Find Divorce Decrees in Lincoln County
Lincoln County divorce decree records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Star City, Arkansas, where the 11th Judicial Circuit handles domestic relations cases for the county. If you need to locate a divorce decree, get a certified copy, or file a new case, the Circuit Clerk at 300 South Drew Street is your starting point. This page covers the offices involved, how to access records, and what Arkansas law requires.
Lincoln County Divorce Records Overview
Lincoln County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk in Star City holds the official divorce decree records for Lincoln County. The office is at 300 South Drew Street, Star City, AR 71667. The main phone line is (870) 628-5115. Office hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting.
The Circuit Clerk keeps the complete case files for all domestic relations actions brought before the Lincoln County Circuit Court. Each file includes the initial petition, any agreements between the parties, motions, orders entered during the case, and the final divorce decree signed by the circuit judge. If you are searching for a decree issued years ago, the clerk can search the index by party name or case number even if you do not have the exact filing date.
Lincoln County sits in the 11th Judicial Circuit. The circuit court handles civil, criminal, and domestic relations matters for the county. The Circuit Clerk is distinct from the County Clerk, who handles probate, real property records, and marriage licenses. If you need a marriage record rather than a divorce decree, contact the County Clerk's office instead.
Online Divorce Decree Search in Lincoln County
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal is the state's free public access tool for searching court records. It covers all Arkansas counties including Lincoln. Search by party name, case ID, or citation number to find basic case information: filing date, case type, current status, and party names. The portal does not show full document text, but it is useful for confirming that a filing exists and for getting the case number you need when contacting the clerk.
Through CourtConnect, you can check Lincoln County divorce case filings for free before driving to Star City. Once you have the case number, call the Circuit Clerk at (870) 628-5115 to arrange for a certified copy or in-person review.
Full decree documents require a request through the clerk. Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, divorce records are accessible to the parties named in the case and their authorized representatives. If a file needs to be retrieved from storage, the clerk has up to three working days to produce it. For help using CourtConnect, call the state helpline at (866) 823-5778.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
A divorce decree and a divorce certificate serve different purposes. The decree is the full court order. It details property division, debt responsibility, custody, child support, alimony terms, and the specific grounds the court relied on. The Lincoln County Circuit Clerk holds all divorce decrees filed in the county.
A divorce certificate is a brief summary record listing only the parties' names, the divorce date, and the county. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains statewide divorce certificates for all divorces granted since January 1923. The ADH office is at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, and can be reached at (501) 661-2336. Certificates cost $10 per copy and can be ordered by phone, online, or by mail.
For divorces before 1923, only the county Circuit Clerk's records exist. The Arkansas State Archives can assist with remote research requests on older records. Staff respond to email inquiries sent to state.archives@arkansas.gov within a few business days and can help locate historical court documents that predate modern record-keeping systems.
Getting Certified Copies in Lincoln County
Certified copies of Lincoln County divorce decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk at 300 South Drew Street in Star City. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID when you come in. The fee for a certified copy is typically $5 or more depending on the length of the document. Payment by check or money order is standard; call ahead at (870) 628-5115 to confirm current fees and acceptable payment methods.
Mail requests are accepted. Include both parties' names as shown on the case, the approximate year of the divorce, a valid return address, and a check or money order for the copy fee. If the clerk needs more information to locate the file, someone from the office will contact you. Processing times vary by workload, so it is worth calling first to get an estimate.
Access is limited by state law. The parties named in the divorce, their close relatives, and authorized legal representatives may request certified copies. Records become fully public 100 years after the date of the divorce. If you have questions about access, the clerk's office can tell you what documentation to bring.
Note: Fees for certified copies cannot exceed the actual cost of reproduction under Arkansas law, and the clerk must itemize charges on request.
Filing a Divorce in Lincoln County
To file for divorce in Lincoln County, at least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. The filing spouse must also have been a resident of Lincoln County for at least 90 days before the court issues the final decree. Cases are filed at the Circuit Court in Star City at 300 South Drew Street.
Arkansas recognizes fault-based grounds for divorce under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301. Grounds include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness for one year or more, felony conviction, permanent insanity, inability to have sexual relations, indignities making the marital situation intolerable, and living separately without cohabitation for 18 consecutive months. In an uncontested case, the defendant may waive proof of grounds in writing, which can simplify and shorten the process.
Self-represented filers can access free interactive forms and plain-language guides at ARLawHelp.org. The site covers uncontested divorce procedures, property division basics, and child custody forms. The Arkansas Court Kiosk program provides public access terminals at select courthouses for hands-on help with forms and filings.
Historical Research and the State Archives
The Arkansas State Archives accepts remote research requests for historical court records, including older divorce filings from Lincoln County. You can reach the archives at 501-682-6900 or by email at state.archives@arkansas.gov. Staff provide up to two hours of free research per request, and most inquiries receive a response within three to four business days. Delivery of results typically takes one to three weeks.
For genealogical research on older Lincoln County divorce records, FamilySearch and similar platforms sometimes hold indexed transcriptions that can help narrow down a case before you contact the clerk or the archives. Even a rough date range is enough to start a productive search.
Nearby Counties
Lincoln County is in southeastern Arkansas. The Circuit Clerks in these neighboring counties maintain divorce decree records for their areas:
No cities in Lincoln County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Star City is the county seat and serves as the location of the Circuit Clerk for all divorce filings in the county.