Lee County Divorce Decree Records
Lee County divorce decree records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Marianna, Arkansas, where the 1st Judicial Circuit Court handles all domestic relations cases for the county. Whether you need to search for an existing divorce decree, request a certified copy, or understand the local filing process, this page explains how the Lee County court system works and where to find the records you need.
Lee County Divorce Records Overview
Lee County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk in Marianna is the official custodian of all divorce decree records filed in Lee County. The office is located at 15 East Chestnut Street, Room 2, Marianna, AR 72360. You can reach the office by phone at (870) 295-7710. Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, though it is a good idea to call ahead before making a trip.
The Circuit Clerk maintains the full case files for every divorce action brought in Lee County Circuit Court. Those files include the original petition, any temporary orders, the final divorce decree, and all exhibits entered into the record. When both parties agree on terms, the case moves faster and the clerk's office can often process a certified copy request more quickly after the decree is signed by the judge.
Lee County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. That circuit handles a large portion of eastern Arkansas, and the Circuit Clerk in Marianna works under the administrative framework set by the circuit court. If you are unsure which case number applies to a particular divorce, the clerk can help you search by party name or approximate date.
Search Lee County Divorce Decrees Online
The Arkansas Judiciary runs the CourtConnect public access portal, which is the primary free tool for searching divorce case records statewide, including Lee County. You can search by party name, case number, or citation. The results show the case type, filing date, current status, and the names of all parties. Full document text is not available through CourtConnect, but the case-level data is enough to confirm a filing exists and to get the case number you need before contacting the clerk.
The Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect system covers all circuit court filings across the state, giving you quick access to Lee County divorce case information at no cost. Once you locate the case, call the clerk at (870) 295-7710 to arrange for a certified copy.
Access to the full divorce decree is restricted. Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, most court records are public, but divorce decrees are accessible primarily to the parties named in the case, their immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives. If the record needs to be pulled from storage, the clerk has up to three working days to make it available. CourtConnect support is available at (866) 823-5778.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
These two documents are not the same, and knowing the difference will save you time. A divorce decree is the full court order issued by the circuit judge. It spells out every term of the divorce: property division, debt allocation, custody, child support, alimony, and the legal grounds used. The Lee County Circuit Clerk is the only office that holds copies of the decree itself.
A divorce certificate is a short summary document. It lists only the names of the parties, the date the divorce was granted, and the county where it was filed. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205 maintains divorce certificates for all divorces granted in Arkansas since January 1923. Certificates cost $10 per copy and can be ordered by phone at (501) 661-2336, online, or by mail.
If the divorce took place before 1923, the county Circuit Clerk is your only option. For genealogical research involving older records, the Arkansas State Archives can assist with remote research requests and can direct you to the correct record set.
Note: The Arkansas Department of Health issues only the short certificate form and does not hold copies of the full divorce decree under any circumstances.
Getting Certified Copies of Lee County Divorce Decrees
To get a certified copy of a divorce decree from Lee County, go in person to the Circuit Clerk at 15 East Chestnut Street, Room 2, in Marianna. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The clerk will verify your eligibility and process the request. Certified copy fees are typically $5 or more depending on the number of pages in the document.
Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request that includes both parties' names as they appear on the case, the approximate year of the divorce, a daytime phone number, and a check or money order payable to the Circuit Clerk. Do not send cash. The clerk will confirm the fee before processing, so you can call ahead at (870) 295-7710 to ask about the current cost.
Access is limited under Arkansas law. Only the named parties, close relatives including parents, children, and grandchildren, and their authorized legal representatives may request certified copies. Records older than 100 years from the divorce date become fully public. If you are not sure whether you qualify, call the clerk's office before making the trip.
Filing Divorce Decrees in Lee County
Divorce cases in Lee County are filed at the Circuit Court in Marianna. Arkansas recognizes multiple fault-based grounds for divorce under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301. Recognized grounds include adultery, habitual drunkenness lasting at least one year, cruelty, felony conviction, permanent insanity, and living separately for 18 continuous months without cohabitation. Indignities that make a spouse's situation intolerable are also recognized grounds under state law.
Before filing, at least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days. The county residency requirement is separate: the filing spouse must have been a resident of Lee County for at least 90 days before the court can issue the final decree. In uncontested cases where both parties agree, the defendant can waive the proof of grounds requirement in writing, which often speeds the process. When minor children are involved, both parents must complete a court-approved parenting education program before the decree is issued.
Self-represented filers can find free forms and guides at ARLawHelp.org. The site has interactive divorce forms, plain-language explanations of Arkansas domestic relations law, and information on how to serve the other party. The Arkansas Court Kiosk program also provides public access terminals at courthouses with help for completing forms and learning about legal aid eligibility.
Historical Records and Research Resources
The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds historical records from counties across the state. Remote research requests are accepted by email at state.archives@arkansas.gov or by phone at 501-682-6900. Staff provide up to two hours of free research for each request, and most replies arrive within three to four business days. Delivery of research results typically takes one to three weeks depending on the volume of requests.
For older divorce records that may predate the clerk's current indexing system, the archives can often point you to the right collection. Lee County records have survived without significant loss, so pre-1923 decrees may be available through the clerk or the archives depending on the year and how the records were stored.
Note: The Arkansas State Archives does not hold original county court records but can direct researchers to the correct holding office or collection.
Nearby Counties
Lee County is located in eastern Arkansas and borders several other counties whose Circuit Clerks maintain their own divorce decree records:
No cities in Lee County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Marianna is the county seat and the location of the Circuit Clerk for all Lee County divorce filings.