Craighead County Divorce Records
Craighead County divorce records are maintained by two Circuit Clerk offices serving the county's Western and Eastern Districts, with records dating back to 1878 and some of the most detailed historical divorce record collections in northeast Arkansas. This page explains how to find Craighead County divorce records, search cases online, get certified copies, and access legal resources in the area.
Craighead County Overview
Craighead County Circuit Clerk Offices
Craighead County has two county seats and two Circuit Clerk office locations. The Western District office is at 511 S. Main Street, Suite 202, Jonesboro, AR 72401. You can reach that office by phone at (870) 933-4530 or by fax at (870) 933-4520. The Eastern District office is at 107 Cobean Boulevard, Lake City, AR 72437, reachable at (870) 237-4170. The County Clerk office (MaryDawn Marshall) is also at 511 S. Main Street in Jonesboro, at (870) 933-4520.
When you need a record, you first need to know which district handled the case. Cases are filed in the district where the petitioner lives. If you are not sure, call the Jonesboro office first at (870) 933-4530. Staff can direct you to the right location. Having both parties' full names and the approximate year of the divorce will help them search faster.
Craighead County was created on February 19, 1859 and named for Thomas Craighead, who served in the Arkansas State Senate. The county has maintained court records since that time. Divorce records in the Western District (Jonesboro) go back to 1878. Records for the Eastern District (Lake City) go back to 1884. That gives Craighead County one of the oldest and most complete divorce record sets in northeast Arkansas.
The official Circuit Clerk page at Craighead County's website lists current contact information and office details. The screenshot below shows that page.
Use this page to confirm current hours and contact details before making a trip or mailing a request.
Searching Craighead County Divorce Cases Online
Arkansas offers a free statewide case search tool called CourtConnect. To search Craighead County divorce records, go to CourtConnect, select "Craighead County" from the county dropdown, and choose case category "Domestic Relations." Results show case numbers, party names, filing dates, and status. CourtConnect is the recommended starting point for cases that are more than two years old, as the county has directed users to ACAP CourtConnect for those older searches.
A free public access terminal is also available at the Circuit Clerk's office at 511 S. Main Street, Suite 202, Jonesboro. If you prefer to search in person, staff can help you use this terminal to look up older case records. Records prior to January 1, 2009 may not be fully available electronically, so cases before that date may require a manual search by the clerk's office.
The Craighead divorce records resource page provides a county-specific guide to finding divorce records and related court filings. The screenshot below shows that page.
This resource can help you understand what is available online versus what requires a trip to the courthouse.
Certified Copies of Craighead County Divorce Records
Craighead County charges $5.00 per document for certification, plus $0.25 per page for copies. That is different from most other Arkansas counties, so keep it in mind when you budget for your request. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree, visit the appropriate district courthouse or send a written request by mail. Include the case number if you have it, both parties' full names, and the year of the divorce. For the Western District, mail requests go to 511 S. Main Street, Suite 202, Jonesboro, AR 72401. For the Eastern District, send to 107 Cobean Boulevard, Lake City, AR 72437.
A divorce decree is the full court order from the judge. It contains the terms of the divorce, including property, custody, and any other rulings. This is the document most people need for legal purposes. If you only need basic confirmation that a divorce happened, you may want a divorce certificate instead, which is shorter and comes from a different agency.
Divorce certificates are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records at 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Call them at (501) 661-2336 or (866) 209-9482. The fee is $10 per copy, and most orders take 7 to 14 business days. Under Arkansas Code Annotated 20-18-305, these certificates are restricted to the named parties, their legal representatives, and those with a direct and tangible interest in the record.
You can also order certificates online through VitalChek. VitalChek charges $10 for the certificate plus a $5 service fee and a $1.85 processing fee. Online orders tend to process faster than requests mailed directly to ADH.
Arkansas Divorce Law in Craighead County
All Craighead County divorces are filed in the Circuit Court, Domestic Relations division, under the 2nd Judicial Circuit. Arkansas allows both fault and no-fault divorce. Fault grounds are listed under Arkansas Code Annotated 9-12-301 and include adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, and felony conviction. No-fault divorce requires demonstrating 18 months of continuous separation under ACA 9-12-306. This 18-month requirement is one of the longer separation periods in the country. It must be continuous, not just cumulative time apart.
To file in Craighead County, at least one spouse must have been an Arkansas resident for 60 days before the petition is filed. The case goes to whichever district covers the area where the petitioner lives. Once the court grants the divorce, the clerk notifies the Arkansas Department of Health, which records the event as a vital statistic and creates the divorce certificate record. The court file and the ADH certificate are separate records held by separate agencies.
Most Craighead County divorce records are public under ACA 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Some files involving minor children may have restricted sections. Ask the clerk before you visit if you are unsure whether a particular record is accessible.
Historical Divorce Records and Genealogy Research
Craighead County has unusually detailed historical divorce records compared to most Arkansas counties. The Genealogical Society of Craighead County has published two historical indexes: "Early Craighead County, Arkansas Divorces: Western District, Jonesboro Courthouse 1878-1897" and "Eastern District, Lake City Courthouse 1884-1950." These publications index divorce proceedings by party name and date, making it easier to locate very old cases before searching the physical files at the courthouse.
If you are doing genealogy research, these indexes can save significant time. Start there to find the approximate year and case details, then use that information to request the actual court file from the Circuit Clerk. For records from 1878 through the early 1900s, you will need to visit the courthouse or submit a written request. Most of those files have not been scanned into any online system.
You can also check marriage records through the online portal at CIS Arkansas, which provides marriage license information for Craighead County. While that is a different record type, it can help with genealogical research by confirming marriage dates that bracket a potential divorce.
Legal Resources in Craighead County
Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible residents and handles divorce filings and family law matters across the state. Call to confirm eligibility for northeast Arkansas residents. The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership offers a free online guide to divorce and separation with forms and step-by-step information. It is a good first step before you hire an attorney.
For private attorney referrals, the Arkansas Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service at (501) 375-4606. They can connect you with a family law attorney who practices in the Jonesboro area and is familiar with Craighead County court procedures.