decree records are available through the Circuit Clerk's offices in both Jonesboro and Lake City, Arkansas. Craighead County has two county seats and two courthouse locations, so knowing which district handled a case determines where to make your request. This page covers both offices, how to search cases online, what copies cost, and what Arkansas law says about access to divorce records.

Two Courthouse Locations for Divorce Records

Craighead County operates two Circuit Clerk offices. Cases are filed at the office serving the district where the party resided at the time of filing. To get a divorce decree or request copies, contact the office that handled the case.

Jonesboro Office: 511 South Main Street, Suite 200, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Phone: (870) 933-4530. Fax: (870) 933-4534. Lake City Office: 107 Cobean Boulevard, P.O. Box 537, Lake City, AR 72437. Phone: (870) 237-4342. Fax: (870) 237-8174. If you are unsure which office to contact, start with the Jonesboro location since it serves the larger western district where most cases are filed.

The Circuit Clerk maintains records for Civil Court, Criminal Court, Domestic Court, and Juvenile Court. Divorce records fall under Domestic Court. All court records are permanent except juvenile records, which are kept confidential. Domestic Court handles divorce, domestic abuse, child support, paternity, and related family filings. Juvenile records are not open to the public under any circumstances.

The official Craighead County Circuit Clerk court information page lists all divisions, case types handled in each, and the addresses for both courthouse locations.

The official Circuit Clerk site explains the breakdown between Civil, Criminal, Domestic, and Juvenile divisions and confirms that all non-juvenile court records are maintained as permanent records.

Online Divorce Decree Case Search

The Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect portal provides free public access to Craighead County case information. Search by party name or case number. The system returns filing dates, docket entries, party names, and case status for both the Jonesboro and Lake City districts. District Court archived records from September 1994 through July 31, 2018 are also available through a separate online search.

Online access shows case summaries only. Full document images, including the actual divorce decree text, are not available through CourtConnect. To get certified copies of any document, contact the appropriate Circuit Clerk office directly. Mail requests are accepted at both locations.

For divorce record verification and background information specific to Craighead County, the CraigheadRecords.us divorce records page outlines what documents are included in a Craighead County divorce case file and what the request process looks like.

This Craighead County-specific resource explains what documents are in a divorce case file — from the petition through the final decree — and how to request certified copies at both office locations.

The ArkansasCourtRecords.us Craighead County page provides a detailed breakdown of record types, fees, and online search options for both the Jonesboro and Lake City offices.

This resource lists copy fees, district court locations in Jonesboro and Lake City, and explains that marriage and divorce record copies run $10.00 per copy from Craighead County offices.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Craighead County

Arkansas produces two types of divorce records, and they serve different purposes. A divorce decree is the full court order from the Circuit Court. It includes every term of the divorce: property division, debt allocation, custody arrangements, child support and alimony amounts, name change approvals, and the judge's final ruling. The Craighead County Circuit Clerk holds these records at both the Jonesboro and Lake City offices.

A divorce certificate is a short summary document. Names, date, and county only. These come from the Arkansas Department of Health for divorces since January 1923. Cost is $10 per copy. Phone: (866) 209-9482. Mail: Vital Records Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM at that address.

Most people need the decree, not the certificate, when they need actual terms of a divorce. The certificate is sufficient for basic verification — proving the divorce happened and when. Under Arkansas Code § 20-18-305, access to certificates is restricted to parties, family, legal representatives, and those with a legal interest. Under § 25-19-105, the full case file is generally public. Records become fully open after 100 years.

How to Request Copies of Craighead County Divorce Decrees

In-person requests are handled at either the Jonesboro or Lake City office depending on where the case was filed. Bring valid photo ID. Provide the names of both parties and an approximate filing year. Staff will locate the file and process your copy request. Craighead County charges $10.00 per copy for divorce records. Walk-in requests are typically processed the same day.

Mail requests should go to the relevant office. Include both parties' full names, the approximate divorce year, your mailing address, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and your payment. Checks or money orders payable to the Craighead County Circuit Clerk. Processing time varies. Phone ahead to confirm current procedures.

For historical or genealogical research, the Arkansas State Archives provides free remote research up to two hours. The Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives (NEARA) covers Craighead County records. Email state.archives@arkansas.gov or call 501-682-6900. Allow one to three weeks for results.

Divorce Filing Requirements in Arkansas

Arkansas requires fault-based grounds for divorce under § 9-12-301. Accepted grounds include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness for at least one year, felony conviction, permanent insanity, and 18-month separation. If both spouses agree on all terms, the defendant can file a written waiver and proof of grounds is not needed.

One spouse must be an Arkansas resident for 60 days before filing. Three months of Craighead County residency is required before the court can issue a final decree. That means any decree from this county was preceded by three months of county residency by at least one party.

Filing fees are $165.00 for new cases under § 21-6-403. Reopening a case costs $50.00. Self-help divorce forms are available free at Arkansas Legal Help. For mediation options and lists of certified mediators, the official Craighead Circuit Clerk page links to Alternative Dispute Resolution resources.

Legal Resources for Craighead County

Craighead County is one of Arkansas's larger counties. Legal aid services, mediation programs, and self-help tools are accessible here. Arkansas Legal Help provides free interactive forms for divorce, custody, child support, domestic abuse, and expungement. These are the same forms the Circuit Clerk will refer you to if you ask about paperwork.

For domestic violence resources, the Administrative Office of the Courts Domestic Violence Program provides information on orders of protection and safety planning. The Craighead Circuit Clerk site links to this program. Child support payment information is handled by the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement. Local child support enforcement in Craighead County can be reached at 479-471-8855 (this number is listed for reference; confirm with the local office).

The Arkansas Court Kiosk program has kiosks in Craighead County at the courthouse locations. Use them for free form access, legal aid applications, and record searches. The DivorceArkansas.org records guide is a good plain-language overview of the statewide records system if you need more context.

Jonesboro and Nearby Counties

Jonesboro is the largest city in Craighead County and one of the largest cities in Arkansas. If you are looking for divorce records tied to a Jonesboro address, the western district courthouse at 511 S. Main Street, Suite 200 is your contact point. For the city page with more detail on Jonesboro-area resources, see Jonesboro Divorce Decree Records.

Craighead County borders Greene, Mississippi, Poinsett, Cross, Jackson, Lawrence, and Clay counties. For any neighboring county records, contact that county's Circuit Clerk directly.

• Greene County - Paragould
• Mississippi County - Blytheville / Osceola
• Poinsett County - Harrisburg
• Jackson County - Newport
• Lawrence County - Walnut Ridge
• Clay County - Piggott / Corning

For statewide certificate verification, the Arkansas Department of Health at (866) 209-9482 can confirm whether a divorce record exists before you request county-level files.