Divorce Decree Records in Prairie County

Prairie County divorce decree records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office, with the primary clerk address in Des Arc, Arkansas. Prairie County is one of only two Arkansas counties with two official county seats: Des Arc and DeValls Bluff. This page explains how to find and request divorce decree records in Prairie County, including clerk contact details, online case search access, certified copy fees, and the state resources that support local 17th Judicial Circuit filings.

Prairie County Circuit Clerk: Two County Seats

Prairie County is one of two Arkansas counties with two official county seats, the other being Yell County. Des Arc serves as the seat for the northern district and DeValls Bluff serves as the seat for the southern district. The Circuit Clerk's primary office and mailing address is 200 Courthouse Square, Des Arc, AR 72040. Phone: (870) 256-4434. For divorce records and case filings, the Des Arc office is the main point of contact.

The Circuit Clerk handles all domestic relations, civil, criminal, and juvenile filings for the county. Divorce cases fall under domestic relations. The clerk maintains the full case file from the date the petition is first filed through the final decree and any post-decree modification proceedings. The complete file includes the original petition, summons, answer or waiver, financial affidavits from both parties, any temporary orders entered during the proceeding, and the final signed divorce decree.

When you need a certified copy of a Prairie County divorce decree, the Des Arc courthouse is where you get it. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page under the state fee schedule. Requests can be made in person or by mail. For mail requests, include the names of both parties, the approximate filing year, a return address, and your payment.

DeValls Bluff is the southern seat. Some court functions may be conducted at the DeValls Bluff courthouse as well. If you are unsure which courthouse maintains a specific case, call the Des Arc number first at (870) 256-4434 to confirm.

Online Divorce Decree Case Search

Arkansas offers free circuit court case search through CourtConnect. You can search Prairie County divorce cases by party name or case number without creating an account. The portal returns filing dates, party names, docket entries, and case status. Document images are not available through the portal. For the actual text of a Prairie County divorce decree, you need to request a copy from the Circuit Clerk in Des Arc.

CourtConnect supports statewide name searches. If you are unsure whether a case was filed in Prairie County or a neighboring county, search by party name without selecting a county. The system searches all 75 Arkansas counties and returns every match. Once you find the correct case, the case number and county are visible, which you can then use when contacting the specific clerk's office.

Under Arkansas Administrative Order No. 19, divorce case records are generally open to the public. Social security numbers, financial account numbers, and protective order petitioner addresses are restricted from public release. Standard Prairie County divorce cases have no such restrictions, and the full case file is available for inspection and copying.

CourtConnect is the free official Arkansas judiciary search tool. Use it to find Prairie County divorce decree cases filed in the 17th Judicial Circuit by name or case number.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

Two different records document every Arkansas divorce. They are not the same document and they are not interchangeable. You need to know which one you are looking for before you make a request.

The divorce decree is the full court order. The Prairie County Circuit Clerk holds it. The decree contains all terms the judge ordered or that the parties agreed to: how property is divided, how debts are split, real estate transfer instructions, child custody arrangements, parenting time schedules, child support amounts, alimony if ordered, and any name restoration granted. This is the document banks, title companies, pension administrators, and future courts will require. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page from the Des Arc courthouse.

The divorce certificate is a brief summary held by the Arkansas Department of Health. It shows names, date, and county only. No terms. It costs $10 per copy. ADH Vital Records is at 4815 W. Markham St., Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2336. Walk-in service is Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone orders: (866) 209-9482.

Certificates are restricted to parties and certain relatives. Divorce decrees at the Circuit Clerk are open public records under § 25-19-105.

Filing for Divorce in Prairie County

To file for divorce in Prairie County, one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before the petition is filed. After filing, the court will not enter the final decree until one party has maintained Prairie County residency for at least 90 days. Both requirements are conditions on the final decree, not just the initial filing.

Arkansas divorce law under § 9-12-301 requires the filing spouse to state a legal ground in the petition. Accepted grounds include general indignities making life with the other party intolerable, cruelty (physical or mental), adultery, habitual drunkenness for one year or more, felony conviction with a sentence of one year or more, permanent insanity with prior institutionalization, and 18 consecutive months of separation. When both parties agree on all issues and the defendant files a written waiver of service, formal proof of grounds is not required.

New circuit court civil filing fees are $165.00. Reopening a prior case costs $50.00. Free forms are available for self-represented filers at Arkansas Legal Help. The site covers divorce, custody, and support form packets with step-by-step filing instructions.

Historical Records and State Archives

For older Prairie County divorce decree records, the Arkansas State Archives can assist with research. The Archives provides up to two hours of free remote research per request. Contact them at state.archives@arkansas.gov or (501) 682-6900. Address: One Capitol Mall, Room 2B-215, Little Rock, AR 72201. The Archives can help identify whether older Prairie County circuit court records were transferred to the state level.

FamilySearch also indexes some Arkansas court records and is a useful starting point for genealogical research involving older Prairie County divorces. Check there first before submitting a formal request to the Archives or the courthouse.

The Arkansas State Archives research page explains how to request remote research assistance for older Prairie County divorce decree records held in state collections.

Nearby Counties

Prairie County is in central-eastern Arkansas and is part of the 17th Judicial Circuit. It borders several counties, each with its own Circuit Clerk and independent divorce records system. Use CourtConnect's statewide name search to confirm the correct county before making a formal records request.

• Monroe County - Clarendon
• Lonoke County - Lonoke
• White County - Searcy
• Arkansas County - Stuttgart / DeWitt
• Cross County - Wynne
• Jefferson County - Pine Bluff

Each county runs its own independent records. A Lonoke County divorce will not appear at the Prairie County courthouse. CourtConnect is the best first step if you are not certain where the case was filed.