Arkansas Divorce Records: Official Certificates, Decrees, and Search Options

Divorce records are documents or information that detail the dissolution or setting aside of a marriage contract within the state. Besides serving as official proof of the legal dissolution of a marriage, divorce records are important for genealogical research, updating personal documents to reflect current status, verifying marital history, and resolving legal disputes. In some cases, these records may also be reviewed during background checks for financial transactions or employment screenings.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2023, Arkansas recorded a divorce rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents. This represents a steady decline from 2019, when the rate was 4.0 per 1,000.

Like every other state in the U.S., Arkansas has its own laws governing access to divorce information. Therefore, individuals seeking Arkansas divorce records should familiarize themselves with the state's specific access procedures to ensure a successful search for these records.

Official Types of Divorce Documentation in Arkansas

In Arkansas, divorce information is generally documented in two primary forms: the divorce certificate and the divorce records. A key component of the divorce record is the Decree of Divorce.

Divorce Certificate

In Arkansas, a divorce certificate is a one-page document issued by the Department of Health to officially confirm the end of a marriage. It records basic details such as the names of the divorced parties, the date the divorce was issued, and the location of the divorce proceedings. A divorce certificate does not include detailed information about the divorce case.

Divorce Records

Divorce records refer to the collection of documents included in a divorce case file. In other words, they are a compilation of all filings related to a divorce proceeding handled within the state's court system. Divorce records can be voluminous, with individual documents often comprising several pages.

Decree of Divorce

A decree of divorce (or divorce decree) is one of the essential components of a divorce case file but is often categorized separately because of its significance. While other divorce records contain information about the proceedings leading up to the divorce, a divorce decree is a court order that signifies the end of the proceedings and finalizes the termination of the marriage. Valid divorce decrees are signed and dated by the judge and often span several pages.

Document Type	Issued By	Purpose	Contains
Divorce Certificate	Arkansas Department of Health	Formal evidence of divorce	Names, date of divorce, and place of divorce
Decree of Divorce	Circuit Court	Details the rights and obligations of the divorced parties	Case number, date of divorce, parties, agreed terms of divorce, court order, and other basic case information
Divorce Records	Circuit Court	Documents all papers or information filed during the divorce proceeding	Petitions, motions, notices of hearing, affidavits, complaints, proofs of service, decrees/final judgments, etc.

Public Access and Confidentiality of Arkansas Divorce Records

Public accessibility to divorce documentation in Arkansas depends on the type of documents requested. Per the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Administrative Order No. 19, court records are public information available to anyone who requests them. Consequently, divorce case files are accessible to requesters through their official record custodians (the clerks of the courts that granted the divorces), except where expressly prohibited by law, court rule, or court order.

On the other hand, divorce certificates are regarded as vital records in Arkansas, which are barred from public disclosure under Arkansas Code § 20-18-304. Per the law, vital records are only publicly accessible 100 years after they are created. Divorce certificates less than 100 years old are only disseminated to the subject of the record and select parties, such as the subject's attorney, parents, and government agencies.

The Arkansas Health Department is responsible for maintaining divorce certificates and can be contacted at the location below.

What Information Do Arkansas Divorce Records Include?

The information contained in an Arkansas divorce record can vary by county and by the type of record. However, individuals can expect to find the following details in a typical Arkansas divorce record:

• Basic case information (case/certificate number, case status, county, court name, filing date, place and location of marriage, date of finalization of divorce)
• Party information (names and addresses)
• Grounds for divorce
• Case details (whether children were born in the marriage, divorce terms/agreements)
• Judicial information (for example, the name and signature of the presiding judge)

Procedures for Locating Divorce Records in Arkansas

Different offices in Arkansas manage divorce documents, depending on the record's category and age. Divorce decrees and case files are held by the circuit clerk's office in each county, while divorce certificates are kept by the Arkansas Department of Health's Vital Records Section. Some older divorce case files, particularly those with historical value, may be housed at the Arkansas State Archives, subject to departmental transfer policies.

In Arkansas, no fee is charged for inspecting physical records at a record custodian's office. However, a fee applies to obtain copies. Per the Arkansas Court Filing Fee Schedule, it costs $5 per copy to authenticate documents and $5 per copy to certify court records. The fee for ordinary copies of documents typically depends on the circuit court's fee schedule. For example, while the Greene County Circuit Clerk charges 20 cents per copy, the cost for the same service is 50 cents per page at the Ashley County Circuit Clerk's Office.

On the other hand, the cost of a divorce certificate is $10 per copy, with an additional $5 standard processing fee and $1.85 identity verification fee for orders made online.

Record Source	Office or Platform	Years Covered	Access Type	Fees
Vital Records Division	Arkansas Department of Health	1917-present	Certificates only	$10 to $16.85
Judiciary Portal	Search ARCourts	Varies	Case search	Free
County Clerks	Circuit Court	Varies. However, the Arkansas County Circuit Court Clerk keeps the oldest court records in the state, which date back to 1796	Divorce decrees and case files	Free inspection. Copy, certification, and authentication fees per page/document
State Archives	Arkansas State Archives	Varies	Historical case files	Varies, depending on the record format

How to Request Certified Copies of Divorce Records in Arkansas

Certified copies of divorce records carry an official seal attesting that they are true, accurate, and unaltered reproductions of the original record permanently housed with their official custodians. Certification is necessary to ensure that copies are easily recognized as authentic and carry the same legal effect as the original.

Below is a step-by-step process for requesting certified copies of divorce records in Arkansas:

Step 1. Identify the Records Custodian

The various circuit court clerks and the Arkansas Vital Records Office are responsible for certifying copies of divorce records in their custody. Requesters should first identify the specific office that maintains the records before submitting a request for an official copy. As mentioned, the circuit court clerks hold divorce decrees and case files generated by the courts they serve, while the vital records office is the official custodian of divorce certificates.

Step 2. Contact the Record Custodian

To request divorce records in Arkansas, individuals must contact either the appropriate circuit court clerk or the Vital Records Office. Each custodian has specific procedures, so it is essential to reach out directly to retrieve accurate information about their requirements.

Generally, requesters can order divorce records from the Vital Records Office in person during regular administrative hours. Oftentimes, requests for certified copies of divorce certificates are fulfilled on the same day. Requests can also be submitted via phone at (866) 209-9482, via mail, or online through the state's Vital Records Online Service.

Similarly, circuit court clerk offices, usually located within county courthouses, are open to eligible requesters requiring certified copies of divorce records. Individuals are advised to contact the relevant circuit clerk to verify the procedures for requesting, obtaining, and paying for certified copies, as clerks may utilize distinct methods for making such requests. For example, certified documents can be obtained from the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in person or via mail, but some counties may not provide a mail option.

Note: While Search ARCourts and other online platforms provided by the circuit court clerks may offer free downloads of case documents, individuals generally cannot obtain certified copies through these services.

Step 3. Provide the Necessary Details

Requesters will need to provide specific details about the divorce record they seek to help officials locate it efficiently. Depending on the type of record and its custodian, information required to access divorce records may include the requester's proof of identity, name, address, date of birth, contact data, and proof of relationship with the subject of the record, as well as the names of the spouses, date of divorce, or case number.

Step 4. Pay the Required Fee

Certified copies of divorce court documents cost $5 each. All applicable fees must be paid to the specific circuit court clerk to obtain these copies. The Arkansas Vital Records Office's fees for certified copies range from $10 to $16.85.

Copy Type	Where to Request	Who Can Order	Legal Use
Divorce Certificate	Arkansas Vital Records Office	Spouse, attorney, court	Name changes, remarriage, etc.
Certified Decree	Circuit Court Clerks' Offices	The parties named in the divorce and their designated attorneys	Legal enforcement of spousal support, child support, custody, visitation, etc
Informational Copy	Circuit Court Clerks' Offices or Arkansas State Archives	Anyone (if allowed)	Genealogy/family history, unofficial research

Why Search for Divorce Records in Arkansas?

Members of the public look up or request divorce records in Arkansas for varying reasons, including

Legal Purposes

Divorce records are essential documents for proving marital status and resolving disputes related to child support, alimony, or other terms of the divorce.

Inheritance and Estate Settlement

Divorce records may help verify the rightful beneficiaries of a deceased person's estate and determine whether someone is entitled to claim benefits or take certain actions related to the estate, especially when no will exists.

Government Assistance, Social Security Card, and Benefits

Certain government assistance programs may require applicants to present proof of their marital status to access certain benefits.

Other reasons for requesting divorce records include

• Adoption
• Apostille/Authentication
• Genealogy/Family History
• Housing
• Insurance/Pension/Retirement
• Background checks

How Long Are Divorce Records Kept in Arkansas?

Divorce records in Arkansas are generally retained permanently by their record custodians. Per Arkansas Code § 13-4-302, the circuit courts of the various counties within the state must permanently maintain complete case files, written exhibits, case dockets, and original documents pertaining to the proceedings of their domestic relations divisions. This includes all documents filed in the course of a divorce proceeding.

On the other hand, divorce certificates maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health are regulated by the Arkansas General Records Retention Schedule. While the retention schedule does not expressly address divorce records, its procedural handbook stipulates that records not listed therein should be retained per the agency's internal procedure. However, it advises that vital records, including divorce certificates, have historical value and should be considered for permanent retention by their records custodian.