Benton Divorce Records
Benton divorce records are filed with the Saline County Circuit Clerk, which is located right in Benton at the Saline County Courthouse on North Main Street. Benton is the Saline County seat, so all divorce cases from the city are filed and stored at the courthouse in town. This guide covers how to get certified copies, search cases online for free, understand the difference between a divorce decree and a restricted certificate, and find legal help if you need it.
Benton Overview
Saline County Circuit Clerk in Benton
All Benton divorce cases are filed with the Saline County Circuit Court, 22nd Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk's office is at 200 N Main Street, Suite 113, Benton, AR 72015. The Circuit Clerk is Myka Bono Sample. Call (501) 303-5615. Because Benton is the Saline County seat, the courthouse is in the city and there is no need to travel elsewhere for Saline County court records.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring photo ID when you visit. If you have the case number, give it to the Clerk's staff. If you do not, they can search by party names and year. Certified copies of divorce decrees are issued for a per-page fee. Call ahead to confirm the current rate before your visit. Walk-in service is available, and mail requests are also accepted.
Benton also has a District Court at 114 S East Street, (501) 776-5966. That court handles misdemeanor criminal and small civil matters. All divorce and family law cases go to the Saline County Circuit Court on North Main Street, not to District Court.
Search Benton Divorce Cases Online
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad is the free public portal for Arkansas court records. Select Saline County and set the case type to 14 for Domestic Relations. Enter the names of one or both parties, or a case number if you have one. The system shows case status, filing date, party names, and docket events. No account is needed and there is no fee to search.
CourtConnect does not provide the full text of the divorce decree. It confirms the case exists and shows you the case number and whether a final decree was entered. That is the information you need before calling the Clerk's office to order a certified copy. Having the case number ready makes your call or visit faster and more efficient. CourtConnect covers all Saline County domestic relations cases within its range.
Below is the Arkansas CourtConnect portal used to search Benton and Saline County divorce records online for free.
CourtConnect is free and does not require a login. It is updated regularly and is the best starting point for any Benton divorce records search.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Benton
Two types of Benton divorce records are available, and they serve different purposes. Each comes from a different office with different access rules.
A divorce decree is the full court order from the Saline County Circuit Court. It contains all of the judge's decisions: property division, debt allocation, custody, visitation, and support obligations. Decrees are public records. Any person can request a certified copy from the Saline County Circuit Clerk. No reason or special connection to the case is needed. Visit the Clerk at 200 N Main Street, Suite 113, pay the per-page fee, and receive your copy. This is the record used for legal proceedings, refinancing a home, updating estate plans, and most other practical needs.
A divorce certificate is a brief summary issued by the Arkansas Department of Health. It states the names, date, and county of the divorce. It does not include property or custody terms. Under ACA 20-18-305, certificates are restricted. Only the parties named, their legal representatives, or those with a documented legal need may obtain them. The ADH charges $10 per certificate. Order by calling (501) 661-2336 or (866) 209-9482, or through VitalChek online. If you need the full details of a Benton divorce, request the decree from the Circuit Clerk.
Arkansas Divorce Law in the 22nd Circuit
Benton divorces proceed under Arkansas state law in the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Under ACA 9-12-301, fault-based divorce grounds include adultery, felony conviction, and habitual drunkenness. Most filers in Saline County use the no-fault separation ground under ACA 9-12-306: 18 continuous months of living apart without resuming the marriage. This ground does not require proving wrongdoing by either party.
Arkansas requires 60 days of residency before filing if you moved here from another state and were not married here. If you were married in Arkansas or the divorce grounds arose here, you can file immediately. After the judge signs and the Circuit Clerk enters the decree, it is publicly accessible with no additional waiting period. Uncontested Benton divorces with no children and no disputed property can close relatively quickly. Contested cases involving custody or significant assets take longer depending on what is at stake.
Saline County has seen population growth in recent years, and Benton as the county seat handles a steady volume of domestic relations filings.
Mail Requests for Benton Divorce Records
If you cannot visit the Saline County Courthouse in person, you can submit a certified copy request by mail. Write to the Saline County Circuit Clerk, 200 N Main Street, Suite 113, Benton, AR 72015. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Include a check or money order for the copy fee. The Clerk will contact you if anything is missing.
Note: Call (501) 303-5615 before mailing your request to confirm current per-page copy fees and expected processing time for mailed requests.
For ADH divorce certificates, you can write to 4815 W Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, call (501) 661-2336, or order online through VitalChek. Have a copy of your ID ready for all ADH requests. If you are not one of the named parties, be prepared to document your legal interest in the record.
Legal Help and Resources for Benton Residents
Legal Aid of Arkansas serves Saline County residents including those in Benton. Visit arlegalaid.org for intake information and income guidelines. They handle family law matters at no cost to qualifying clients. The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership at a.arlawhelp.org offers free self-help guides for the divorce process including court forms, step-by-step instructions, and plain-language explanations of Arkansas law.
For private attorney referrals in Benton and Saline County, contact the Arkansas Bar Association at arkbar.com or (501) 375-4606. Their referral service can connect you with family law attorneys who handle Saline County domestic relations cases. Given Benton's location between Little Rock and Hot Springs, there are attorneys in the area who focus on divorce and custody matters in the 22nd Circuit.
The image below shows the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership, a free self-help resource for Benton residents facing divorce.
The ALSP site is free and covers divorce, separation, and custody topics in plain language. No account is needed to access the guides.