Hot Springs Divorce Records

Hot Springs divorce records are filed with the Garland County Circuit Clerk, whose office is right in Hot Springs at 501 Ouachita Avenue. An important point: Hot Springs city is in Garland County, not Hot Spring County. Hot Spring County (no "s") is a separate county with its seat in Malvern. If your divorce was filed while you lived in the city of Hot Springs, your records are with the Garland County Circuit Clerk at the local courthouse, not in Malvern.

Garland County Circuit Clerk in Hot Springs

All Hot Springs divorce cases are filed with the Garland County Circuit Court, 18th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk's office is at 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 204, Hot Springs, AR 71901. Call (501) 622-3600. The courthouse is located in Hot Springs city, so residents do not need to travel anywhere else to access Garland County court records.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a photo ID when visiting. If you have the case number, provide it to the Clerk's staff. If you do not have a case number, give both party names and the approximate year. Staff will search the system. Certified copies of divorce decrees are issued for a per-page fee. Call ahead to confirm current rates before your visit. Walk-in service is available and mail requests are also accepted.

Hot Springs also has a District Court at 133 Convention Blvd, (501) 321-6827. That court handles misdemeanor criminal and small civil matters only. All divorce and family law cases go to Circuit Court at 501 Ouachita Avenue, not to District Court.

Hot Springs vs. Hot Spring County: An Important Distinction

This point causes confusion every year. Hot Springs is a city in Garland County. Hot Spring County (no "s" at the end) is a separate political subdivision of Arkansas with its county seat in Malvern, about 30 miles away. If someone's divorce was filed while they lived in the city of Hot Springs, the records are at the Garland County Circuit Clerk at 501 Ouachita Avenue in Hot Springs. If the divorce was filed in the county of Hot Spring (no "s"), then the records are at the Hot Spring County Circuit Clerk in Malvern.

When looking up records, confirm which county the case was filed in before you drive anywhere or submit a written request. Use Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad to search by name across counties. Select Garland County and use case type 14 for Domestic Relations. If the case does not appear there, try Hot Spring County in the same portal. CourtConnect covers both counties and is free to use with no account needed.

Below is the Arkansas CourtConnect search portal used to look up Hot Springs and Garland County divorce records online.

CourtConnect is free, requires no login, and covers all Arkansas counties. Use it to confirm whether a case is in Garland County or elsewhere before making a trip.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

Two types of Hot Springs divorce records exist. They serve different purposes and come from different offices with different rules about who can get them.

A divorce decree is the full court order from the Garland County Circuit Court. It includes all of the judge's orders: how property is divided, custody and visitation terms for children, support obligations, and any other conditions. Decrees are public records. Any person may request a certified copy from the Garland County Circuit Clerk. No reason or connection to the case is required. Walk in, provide names and year, pay the per-page fee, and receive the copy. This is the record used in most legal and financial situations.

A divorce certificate is a brief summary from the Arkansas Department of Health. It states the names of the parties, the date of divorce, and the county. It does not include property or custody details. Under ACA 20-18-305, certificates are restricted. Only the parties, their legal representatives, or those with a documented legal need may access them. The fee is $10 through ADH. Call (501) 661-2336 or (866) 209-9482, or order online through VitalChek. For most purposes, request the decree from the Garland County Circuit Clerk rather than the certificate from ADH.

Arkansas Divorce Law in the 18th Circuit

Hot Springs divorces proceed under Arkansas state law in the 18th Judicial Circuit. Fault-based grounds under ACA 9-12-301 include adultery, felony conviction, and habitual drunkenness. The most widely used ground in Garland County is no-fault separation under ACA 9-12-306: 18 continuous months of living apart without resuming the marriage. This ground is simpler to prove than fault-based grounds.

Arkansas requires 60 days of residency before filing if you moved to the state from elsewhere and were not married in Arkansas. If the marriage or divorce grounds arose in Arkansas, you can file right away. Once the judge signs the decree and the Garland County Circuit Clerk enters it into the record, it is publicly accessible with no waiting period. Uncontested divorces with no children and no disputed property can resolve relatively quickly. Contested cases with custody disputes or significant property issues take longer.

Garland County has a steady volume of divorce filings given Hot Springs' size. The 18th Circuit handles both domestic relations and other civil and criminal matters.

Mail Requests for Hot Springs Divorce Records

If you cannot visit the Garland County Courthouse in person, submit your request by mail. Write to the Garland County Circuit Clerk, 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 204, Hot Springs, AR 71901. 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.

For ADH divorce certificate requests, you can call (501) 661-2336, write to 4815 W Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or order through VitalChek online. VitalChek orders generally process faster than postal mail. Have valid ID ready. If you are not one of the named parties, be prepared to document your legal interest in the record.

Legal Aid and Resources for Hot Springs Residents

Legal Aid of Arkansas serves Garland County residents including those in Hot Springs. Visit arlegalaid.org to apply and check income guidelines. They handle family law matters at no cost to qualifying clients. The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership at a.arlawhelp.org provides free self-help divorce guides, court forms, and step-by-step instructions for anyone handling their own case in Hot Springs.

For private attorney referrals in Hot Springs and Garland County, contact the Arkansas Bar Association at arkbar.com or (501) 375-4606. Their referral service can match you with family law attorneys who practice in the 18th Circuit.

The image below shows the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership, a free online resource for Hot Springs residents navigating divorce in Garland County.

ALSP is free and covers the full Arkansas divorce process in plain language. No account is needed to access their guides or court forms.

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