Faulkner County Divorce Decree Records
Divorce decree records in Faulkner County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Conway, Arkansas, and the office serves as the official custodian of all domestic relations case filings, certified copies, and court documents for the county. Whether you need to search a case, get a certified copy of a decree, or understand the filing process at the Circuit Court in Conway, this page has the details you need.
Faulkner County Divorce Records Overview
Faulkner County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk at 801 Locust Street, Conway, AR 72034 is the official custodian of divorce records in Faulkner County. The phone is (501) 450-4909 and the fax is (501) 450-4938. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Circuit Clerk maintains divorce decrees, liens, mortgages, property records, and all court case records. Divorce records in Faulkner County go back to 1873. Records filed before January 1, 2009 may not be available electronically. For those older records, in-person or mail requests are the only option. Processing time for copy requests runs 3 to 5 business days. Certified copies cost $10 per document.
The County Clerk, Margaret Darter, is a separate office at the same address with phone (501) 450-4910. Her office handles voter registration, probate, marriage licenses, and county court records. Marriage licenses cost $60 cash, or by debit or credit card with a processing fee. Covenant Marriage Licenses are available with a counseling requirement. For passport processing, the County Clerk also handles U.S. Passport Applications.
The official Faulkner County government page lists current staff, services, fees, and office hours for the County Clerk in Conway. The site covers everything from marriage licenses to probate records and provides links to related county departments.
Search Faulkner County Divorce Records Online
Faulkner County has a dedicated divorce records portal at faulknerrecords.us/divorce-records. The site explains what divorce records contain, how to request them from the Circuit Clerk, and what the access rules are under Arkansas law. It also links to the CourtConnect online case search for Faulkner County filings.
The Faulkner County divorce records portal is a useful local reference. It covers what documents are included in a Faulkner County divorce decree file, certified copy fees, and which records are available electronically through CourtConnect versus which require a direct request to the clerk.
The Faulkner Records Portal lists all county offices at 801 Locust Street, Conway, including Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, and Assessor, with their individual phone numbers. It also explains copy fees ($0.50 per page, $5 for certified copies) and how to access records under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
The Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect portal allows free searching of Faulkner County case records by party name, case number, or citation. It provides case-level information but not the full document text. For the actual divorce decree, you contact the Circuit Clerk. For CourtConnect help, call (866) 823-5778.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Faulkner County
A Faulkner County divorce decree is the complete court order. It includes the petition, summons, financial affidavits, property settlement terms, child custody arrangements, and the final judgment. These documents are held by the Circuit Clerk at 801 Locust Street. The decree is the record you need for legal matters like property transfers, name changes, or enforcement of support orders.
A divorce certificate is a shorter document showing only the names, date, and county. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains certificates statewide for divorces since 1923. Certificates cost $10 each. You can order online, by phone at (866) 209-9482, or by mail to Vital Records Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205. The Department of Health does not hold actual divorce decrees.
Faulkner County divorce records among equity records are available from 1873. Divorces before 1950 are held at the Circuit Court. For divorces after 1950, the Arkansas Department of Health holds certificates. For genealogical research, the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness page for Faulkner County covers record start dates and historical collections.
Certified Copy Fees and Access Rules
Certified copies of Faulkner County divorce decrees cost $10 per document from the Circuit Clerk. Page copies are $0.50 each. Bring a valid photo ID to the office or include a copy with mail requests. The Circuit Clerk processes requests within 3 to 5 business days.
Access is restricted under Arkansas Code § 20-18-305. Only the parties to the divorce, their immediate family (parents, children, grandchildren), and authorized legal representatives may obtain certified copies. Records more than 100 years old become fully public. Under the Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, court case records are generally open to the public, though personal financial information and Social Security numbers may be redacted under § 16-90-104 to protect sensitive data in court documents.
The RAOGK Faulkner County page explains how pre-1950 and post-1950 divorce records are split between the Circuit Court and the state health department, which is useful when you are not sure which office has the record you need.
Filing for Divorce in Faulkner County
Divorce cases in Faulkner County are filed at the Circuit Court at 801 Locust Street, Conway. Arkansas requires fault-based grounds under § 9-12-301. Grounds include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness for one year or more, felony conviction, permanent insanity, indignities making the spouse's situation intolerable, and living separately for at least 18 continuous months without sexual contact.
At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. The final decree cannot be entered until that spouse has lived in the county for at least 3 months. Uncontested divorces are simpler: if both parties agree and the defendant waives proof of grounds in writing, the court does not require additional evidence. Cases with minor children require a parenting education class.
Filing fees run approximately $165 or more. Uncontested cases often close in two to three months. Contested cases take longer depending on the issues involved. Self-help resources and free interactive divorce forms are available through Arkansas Legal Services. The Arkansas Court Kiosk program also has public access terminals at the Faulkner County Courthouse in Conway with forms, fact sheets, and legal aid application assistance.
Legal Help and Related Resources
ARLawHelp.org offers free interactive forms and plain-language guides for people handling their own divorce cases in Arkansas. They do not give legal advice, but the forms and instructions are clear and usable for straightforward situations. For anything complex, consult an attorney familiar with Faulkner County court procedures.
The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock provides up to two free hours of remote research for people who cannot visit in person. Contact them at state.archives@arkansas.gov or by calling 501-682-6900. They have records from all over the state and can help locate materials for older Faulkner County divorces.
The CDC's Arkansas vital records page summarizes how to request divorce certificates through the state, including costs and mailing address. DivorceArkansas.org also has a plain guide on the difference between decrees and certificates and what to include in a records request.
Cities in Faulkner County and Nearby Counties
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County and home to the Circuit Clerk office. It also has its own page on this site with city-specific divorce decree information: Conway, AR Divorce Decree Records.
Faulkner County borders several other counties. Divorce records for those areas are at their respective Circuit Clerks: