Find Divorce Decree Records in Grant County

Grant County divorce decree records are held by the Circuit Clerk in Sheridan, Arkansas. Whether you need to verify a past divorce, get a certified copy for legal use, or do genealogical research, this guide walks you through how to access those records and who to contact.

Grant County Circuit Clerk Office

The Grant County Circuit Clerk is the custodian of all circuit court records, including divorce decrees. The office is located at 103 West Center, Room 106, Sheridan, AR 72150. Phone is (870) 942-2631. Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk handles divorce, court, and land records for the county, with records going back to 1870.

The official Grant County Government FAQs page spells out what the clerk's office does and does not do. Key point: the Circuit Clerk does not provide blank divorce forms. If you need forms to file a divorce, you must get them from an attorney, a title company, an online resource, or through Arkansas Legal Services. Filing fees are set by state law.

Certified copies of records cost $5.00 each. Regular photocopies run $0.50 per page. Mail requests are accepted. Include the names of both parties, the approximate divorce date, any case number you have, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope when mailing requests.

Searching Grant County Divorce Records Online

Grant County cases are searchable through the statewide Arkansas CourtConnect portal. The system covers public case records across all Arkansas counties and lets you look up by participant name, case type, or case ID. For divorce cases, you would use the domestic relations case type. CourtConnect shows case status, docket entries, and party names. It does not provide full document downloads.

The CourtConnect help line runs toll-free at (866) 823-5778. If you find the case you are looking for online but need a certified copy of the decree, call or visit the Grant County Circuit Clerk's office directly. The online system is good for confirming a case exists and finding the case number, which makes the in-person or mail request faster.

Decree vs. Certificate in Arkansas

There are two separate records for any Arkansas divorce. Knowing which one you need prevents a wasted trip or mailed request.

A divorce decree is the court's final order. It includes all terms the judge approved: property division, support amounts, custody, visitation schedules, and anything else specific to the case. Grant County Circuit Clerk holds all decrees for divorces granted in this county. Records go back to 1870. The decree is the document you need if you want the specific legal terms of a divorce.

A divorce certificate is a short, standardized record. It shows the parties' names, the date, and the county. The Arkansas Department of Health holds these for divorces since January 1923. The cost is $10 per copy. Call toll-free at (866) 209-9482 or mail a request to 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. For divorces before 1923, only the Circuit Clerk has records.

Requesting Copies of Divorce Decrees

Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, most court records are open for inspection by any Arkansas citizen during regular business hours. Divorce records carry some additional restrictions under the Vital Statistics Act, which limits access to the parties, their immediate family, and those with a legal interest. In practice, if you are one of the parties or an immediate family member, access is straightforward.

Walk-in requests are the fastest option. Bring a valid photo ID to the Circuit Clerk's office at 103 West Center, Room 106, Sheridan. Staff will locate the record and make copies. Payment by cash or money order is typical. For mail requests, send all identifying information for the case plus your ID copy and a check or money order for the applicable fees. Allow extra time for mail processing.

If you are researching genealogy and the divorce is old enough to be in archive status, the Arkansas State Archives may have microfilmed or archived copies. Their free remote research service covers up to two hours of staff time for people who cannot visit in person. Submit a request at their website or email state.archives@arkansas.gov.

Arkansas Divorce Law Basics

Arkansas requires a legal ground for divorce. Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, accepted grounds include adultery, cruelty, alcoholism lasting at least one year, a felony conviction, permanent insanity, and living separately for at least 18 months without sexual relations between the spouses. There is no simple no-fault option, but if both parties agree to the divorce and the defendant waives the requirement in writing, the case can proceed without proving grounds in court.

You must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before filing. A final decree cannot be entered until at least three months of county residency are met. These are state minimums. Contested divorces with property or custody disputes often take much longer than the minimum periods.

The DivorceArkansas.org records guide has a useful overview of the two-record system and how to request each type. The CDC's Arkansas vital records guide also outlines the state-level process for certificate requests if you are starting from scratch.

Legal Help in Grant County

People who need to file for divorce or request records but are not sure how to start have a few good options. ARLawHelp.org provides free interactive forms for Arkansas divorce cases. The forms are designed for self-represented litigants and cover most common divorce situations. The site does not give legal advice, but the forms and instructions are clear and free to use.

The Arkansas Court Kiosk program has self-service stations in courthouse locations across the state. These kiosks let you look up court records, access forms, watch explainer videos, and apply for legal aid. The program aims to place at least one kiosk in every county. Check at the Grant County courthouse in Sheridan to see if one is available.

Nearby Counties

If the divorce may have been filed in a neighboring county, use these links to find the right Circuit Clerk office.

• Saline County
• Pulaski County
• Lonoke County
• Jefferson County
• Cleveland County
• Dallas County
• Hot Spring County

Grant County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site. For records questions, all residents in the county use the Circuit Clerk in Sheridan regardless of which city or town they live in.