Search Crittenden County Divorce Records
Crittenden County divorce records have been filed with the Circuit Clerk since 1825, covering nearly two centuries of family court cases in this eastern Arkansas county. If you need to locate a divorce case, order a certified copy of a decree, or confirm that a divorce was filed in Crittenden County, this page covers the clerk office in Marion, the free CourtConnect search tool, ADH vital records options, and local legal resources.
Crittenden County Overview
Crittenden County Circuit Clerk
The Crittenden County Circuit Clerk holds all divorce records filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit for this county. The office is located at 85 Jackson Street, Marion, AR 72364. Phone is (870) 739-3248 and fax is (870) 739-4139. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's records go back to 1825, when Crittenden County was created from Phillips County.
Crittenden County sits at the far eastern tip of Arkansas, directly across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee. The county is part of the Memphis metro area in many practical ways, which means it sees a steady volume of court filings. Divorce cases are filed and heard in Marion at the Circuit Courthouse. If you need to visit in person, Marion is a short drive from West Memphis and accessible from Interstate 55.
When you contact the clerk's office, have the full legal names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was filed. That combination helps staff find the right case fast. For older records that may not be indexed online, a more specific date range helps even more. Staff can search physical indexes for cases that predate the electronic system.
The Crittenden County page at the Arkansas Association of Counties provides a current contact listing for the Circuit Clerk and other county offices. It is worth checking there if you need to confirm phone numbers or addresses before you call.
The screenshot below shows the Crittenden County listing from the Arkansas Association of Counties website, which includes current clerk contact information.
Verify contact details there before visiting the Marion courthouse so you do not arrive outside business hours.
Find Crittenden County Divorce Cases Online
The free CourtConnect portal, run by the Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts, is the main online tool for searching Crittenden County divorce records. Open the site, pick Crittenden County from the county dropdown, and select case type 14 for Domestic Relations. You can enter either party's name or a case number if you already have one. CourtConnect returns filing dates, case status, party names, and scheduled court events. It does not provide document images, but it gives you the case number you need to request certified copies from the clerk.
Cases filed before the system went live may not appear in CourtConnect. If the divorce is older and does not show up in the online results, the Circuit Clerk can search the paper index. Call (870) 739-3248 to ask about availability of records from a specific time period.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts at 625 Marshall Street Suite 1100, Little Rock, AR 72201 (phone: 501-682-9400) maintains the CourtConnect system. If you have trouble accessing the portal or need help interpreting results, their staff can point you in the right direction.
Third-party public records sites also aggregate some Crittenden County court data. The Crittenden County page at Arkansas Court Records is one option. Results from these sites should be treated as leads, not final answers. Confirm anything important with the Circuit Clerk directly.
The screenshot below shows the Crittenden County court records search interface at Arkansas Court Records, a third-party aggregator for public court data.
Use this tool to do a name search first, then take any case numbers you find to CourtConnect or the Circuit Clerk for verification.
Decree vs. Certificate: Crittenden County Divorce Records
When people ask for Crittenden County divorce records, they often mean one of two different things. Knowing the difference saves time and frustration.
The divorce decree is the full court order signed by the judge. It contains all terms of the divorce, including property division, debt assignment, custody and visitation if children were involved, child support, and alimony if any was awarded. This document is on file with the Crittenden County Circuit Clerk in Marion. You need the decree if you are trying to enforce any of its terms, divide a retirement account, or prove the specific conditions of a divorce settlement. A certified copy from the clerk is a legally binding document you can use in court, in financial transactions, and in dealings with government agencies.
The divorce certificate is a short summary form issued by the Arkansas Department of Health. Under ACA § 20-18-305, access is restricted to parties directly named in the record, close family members, legal representatives, and those with a documented legal purpose. The ADH Vital Records office is at 4815 W Markham Street Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: 501-661-2336 or toll-free 866-209-9482. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The fee is $10 per certificate. You can also order through VitalChek online if you prefer not to contact ADH directly.
In short: go to the Circuit Clerk for the full decree, and go to the ADH or VitalChek for the abstract certificate. They are not interchangeable.
Arkansas Divorce Law and Crittenden County Courts
Crittenden County divorce cases follow Arkansas state law. Under ACA § 9-12-301, Arkansas allows both no-fault and fault-based divorce. No-fault requires an 18-month separation period. Fault grounds include adultery, willful abandonment, and a few other specific circumstances defined in the statute. To file in Crittenden County, at least one party must have been an Arkansas resident for at least 60 days before filing, per ACA § 9-12-306.
The Circuit Court handles all domestic relations cases, including divorce. Filings are assigned case numbers by the Circuit Clerk. The case number tracks the record from the initial filing through any hearings and to the final decree. Once the judge signs and the clerk enters it, the decree becomes part of the permanent public record.
Public access to court records is established under ACA § 25-19-105, the state Freedom of Information Act. Most divorce case records are public. Portions involving minor children may be sealed or redacted at the judge's order. The clerk can tell you whether any portion of a specific case is restricted.
Legal Resources for Crittenden County Residents
Several free and low-cost legal resources serve people dealing with divorce in Crittenden County.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership publishes plain-language guides on divorce, separation, and annulment in Arkansas. The site covers what forms are needed, how to serve the other party, what happens at hearings, and how the process ends. It is a useful first stop for anyone trying to understand the process without paying for a consultation.
Legal Aid of Arkansas offers direct legal help to qualifying low-income residents. If your case involves children, domestic abuse, or complex finances, and you cannot pay for an attorney, Legal Aid may be able to assist. Their offices serve clients across eastern Arkansas.
For those who can afford to hire an attorney, the Arkansas Bar Association lawyer referral service can help you find a family law attorney in the West Memphis or Marion area. An initial consultation is often low cost and can help you figure out whether you need ongoing representation.
How to Request Copies of Crittenden County Divorce Records
In person is the simplest way. Go to 85 Jackson Street in Marion during weekday business hours. The clerk's staff can search the index and produce copies while you wait. Bring a photo ID and cash or a check for the fees. Ask about the per-page copy rate and certification fee when you arrive so you know the cost before anything is printed.
By mail is an option if you are not local. Send a written request to the Crittenden County Circuit Clerk at 85 Jackson Street, Marion, AR 72364. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate divorce year, and a return address. Enclose payment for the estimated fees. Call or fax ahead to confirm current fee amounts. Turnaround time by mail varies, so plan for at least one to two weeks.
CourtConnect gives you free online case information but not certified copies. Use it to find the case number, then take that number to the clerk for the actual documents. That step cuts down on the time the clerk needs to search, which helps if you are ordering by mail.