Nevada County Divorce Decree Records

Nevada County divorce decree records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Prescott, Arkansas. This page explains how to search for divorce cases, request certified copies, understand Arkansas filing requirements, and find the right office to help you get what you need in Nevada County.

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Nevada County Circuit Clerk Office

The Circuit Clerk in Prescott holds all divorce decree records for Nevada County. The office address is 215 E. 2nd St. South, Prescott, AR 71857. You can reach the clerk by phone at (870) 887-2511. Office hours are generally Monday through Friday during standard business hours, though it is worth calling ahead before making a trip to confirm current availability.

Nevada County sits in the 9th Judicial Circuit. All civil and domestic relations cases, including divorce, are filed and maintained here. The Circuit Clerk handles the intake of new filings, keeps the record of all court actions taken in a case, and processes requests for certified copies of final decrees. If you are looking for a divorce case in Nevada County, this is the office to contact first.

For mail requests, write to the Nevada County Circuit Clerk at 215 E. 2nd St. South, Prescott, AR 71857. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year the case was filed, and a check or money order for the copy fee. Bring a photo ID if you visit in person. The clerk can help confirm the case number and pull the file.

Search Nevada County Divorce Cases Online

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal provides free public access to case-level information for Nevada County and all other Arkansas counties. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. Domestic relations cases appear under their own case type in the system. No account is needed to run a search.

Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect case search portal for Nevada County divorce decrees

CourtConnect shows you that a divorce case exists, the names of the parties, the case number, and a list of filed documents. It does not give you the full text of the divorce decree itself. For the actual decree, you will need to contact the Nevada County Circuit Clerk directly. Having the case number from CourtConnect speeds up that process. The help line for CourtConnect is (866) 823-5778.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

These are two different documents. Knowing which one you need saves time.

The divorce decree is the full court order signed by the judge. It contains the terms of the divorce: how property was divided, any spousal support, custody arrangements if children are involved, and other binding terms. This document is filed with the Nevada County Circuit Clerk in Prescott. Certified copies come from that office. The fee for a certified copy is typically $5.00 per document, though you should confirm current fees when you call.

The divorce certificate is a short summary document maintained by the state. It shows basic facts: names, date, and county. The Arkansas Department of Health holds these records for all Arkansas divorces since January 1923. A certified copy costs $10. You can order by mail at ADH Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, or call (501) 661-2336 for information. The ADH does not hold the full decree.

Note: If you need proof of a divorce for a legal matter, most attorneys and courts require the certified copy of the decree, not just the certificate.

Arkansas Divorce Filing Requirements

Nevada County Circuit Court handles all divorce filings for the county under Arkansas state law. Arkansas requires fault-based grounds for divorce under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301. Accepted grounds include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness lasting at least one year, a felony conviction, permanent insanity, inability to have sexual relations, and 18 months of continuous separation without sexual activity between the spouses. An uncontested divorce can proceed without proving grounds if the defendant agrees in writing to waive that requirement.

Residency rules matter here. At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before a divorce can be filed. The final decree cannot be entered until one spouse has been a resident of the county for at least three months. For Nevada County cases, that means three months of residence in the county before the judge can sign the final order. These are the minimums set by state law.

Filing fees in Nevada County run approximately $165 for a standard divorce petition. That figure can vary slightly depending on the nature of the case and any associated motions. Contact the Circuit Clerk's office in Prescott for the current fee schedule before filing.

Public Access and FOIA Rights

Under Arkansas FOIA, Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, court records are generally open to the public. Any person can request to inspect or copy a divorce case file at the Nevada County Circuit Clerk's office. The clerk must make records available promptly. If a record is in active use or storage, the response must come within three working days. Copy fees cannot exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Arkansas FOIA statute governing public access to Nevada County divorce records

Some court records are sealed by a judge's order. If a particular Nevada County divorce case is restricted, the clerk will tell you. Juvenile-related filings within a divorce case may also be restricted. For most adult divorce cases, however, the file is open for inspection. There is no need to show a special reason or relationship to the parties to request access under FOIA.

Historical Records and Legal Help

Older Nevada County divorce records, including those from before the current courthouse era, may be held in archived form. The Arkansas State Archives offers up to two hours of free remote research for those who cannot visit in person. Staff will search through archived and microfilmed records on your behalf. Submit a request by emailing state.archives@arkansas.gov or using the Ask An Archivist form on their website.

Arkansas State Archives historical divorce records for Nevada County

For divorces that occurred before 1923, state-level certificates do not exist. The decree itself, if it survives, would be in the county court records. The Arkansas State Archives may also have microfilm copies of older circuit court dockets for Nevada County. Pre-1923 research usually requires direct contact with the archives or the county clerk.

For people who need legal help but cannot afford an attorney, ARLawHelp.org offers free interactive forms for Arkansas divorce cases and connects users with legal aid resources across the state.

Nearby Counties

If the divorce was filed in a neighboring county rather than Nevada County, check the relevant clerk's office using these links.

Nevada County has no qualifying cities for separate city-level pages on this site. All divorce decree records for the county are maintained at the Circuit Clerk's office at 215 E. 2nd St. South, Prescott, AR 71857.