Find Siloam Springs Divorce Records

Divorce records for Siloam Springs residents are held at the Benton County Circuit Clerk's office in Bentonville, about 20 miles east of Siloam Springs. All divorce cases filed by Siloam Springs residents go through the Benton County Circuit Court at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville. This page explains how to request copies, search cases online through CourtConnect, and understand the distinction between a public divorce decree and a restricted ADH divorce certificate.

Benton County Circuit Clerk: 20 Miles from Siloam Springs

Siloam Springs is in Benton County, which is one of the fastest-growing counties in Arkansas. The county seat is Bentonville, about 20 miles east of Siloam Springs via Highway 412. The Benton County Circuit Clerk is located at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. The phone number is (479) 271-1016. All divorce filings and records for Siloam Springs residents are held at this office. There is no divorce court in Siloam Springs itself; in-person records requests require the drive to Bentonville.

Siloam Springs has a District Court at 400 N Broadway Street, (479) 524-5761. That court handles misdemeanor criminal matters and traffic violations within the city limits. It does not process divorce cases and has no divorce records. If you call the Siloam Springs District Court about divorce records, staff will direct you to the Benton County Circuit Clerk in Bentonville. For all divorce-related requests, Bentonville is where you need to go.

Benton County falls under the 19th Judicial Circuit. When planning a trip to the Bentonville courthouse, call ahead to confirm hours and ask about the current fee for copies. Having the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce will speed up the records search.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

People often ask for "divorce records" without knowing which of two different types of documents they actually need. The divorce decree is the full court order from the Benton County Circuit Court judge. It sets out all the terms of the divorce: how property and debts are divided, whether spousal support applies, and custody and child support terms if children are involved. The divorce decree is a public record. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, ACA 25-19-105, allows any person to request a copy from the Benton County Circuit Clerk. You do not need to have been a party to the case.

The divorce certificate is a completely different document maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Vital Records Division. It is a brief statistical summary showing the parties' names and the date. It does not include any of the terms of the divorce. Under ACA 20-18-305, divorce certificates are restricted. Only the named parties, their legal representatives, or those with a documented legal need can get a copy from ADH. To order from ADH, contact the Vital Records Division at 4815 W Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or call (501) 661-2336. Online orders go through VitalChek for a small convenience fee.

CourtConnect: Search Siloam Springs Divorce Cases Online

Before making the drive to Bentonville, check Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Select Benton County and set case type to 14 (Domestic Relations) to search for Siloam Springs divorce records. You can search by party names or by case number. CourtConnect shows case status, filing dates, and hearing information. It does not show the documents themselves, but it will confirm whether a case exists and give you the case number, which helps when you contact the clerk.

CourtConnect is free and requires no account. It is run by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). If you need help using the system, the AOC is at (501) 682-9400 or arcourts.gov.

The screenshot below shows the Arkansas CourtConnect search portal. Siloam Springs residents can use it to look up Benton County divorce cases from any device at no cost.

Using CourtConnect before visiting the Bentonville courthouse can save time by confirming the case number and status in advance.

Arkansas Divorce Law Overview

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 issue a final decree for at least 30 days after filing. Arkansas provides both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce. The no-fault ground most often used is 18 months of continuous separation without cohabitation under ACA 9-12-306. Fault grounds under ACA 9-12-301 include adultery, willful desertion for one year, felony conviction, habitual drunkenness, and other specific circumstances.

Arkansas uses equitable distribution to split marital assets and debts. Courts divide property fairly based on the facts of the case, not automatically 50/50. The terms of each divorce are spelled out in the Benton County divorce decree. Siloam Springs residents who need to review the terms of a past divorce can get a copy of that decree from the Circuit Clerk in Bentonville.

How to Get a Siloam Springs Divorce Decree

To get a certified copy of a divorce decree in person, drive to the Benton County Circuit Clerk at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. The trip from Siloam Springs takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was finalized. Staff will search the records index and retrieve the file. Call ahead at (479) 271-1016 to confirm office hours and the current per-page copy fee before making the trip.

Mail requests are also an option. Write 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. Processing time for mail requests varies but is usually several business days.

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

Legal Help for Siloam Springs Residents

If you need assistance with a divorce case in Benton County, Legal Aid of Arkansas serves low-income residents statewide. Their website is arlegalaid.org. They can help with filing and navigating the Bentonville courthouse for Benton County cases. The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership at arlawhelp.org also has a free online guide to Arkansas divorce in plain language.

For private attorney referrals in the Siloam Springs area, the Arkansas Bar Association handles referrals at (501) 375-4606 or at arkbar.com. Several family law practices in Bentonville and Fayetteville regularly handle Benton County cases and are within a reasonable distance from Siloam Springs.

The image below shows the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership divorce and separation guide, which provides free guidance to Siloam Springs residents on Arkansas divorce law and procedures.

Free legal help is available for eligible Siloam Springs residents through Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Legal Services Partnership.

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