Search Johnson County Divorce Decrees
Johnson County divorce decrees are on file with the Circuit Clerk in Clarksville, the county seat. The clerk maintains all family court case records for the 15th Judicial Circuit, including final divorce orders, property settlements, and custody agreements. This guide tells you how to find, request, and get copies of divorce decrees from Johnson County.
Johnson County Divorce Records Overview
Johnson County Circuit Clerk Office
All Johnson County divorce decree records are kept at the Circuit Clerk's office at 215 West Main Street, Clarksville, AR 72830. Phone: (479) 754-2977. This is the office to contact for divorce case files, certified copies, and information on filed cases. The Circuit Clerk serves the 15th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Logan County.
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Walk-in visitors can usually get same-day service for copy requests when the office is not busy. Call ahead to confirm hours and check whether a specific file is readily accessible, especially for older cases. Some records may require retrieval from storage, which can add a day or two to your request time.
Each divorce case file contains the original petition, summons, service documents, financial statements, and the final decree. If children were involved, parenting plans and child support orders are part of the file as well. You need to request the specific file by providing both party names and an approximate date or year.
Requesting Certified Copies of Divorce Decrees
Two main options exist for getting a certified copy: walk in or mail a request. Either way, you need to provide identifying information about the case. The more detail you have, the faster the clerk can locate the file. At minimum, bring or include the full legal names of both parties and the year the divorce was finalized.
For in-person requests at the Clarksville courthouse, bring a valid photo ID. Staff will locate the record and make copies for you. Certified copies cost $5 or more per document depending on page count. Standard uncertified copies are less expensive. Payment methods vary by office, so call (479) 754-2977 ahead of time to ask about cash, check, or card options.
Mail requests should be written out clearly with the case details, your contact information, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Make checks payable to the Johnson County Circuit Clerk. Mail to: 215 West Main Street, Clarksville, AR 72830. Most mail requests are processed within a week of arrival, though busy periods can slow things down.
Note: The clerk's staff can tell you what a record contains and how much copies cost, but they cannot give legal advice. For guidance on what documents you need, contact an attorney or visit Arkansas Legal Services.
Online Search for Johnson County Divorce Cases
Arkansas maintains a free public case search portal called CourtConnect. The system covers Johnson County cases and allows searches by party name, case type, or case ID. CourtConnect shows case-level information: the names on the case, filing date, current status, and scheduled hearings. It does not show the text of the divorce decree itself.
CourtConnect is useful for confirming that a case was filed in Johnson County and finding the case number before contacting the clerk. The help line for the portal is (501) 410-1900 (option 1) or toll-free (866) 823-5778. These numbers connect you to the Administrative Office of the Courts, not the county clerk.
CourtConnect is a good first step. Once you find the case number, you can call or write to the Circuit Clerk to request the full file or a certified copy of the decree.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
A divorce decree and a divorce certificate are two separate records. Understanding the difference matters before you make a request, because you may be going to the wrong office if you mix them up.
The divorce decree is the court order entered by the judge at the end of a divorce case. It covers all the specific terms: who gets the house, who pays which debts, spousal support, parenting time, and child support amounts. This document is held only at the Circuit Clerk's office in the county where the divorce was granted. If the divorce happened in Johnson County, the decree is in Clarksville.
The divorce certificate is a shorter record that confirms a divorce occurred. It shows the names of the parties and the date and county of the divorce. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains these for divorces since January 1923. You can reach the ADH Vital Records office at (501) 661-2336 or write to 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Certificates cost $10 per copy. ADH does not have the decree.
For most legal uses like remarriage or passport applications, a certificate is enough. For enforcing or modifying specific terms, you need the decree itself.
Arkansas Divorce Law Basics
Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, Arkansas uses fault-based grounds for divorce. Common grounds include adultery, cruelty, alcoholism lasting at least one year, felony conviction, and permanent insanity. Spouses who have lived separately for 18 consecutive months without sexual relations can use that separation as grounds as well. In uncontested cases, the defendant can waive the fault requirement in writing, which avoids the need to prove specific grounds in court.
Residency rules apply to all Johnson County filings. At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for a minimum of 60 days before the case can be filed. A final decree cannot be signed until one spouse has been a resident of the county for at least 90 days. These time frames are legal minimums. Contested cases involving property or children often take considerably longer.
Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, court records including divorce case files are generally open to public inspection. The clerk must make records available promptly upon a valid request, typically within three working days if not immediately accessible.
Historical Records for Johnson County Divorces
Older Johnson County divorce records that predate the current digital system may be harder to find through normal channels. For cases from the 19th or early 20th century, the Arkansas State Archives is a strong resource. The Archives provides up to two hours of free remote research and holds microfilmed and manuscript collections from many Arkansas counties.
To use their remote research service, fill out the online request form or email state.archives@arkansas.gov. Include as much detail as you know: party names, approximate dates, and that the case was in Johnson County. Staff can usually confirm within a few days whether they have relevant records and what it will take to retrieve them.
Nearby Counties
If a divorce may have been filed in a neighboring county, the clerks below serve those areas. Each county has its own Circuit Clerk and case files.