Centerton Divorce Records Lookup

Divorce records for Centerton residents are kept at the Benton County Circuit Clerk's office in Bentonville, just 5 miles away. Centerton is one of Arkansas's fastest-growing cities and sits in Benton County, where all divorce cases go through the Circuit Court at 102 NE A Street. This page covers how to get a copy of a divorce decree, how to search online through CourtConnect, and the key difference between a public decree and a restricted ADH divorce certificate.

Benton County Circuit Clerk: Close to Centerton

Centerton is in Benton County, and the Benton County Circuit Clerk is located in Bentonville at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712, just about 5 miles from Centerton. The phone number is (479) 271-1016. The short distance means that in-person visits to request or review divorce records are easy for most Centerton residents. All divorce filings and case records for Centerton are maintained at this courthouse in Bentonville, not in Centerton itself.

Centerton has a District Court at 290 N Main Street, (479) 795-0595. That court handles local misdemeanor and traffic matters only. It does not have jurisdiction over divorce cases and does not keep divorce records. For any Centerton divorce record, contact the Benton County Circuit Clerk in Bentonville. Benton County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Centerton has grown rapidly in recent years, becoming one of the largest cities in Benton County by population. The Benton County courthouse in Bentonville handles a large and growing volume of domestic relations cases. Call ahead to confirm current office hours and copy fee rates before making a trip.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

When people look for Centerton divorce records, they are usually looking for one of two documents, and it helps to understand which one you actually need. The divorce decree is the complete court order issued by the Benton County Circuit Court judge when the divorce was granted. It contains all the terms: property and debt division, spousal support if any, and custody and child support details if the couple had children. The divorce decree is a public record. Under ACA 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, any person can request a copy from the Benton County Circuit Clerk. You do not need to be a party to the divorce to ask for it.

The divorce certificate is a different and restricted document. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Vital Records Division maintains these short statistical summaries. A certificate lists the parties' names and the date of the divorce but does not include any of the terms. Under ACA 20-18-305, only the named parties, their legal representatives, or those with a documented legal need can obtain a copy from ADH. To order a certificate, contact the ADH Vital Records Division at 4815 W Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or call (501) 661-2336. Online ordering is available through VitalChek for a convenience fee of $1.85 on top of the standard $10 and $5 fees.

Search Centerton Divorce Cases on CourtConnect

Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad is a free public tool that lets you search Benton County divorce cases from any device. Select Benton County and choose case type 14 for Domestic Relations. Enter the names of the parties or the case number to look up Centerton divorce records. CourtConnect shows case status, filing dates, and hearing information. It does not let you view the documents, but it confirms whether a case exists and provides the case number for your records request.

The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) runs CourtConnect. Contact them at (501) 682-9400 or at arcourts.gov if you run into technical issues. No login or account is needed for public case searches.

The screenshot below shows the CourtConnect public access portal. Centerton residents can use it to look up Benton County divorce cases before visiting the Bentonville courthouse.

Checking CourtConnect first can save you time when you call or visit the Benton County Circuit Clerk in Bentonville.

Divorce Law in Arkansas

To file for divorce in Benton County, at least one spouse must have been an Arkansas resident for 60 days before the complaint is filed. The court cannot finalize the divorce for at least 30 days after the complaint is filed. Arkansas allows both fault and no-fault divorce. The most commonly used no-fault ground is the 18-month separation without cohabitation under ACA 9-12-306. Fault grounds listed in ACA 9-12-301 include adultery, willful desertion for one year, felony conviction, and habitual drunkenness, among several others.

Arkansas divides marital property through equitable distribution, not community property. Courts try to be fair based on the facts of each specific case. The terms of the division will appear in the Benton County divorce decree filed with the Circuit Clerk. Centerton residents who want to review those terms for a past divorce can request a copy of the decree as a public record.

Getting a Copy of a Centerton Divorce Decree

In person is the fastest option. Visit the Benton County Circuit Clerk at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. The drive from Centerton is short, about 5 to 10 minutes. Bring the full names of both parties and the year the divorce was finalized. A case number from CourtConnect will speed up the process. Ask the clerk about the current copy fee when you call (479) 271-1016 before your visit. Certified copies may cost slightly more than plain photocopies but are often required for legal purposes.

If you prefer not to make the trip, mail a request to the Benton County Circuit Clerk at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Include party names, the year, and case number if available. Send a check or money order for the estimated fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take a few business days to process depending on the clerk's current workload.

• In person: 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712
• Phone: (479) 271-1016
• Online: CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad
• ADH restricted certificates: VitalChek or (501) 661-2336

Legal Resources for Centerton Residents

Centerton residents who need legal help with a divorce case can reach Legal Aid of Arkansas at arlegalaid.org. They provide free civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents and handle family law matters including divorce in Benton County. The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership at arlawhelp.org also offers a free plain-language guide to divorce in Arkansas that is a helpful starting point for anyone new to the process.

For private attorney referrals, the Arkansas Bar Association at (501) 375-4606 or arkbar.com can connect you with licensed family law attorneys in Benton County. The Bentonville and Rogers area have many family law practices that handle Benton County Circuit Court cases regularly.

The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership resource page below is a free guide to divorce and separation for Centerton and all Benton County residents navigating the Arkansas court system.

Free legal guidance is available for Centerton residents through Legal Aid and the Legal Services Partnership.

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