Cabot Divorce Records Search
Divorce records for Cabot residents are held by the Lonoke County Circuit Clerk in Lonoke city, about 15 miles from Cabot. Whether you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or want to verify a case through Arkansas CourtConnect, this page explains exactly where to go, what to ask for, and how the process works under Arkansas law.
Cabot Overview
Where Cabot Divorce Records Are Filed
Cabot is in Lonoke County, and all divorce cases filed by Cabot residents go through the Lonoke County Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk's office is located at 301 N Center Street, Suite 202, Lonoke, AR 72086. That is about 15 miles west of Cabot on Highway 89. The phone number is (501) 676-2316, and the clerk can also be reached by email at deborah.ogleshy@lonokecircuitclerk.com.
Cabot does have its own District Court at 101 N 2nd Street, (501) 843-7526, but that court handles traffic and misdemeanor matters only. Divorce is a civil action filed exclusively in Circuit Court. So if you are looking for Cabot divorce records, you must contact the Lonoke County Circuit Clerk, not the Cabot District Court.
The Circuit Clerk's office is generally open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. It is a good idea to call ahead before making the drive to confirm hours and ask whether your request can be handled the same day. Some records requests take a few days to process, depending on the age of the case and whether the file needs to be retrieved from storage.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
These two documents are not the same, and knowing the difference will save you time. A divorce decree is the full court order issued by the Circuit Court judge when a divorce is granted. It includes the judge's findings, property division, custody arrangements if children are involved, and any other terms the court ordered. The divorce decree is a public record held by the Lonoke County Circuit Clerk. Anyone can request a copy by visiting the clerk's office or submitting a written request by mail.
A divorce certificate is a separate, shorter summary document maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Vital Records Division. It shows the names of the parties, the county, and the date, but it does not include the terms of the divorce. Under Arkansas Code Annotated 20-18-305, divorce certificates are restricted. Only the parties named in the certificate, their legal representatives, or people with a documented need can get a certified copy from ADH. The fee through ADH is $10 for the first copy plus a $5 search fee, or you can order through VitalChek at vitalchek.com for an additional convenience fee.
Note: If you only need proof that a divorce occurred, the decree from the Circuit Clerk is usually easier to obtain than the ADH certificate.
Search Cabot Divorce Cases Online
Arkansas maintains a free public case search tool called CourtConnect. You can access it at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. To search for Cabot divorce records, select Lonoke County and use case type 14, which is the code for Domestic Relations. You can search by party name or by case number if you have it. CourtConnect shows case status, filing dates, and hearing information, but it does not display the actual documents. For certified copies, you still need to contact the Circuit Clerk.
The CourtConnect portal is maintained by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The AOC can be reached at (501) 682-9400 or through their main site at arcourts.gov. If you run into technical issues with CourtConnect, the AOC help desk is the right place to call.
Below is a screenshot of the CourtConnect public access portal where you can look up Cabot divorce cases in Lonoke County.
CourtConnect is free to use and does not require an account. Results update as cases move through the court system.
Arkansas Divorce Law Basics
Arkansas allows both fault and no-fault divorce. The most common ground used by Cabot residents is the 18-month separation ground under Arkansas Code Annotated 9-12-306. This requires that the parties have lived apart without cohabitation for at least 18 months. Fault grounds listed in ACA 9-12-301 include things like adultery, willful desertion, and habitual drunkenness, among others. You do not need to prove fault to get a divorce in Arkansas, but some parties choose fault grounds for strategic reasons related to property division.
Arkansas is not a community property state. Courts divide marital property equitably, which means fairly but not necessarily equally. The divorce decree from the Lonoke County Circuit Court will spell out exactly how property and debts were divided in any given case. If children are involved, custody and support terms will also appear in the decree. These terms are part of the public record unless the court has specifically ordered them sealed, which is rare in routine divorce cases.
How to Request Cabot Divorce Records
To get a copy of a divorce decree from the Lonoke County Circuit Clerk, you have a few options. You can go in person to 301 N Center Street, Suite 202, Lonoke. Bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was finalized. Staff will search the index and pull the file. Copies typically cost a small per-page fee. Ask the clerk about the current copy fee and whether certified copies cost more.
You can also submit a written request by mail. Address it to the Lonoke County Circuit Clerk at the address above, include the names of the parties, the case number if you have it, the year, and a check or money order for the copy fee. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time for mail requests varies. Call ahead to confirm the current fee schedule before sending payment.
- In person: 301 N Center Street, Suite 202, Lonoke, AR 72086
- Phone: (501) 676-2316
- Email: deborah.ogleshy@lonokecircuitclerk.com
- Online search: CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad
- ADH certificates: healthy.arkansas.gov or VitalChek
Legal Help for Cabot Residents
If you need help with a divorce case or understanding your rights, several free and low-cost resources serve the Cabot area. Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free civil legal services to low-income Arkansas residents. You can reach them through arlegalaid.org. They handle family law matters including divorce and can advise you on what to file and where.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership also maintains a helpful online guide to divorce, separation, and annulment in Arkansas. You can find it at arlawhelp.org. The site walks through the divorce process step by step and explains what documents you will need. It is a good starting point if you are not sure where to begin. For referrals to private attorneys in the Lonoke County area, the Arkansas Bar Association can help at arkbar.com or by calling (501) 375-4606.
The screenshot below shows the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership resource page, which covers divorce and family law help for residents like those in Cabot.
Legal aid services are available at no cost to those who qualify based on income guidelines.
Public Records Access in Arkansas
Arkansas divorce decrees are public records under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, ACA 25-19-105. This means any person can request to inspect or copy them without stating a reason. The Lonoke County Circuit Clerk cannot refuse a public records request for a divorce decree unless the court has issued a sealing order. Sealing is not common in standard divorce cases. If a case was sealed, the clerk will tell you that the record is not available for public inspection.
Keep in mind that some exhibits or attachments within a divorce case file may be restricted even if the main decree is public. Financial records, certain medical information, or documents related to minors can sometimes be treated differently. The clerk can tell you which parts of a file are open for public inspection and which are not. When in doubt, ask.