Divorce Decree Records in Howard County
Howard County divorce decree records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Nashville, Arkansas. This guide explains how to find and request those records, what tools are available online, and how the Arkansas divorce record system works for residents and researchers.
Howard County Divorce Records Overview
Howard County Circuit Clerk Information
The Circuit Clerk for Howard County is Angie Lewis. The office is located at 421 North Main Street, Nashville, AR 71852. Phone is (870) 845-7506, fax (870) 845-7505. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Clerk handles divorce records as clerk of the circuit court, maintaining all domestic relations case files for the county.
The County Service Network page for Howard County lists the Circuit Clerk and County Clerk contacts side by side. Note that these are two different offices with two different clerks. The County Clerk is Keri Teague and handles a separate set of county government functions, including marriage licenses and probate. Divorce decrees belong to the Circuit Clerk, not the County Clerk.
In-person requests are accepted at the courthouse. Mail requests are also handled. Bring or include a valid photo ID along with identifying details for the case. Certification fees apply on top of standard copy fees. If you call ahead to (870) 845-7506, staff can let you know what to bring and what fees to expect.
Online Search Options for Howard County
Howard County cases are searchable through the Arkansas CourtConnect public portal. This is the official state court case information system. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. Divorce and other domestic relations cases appear under Case Type 14. The portal covers all Arkansas counties and does not require an account to use.
CourtConnect shows case-level information. It tells you a case exists, who the parties are, and what actions have been filed. The full text of the divorce decree is not available through the online system. For certified copies, contact the Howard County Circuit Clerk in Nashville directly. The CourtConnect help line is (866) 823-5778 toll-free.
Note: Online case searches return docket information only. Obtaining a certified copy of a Howard County divorce decree requires a direct request to the Circuit Clerk at 421 North Main Street, Nashville, AR.
Two Types of Divorce Records in Arkansas
Arkansas has two separate systems for divorce records. One is the court-generated decree. The other is a state-issued certificate. Both prove a divorce occurred, but they contain very different amounts of information and are held by different agencies.
The divorce decree is the full court order. It lists all terms: property split, debt allocation, alimony, custody schedule, support amounts, and the legal ground used. Howard County Circuit Clerk holds decrees for all divorces granted in the county. If you need the specific terms of a divorce, the decree from the Circuit Clerk is what you need.
The divorce certificate is a short official document showing names, date, and county. The Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office maintains these for all divorces since January 1923. Certified copies cost $10 each. You can order by phone at (866) 209-9482, online through the ADH website, or by mail to 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. The ADH does not have the decree text.
Requesting a Certified Divorce Decree Copy
Walk-in service at the Howard County Circuit Clerk is the fastest method. The courthouse is at 421 North Main Street, Nashville. Bring valid photo ID. Staff will locate the record and make copies while you wait, or you may be asked to return later if the file needs to be pulled from storage.
Mail requests work for people who cannot travel to Nashville. Send a written request to Howard County Circuit Clerk, 421 North Main Street, Nashville, AR 71852. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was entered, any case number you have, a photocopy of your ID, and payment by check or money order. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail.
Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, the FOIA requires records to be available immediately unless in active use or storage. If unavailable, the custodian must set an access date within three business days. Copy fees are capped at actual reproduction costs. This applies to divorce court records just like any other public document held by a county office.
Divorce Law and Filing in Howard County
Divorces in Howard County are filed at the Circuit Clerk's office in Nashville and heard in Circuit Court. Arkansas requires a legal ground for divorce. Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, valid grounds include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness for at least one year, felony conviction, permanent insanity, and 18 consecutive months of separation. Both parties can agree to proceed without contested proof of grounds if the defendant signs a written waiver.
One spouse must live in Arkansas for 60 days before the petition is filed. The final decree cannot be entered until one spouse has lived in the county for at least three months. Howard County Circuit Court follows these state-mandated minimums. Uncontested cases tend to move more quickly. Cases involving disputes over custody, support, or property take longer.
For genealogical research on older Howard County divorces, the Arkansas State Archives can help. Their remote research service covers up to two hours of staff time for people unable to visit Little Rock. The archives hold microfilmed county records, court indexes, and other historical material. Contact them at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Legal Help for Howard County Residents
Self-represented litigants can find free divorce forms at ARLawHelp.org. The interactive forms walk through the process step by step. No legal advice is provided, but the forms are free and designed for standard Arkansas divorce situations.
The Arkansas Court Kiosk program has installed self-service stations at courthouses across Arkansas. These kiosks let you access records, find forms, apply for legal aid, and view video guides on common court matters. Check at the Howard County courthouse in Nashville to see if a kiosk is available for public use. The program aims for at least one kiosk in every county.
The DivorceArkansas.org records guide and the CDC Arkansas vital records page both provide clear overviews of the record-request process from the state level down to the county level.
Nearby Counties
Howard County is in southwest Arkansas. If you are not sure which county handled a specific divorce, check the Circuit Clerk pages for neighboring counties.
Howard County has no qualifying cities for separate city pages on this site. All divorce records for the county, no matter where in the county a party lived, are held at the Circuit Clerk's office at 421 North Main Street, Nashville, AR 71852.