Divorce Decree Records in Madison County
Madison County divorce decree records are held by the Circuit Clerk in Huntsville, Arkansas, under the 4th Judicial Circuit. If you need to find a divorce decree, request a certified copy, or learn what is involved in filing a domestic relations case in Madison County, this page covers the right office, the process, and the legal framework that applies to all divorce proceedings in the county.
Madison County Divorce Records Overview
Madison County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk in Huntsville holds all divorce decree records for Madison County. The mailing address is PO Box 37, Huntsville, AR 72740. The main phone line is (479) 738-2747. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you plan to visit in person, a quick call ahead is a good idea, particularly if you are traveling from outside the area.
The Circuit Clerk maintains the complete case file for each divorce action heard in Madison County Circuit Court. Files contain the original petition, all court orders entered during the case, any agreements signed by the parties, and the final divorce decree. The index allows searches by party name or case number, so even a rough date range is enough to locate most cases.
Madison County is part of the 4th Judicial Circuit in northwestern Arkansas. The Circuit Clerk is a different office from the County Clerk. The County Clerk handles marriage licenses, property records, and probate matters. If you need a divorce decree specifically, the Circuit Clerk is the right contact. Call (479) 738-2747 if you are unsure which office handles your request.
Online Search for Madison County Divorce Records
The Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect portal is the state's free public access system for court records. It covers all circuit courts including Madison County. Search by party name, case number, or citation to find basic case information: filing date, case type, current status, and parties. The portal does not display the full decree, but it gives you the case number and confirms the filing so you can contact the Circuit Clerk for the actual document.
The CourtConnect system is free and available without registration. It is the quickest way to check whether a divorce case was filed in Madison County before making the drive to Huntsville. If you have trouble using the system, the support line is (866) 823-5778.
Full access to the divorce decree document requires going through the Circuit Clerk. Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, divorce records are primarily available to the parties named in the case, their immediate family, and authorized legal representatives. If the file is in off-site storage, the clerk has up to three working days to retrieve and produce it.
Divorce Decree vs. Certificate in Madison County
People often ask for a "divorce record" without realizing there are two different documents. A divorce decree is the complete court order. It spells out every ruling the judge made: property division, debt allocation, custody terms, child support amounts, alimony, and the legal grounds cited in the petition. The Madison County Circuit Clerk holds all decrees for cases filed here.
A divorce certificate is the short version. It lists only the names of the parties, the date the divorce was granted, and the county where it occurred. The Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, phone (501) 661-2336, maintains statewide certificates for divorces granted since January 1923. Certificates cost $10 each and can be ordered by phone, mail, or online. The ADH does not hold or issue copies of the full decree.
For divorces that occurred before 1923, the county court's original records are the only source. The Arkansas State Archives assists with historical research on older records and can help you determine whether any Madison County materials have been transferred to state collections.
Note: A certified copy of the full decree is typically required for legal proceedings such as remarriage, name changes, or estate matters.
Requesting Certified Copies of Divorce Decrees
Certified copies of Madison County divorce decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk in Huntsville. If you visit in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Fees are typically $5 or more depending on the document length. Call (479) 738-2747 first to confirm current fees and accepted payment methods before you make the trip.
Mail requests are accepted. Your request should include both parties' names as they appear on the case, the approximate year or date range of the divorce, a return address, and a check or money order payable to the Circuit Clerk. The office will follow up if they need more details to locate the file. Expect some turnaround time, especially if the record is in storage.
State law limits access to certified copies. Only the named parties, their close relatives, and authorized legal representatives may request copies. Records become fully public 100 years after the divorce date. If you are unsure whether you qualify, a phone call to the clerk at (479) 738-2747 will clarify what you need to provide.
Divorce Filing Requirements in Madison County
To file for divorce in Madison County, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Arkansas for 60 days before the case is filed. The county residency requirement is different: the filing spouse must have lived in Madison County for 90 days before the court can issue the final decree. Cases are filed through the Circuit Clerk's office in Huntsville.
Arkansas uses fault-based grounds as required by Arkansas Code § 9-12-301. Recognized grounds include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness for at least one year, felony conviction, permanent insanity, inability to have sexual relations, indignities making the situation intolerable, and separation for 18 continuous months. In uncontested cases, the defendant may waive proof of grounds in writing, which simplifies the process. If the case involves minor children, both parents must complete a state-approved parenting education class before the judge enters the decree.
Self-represented filers can find free forms and guides at ARLawHelp.org. The site provides interactive forms, service instructions, and plain-language explanations of Arkansas domestic relations law. The Arkansas Court Kiosk program offers help at public terminals at select courthouses across the state.
Historical Records and Research
The Arkansas State Archives accepts remote research requests for older court records, including historical Madison County divorce filings. You can contact 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 responses arrive within three to four business days. Delivery of research results takes one to three weeks depending on workload and source material availability.
For genealogical searches involving older Madison County divorce records, FamilySearch and similar platforms may have indexed transcriptions that can narrow your search before you contact the clerk or the archives. Even a rough date range is typically enough to get started.
Nearby Counties
Madison County is in northwestern Arkansas. These neighboring counties each have their own Circuit Clerk offices handling divorce decree records:
No cities in Madison County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Huntsville is the county seat and the location of the Circuit Clerk for all divorce filings in the county.