Find Divorce Decrees in Mississippi County
Mississippi County divorce decree records are split between two Circuit Clerk offices because the county has two official county seats, Blytheville and Osceola. Both offices serve the 2nd Judicial Circuit and handle divorce decree filings for their respective districts. This page explains how Mississippi County's dual-seat structure works, where records are held, and how to request certified copies from the correct office.
Mississippi County Divorce Records Overview
Two Circuit Clerk Offices in Mississippi County
Mississippi County has two official county seats, which means two separate Circuit Clerk offices each hold divorce decree records for their district. The Blytheville office handles the northern district and the Osceola office handles the southern district. When searching for a divorce decree, you need to know which district the case was filed in, or be ready to contact both offices.
The Blytheville office address is PO Box 1498, Blytheville, AR 72316. The phone number is (870) 762-2332. The Osceola office is at PO Box 466, Osceola, AR 72370, with a phone number of (870) 563-6471. Both offices maintain standard hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call ahead before making a trip to either location, particularly for records that may be in storage.
The best starting point when you do not know which district holds the record is the CourtConnect portal, which searches statewide and shows which court location filed the case. That tells you which of the two offices to contact for the full decree or certified copy. Both offices operate under the same state-level rules for access and fees.
Online Divorce Decree Search in Mississippi County
The Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect portal is the main free resource for searching Mississippi County divorce cases online. Search by party name, case number, or citation. Results show case type, filing date, status, and parties for both the Blytheville and Osceola district filings. CourtConnect does not show full document text, but it identifies which district holds the file, which is critical for a county with two clerk offices.
Using CourtConnect first will tell you whether to call the Blytheville office at (870) 762-2332 or the Osceola office at (870) 563-6471 for the full record. This saves time and avoids unnecessary trips to the wrong location. CourtConnect support is available at (866) 823-5778.
Under Arkansas FOIA § 25-19-105, divorce records are available to the named parties, their immediate family, and their authorized legal representatives. If a file is in off-site storage, the clerk has up to three working days to retrieve it.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
A divorce decree is the complete court order. It includes every term the judge ruled on: division of property, debts, custody arrangements, child support amounts, alimony, and the legal grounds cited. The Mississippi County Circuit Clerk, at whichever district office holds the original file, is the custodian of the decree itself.
A divorce certificate is a short summary. It shows only the parties' names, the divorce date, and the county. 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 the full divorce decree.
For divorces before 1923, the county's original records are the only source. The Arkansas State Archives can assist with historical research on older Mississippi County court records and can direct you to the right collection or holding office for pre-1923 materials.
Note: Always confirm which district filed the case before driving to either the Blytheville or Osceola office to avoid an unnecessary trip to the wrong location.
Requesting Certified Copies in Mississippi County
Certified copies of Mississippi County divorce decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk office that holds the file. For in-person requests, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Fees are typically $5 or more depending on the document length. Call the Blytheville office at (870) 762-2332 or the Osceola office at (870) 563-6471 to confirm the current fee and accepted payment forms before visiting.
Mail requests are accepted at both offices. Include both parties' names as they appear on the case, the approximate year of the divorce, a return address and daytime phone, and a check or money order payable to the Circuit Clerk. The clerk will contact you if more information is needed. Do not send cash.
Access is restricted by state law. Only the named parties, their close relatives, and their authorized legal representatives may request certified copies. Records become fully public 100 years after the date of the divorce. If you are unsure about eligibility, call either clerk office before submitting a request.
Filing Divorce in Mississippi County
To file for divorce in Mississippi County, at least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. The county residency requirement is separate: the filing spouse must have been a resident of Mississippi County for 90 days before the court can issue the final decree. File at whichever Circuit Clerk office serves the district where you reside.
Arkansas uses fault-based grounds for divorce under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301. The recognized grounds are 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. Cases with minor children require both parents to complete a court-approved parenting education program before the decree is entered.
Free forms and guides for self-represented filers are available at ARLawHelp.org. The Arkansas Court Kiosk program offers help at public terminals at select courthouses across the state.
Nearby Counties
Mississippi County is in the far northeastern corner of Arkansas. These neighboring counties each have their own Circuit Clerk offices and divorce decree records:
No cities in Mississippi County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Blytheville and Osceola are the two county seats and hold the Circuit Clerk offices for all divorce filings in Mississippi County.