Lafayette County Divorce Decree Search
Lafayette County divorce decrees are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office in Lewisville, which serves the 9th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk holds every divorce case file from the county, including the final court order, supporting filings, and any property or custody terms the court approved. This page covers how to find and request those records.
Lafayette County Divorce Records Overview
Circuit Clerk Office in Lewisville
The Lafayette County Circuit Clerk is located at 3 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845. The phone number is (870) 921-4878. This is the single office responsible for all divorce decree records in Lafayette County. The Circuit Clerk handles family court filings, including divorce, legal separation, child custody, and support cases. Every final decree in the county goes through this office and stays on file there.
The courthouse in Lewisville is the only location for Lafayette County records. There is no branch office or satellite location. If you need to request a divorce decree, plan to either visit in person or send a written request by mail. Call ahead to confirm current hours before making the trip from a distance, since small county offices sometimes adjust their schedules.
When you visit, bring a photo ID and be ready to provide both parties' names and the approximate year of the divorce. A case number speeds things up significantly. If you do not have the number, the clerk can search by name, though very common names may require more details to narrow down the right case.
Getting a Certified Copy of a Lafayette County Divorce Decree
Certified copies of Lafayette County divorce decrees are available through the Circuit Clerk by request. In-person requests are the quickest option. Walk in with your ID and the case details, and staff can usually make copies while you wait. Certified copies cost $5 or more, depending on the number of pages involved. Ask the clerk's office for the current fee schedule when you call.
For mail requests, write a letter that includes both party names, the divorce year, the case number if available, and the purpose of the request. Enclose a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for the expected fees, made payable to the Lafayette County Circuit Clerk. Send to: 3 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845. Allow at least one to two weeks for the request to be processed and returned by mail. Actual turnaround depends on workload at the time of your request.
If you are unsure whether the divorce was filed in Lafayette County, try searching the free statewide portal at CourtConnect first. Enter the names of the parties and filter by county if you can. This will help you confirm the county before mailing a request.
Using CourtConnect to Find Lafayette County Cases
The Arkansas judiciary offers a free online search tool at CourtConnect that includes Lafayette County family court records. You can search by participant name, case ID, or citation number. The results show the case number, filing date, parties involved, and current status. This is not a document viewer. You will not see the decree text online. But it is a useful way to locate a case number and confirm where the divorce was filed before you contact the clerk.
CourtConnect is run by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. Technical help is available by calling (501) 410-1900 or toll-free (866) 823-5778. The portal is free to use and accessible around the clock. Once you have a case number from CourtConnect, call the Lafayette County Circuit Clerk at (870) 921-4878 to request the actual decree or any supporting documents from the case file.
Divorce Records vs. Vital Record Certificates
Two different agencies handle divorce-related records in Arkansas, and they hold two different types of documents. The Circuit Clerk in Lafayette County has the full divorce decree. That is the court order with all the legal terms. The Arkansas Department of Health has divorce certificates, which are much shorter documents used mainly as proof of the divorce event.
Divorce certificates from the ADH are available for divorces since January 1923. They cost $10 per copy and can be ordered by mail or in person. Contact ADH Vital Records at (501) 661-2336 or write to 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. The certificate will not tell you anything about property, custody, or support. It just confirms the divorce happened. For full legal terms, you need the decree from the Circuit Clerk in Lewisville.
In practice, most situations that require proof of divorce accept the certificate. Name change applications, remarriage, and Social Security purposes are examples where a certificate usually works. Legal disputes over property or custody terms always require the full decree.
Public Records Access and Arkansas Law
Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, government records are generally open to public inspection. Divorce case files at the Circuit Clerk's office fall under this rule, subject to some limits. Records must be made available promptly. If the file is in active use or storage, the clerk has up to three working days to produce it. Fees for copies cannot exceed the actual cost of reproduction.
The parties to a divorce, their attorneys, immediate family members, and those with a clear legal interest can all request records. If you are requesting records for someone other than yourself, be ready to explain your relationship to the case. The clerk's staff will let you know what documentation they need to process your request.
Arkansas Code § 9-12-301 governs the grounds and residency requirements for divorce in this state. At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing, and a final decree cannot be entered until at least 90 days of county residency.
Historical Research and the State Archives
For older Lafayette County divorce cases, the Arkansas State Archives may hold relevant historical documents. The Archives provides free remote research of up to two hours per request for people who cannot visit in person in Little Rock. To request help, fill out the online form on their site or email state.archives@arkansas.gov. Include party names, approximate dates, and the county name in your request.
The Archives is especially useful for pre-1923 records that predate the statewide vital records system and for cases from the late 1800s and early 1900s that may be on microfilm.
Nearby Counties
If the divorce you need was filed in a neighboring county, these Circuit Clerk offices serve the surrounding areas.
For self-help legal forms and free guidance on divorce cases in Arkansas, visit Arkansas Legal Services at ARLawHelp.org. The site has plain-language materials and court-approved forms for people who handle their own cases.