Find Divorce Records in Dallas County
Dallas County divorce records have been maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Fordyce since the county was established in 1845. If you need to search for a case, order a certified copy of a divorce decree, or access vital records through the Arkansas Department of Health, this guide covers every avenue available for Dallas County divorce records, including the free CourtConnect search tool, how to contact the clerk, and local legal resources.
Dallas County Overview
Dallas County Circuit Clerk Office
The Dallas County Circuit Clerk's office is in Fordyce at 3rd and Oak Streets, Fordyce, AR 71742. Phone is (870) 352-2307 and fax is (870) 352-7323. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's records run from 1845 to the present. If you plan to visit, bring a photo ID and the full legal names of both parties along with the approximate year of the divorce. That information helps staff locate the right case without delay.
Dallas County was created on January 1, 1845, from portions of Clark County and Bradley County. It is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit. Fordyce is the county seat and the location of the courthouse. The city sits roughly midway between Pine Bluff and Camden on U.S. Highway 79. Access is straightforward from several directions in southern Arkansas.
All divorce cases in Dallas County are filed in the Circuit Court's domestic relations division. The clerk assigns a case number at the time of filing. That number is used to track the record from the initial petition through any hearings and to the final signed decree. When you request copies, having the case number ready speeds up the process considerably. If you do not have it, the clerk can search by name and year.
You can find current contact details for the Dallas County Circuit Clerk at the Dallas County page on the Arkansas Association of Counties website. That page lists all county offices and is updated when contact information changes.
The image below shows the Dallas County entry from the Arkansas Association of Counties, which includes the clerk's current contact details.
Double-check the hours and address listed there before making the drive to Fordyce.
Search Dallas County Divorce Cases Online
The CourtConnect public access portal, maintained by the Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts, is the free online tool for searching Dallas County court records. To find a divorce case, open CourtConnect, select Dallas County from the dropdown, and choose case type 14 for Domestic Relations. Enter the name of either party or a case number. Results include filing dates, case status, party names, and scheduled hearings. Document images are not available through the portal. What you get is the case number, which you then take to the Circuit Clerk to order certified copies of the actual documents.
CourtConnect works well for cases that fall within the system's coverage period. Cases filed before the online system went live may not show up in search results. For older cases, the Circuit Clerk maintains physical indexes that can be searched manually. Call (870) 352-2307 if you need to search records that may not be in the electronic system.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts at 625 Marshall Street Suite 1100, Little Rock, AR 72201 (phone: 501-682-9400) operates the CourtConnect system. If you run into any problems with the portal or need help interpreting results, their office is the right place to call.
Divorce Decree vs. Certificate: Dallas County Records
Two different documents come up when people look for Dallas County divorce records. They are not the same, and they come from two separate offices.
The divorce decree is the full court order. It is the document the judge signs to legally end the marriage. It contains all the terms of the divorce settlement: property division, debt responsibility, custody arrangements, child support, and alimony if any was awarded. This document is filed with and held by the Dallas County Circuit Clerk in Fordyce. If you need to show the exact terms of a divorce, enforce a settlement agreement, or split a pension or retirement account through a qualified domestic relations order, you need a certified copy of the decree from the Circuit Clerk. A copy of the ADH certificate will not serve that purpose.
The divorce certificate is a short summary document, sometimes called an abstract, issued by the Arkansas Department of Health. Under ACA § 20-18-305, the ADH restricts certificate access to direct parties, close family members, legal representatives, and others with a documented legal need. To order a certificate, contact the ADH Vital Records office at 4815 W Markham Street Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: 501-661-2336 or toll-free 866-209-9482, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The fee is $10 per copy. You can also use VitalChek to order online.
Not sure which one you need? Ask the office, bank, court, or agency you are submitting the document to. They can tell you exactly which form satisfies their requirement.
Arkansas Divorce Law in Dallas County Courts
All divorce proceedings in Dallas County 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 listed in the statute include adultery, willful abandonment, and several others. To file in Dallas County, at least one party must have been a resident of Arkansas for at least 60 days before filing the petition, as required by ACA § 9-12-306.
Once a divorce petition is filed, the case is assigned a number by the Circuit Clerk. The case proceeds through the court system from there. When the judge signs the final decree, the clerk enters it into the permanent record. From that point, the decree is a public document available under ACA § 25-19-105, Arkansas's Freedom of Information Act for court records. The clerk can tell you whether any portion of a specific case has been sealed or restricted. Portions involving minor children may be sealed by court order.
Legal Resources for Dallas County Residents
If you are going through a divorce in Dallas County and need help, several resources are available at little or no cost.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership publishes a free, plain-language guide on divorce, separation, and annulment in Arkansas. It explains the steps involved, what forms you need, how to serve the other party, and what to expect in court. It is worth reading before you decide whether to hire an attorney.
Legal Aid of Arkansas provides direct legal help to low-income residents. If your case is complicated by custody disputes, domestic violence, or significant property, Legal Aid may be able to represent you or at least provide guidance. They serve clients across southern Arkansas, including Dallas County.
For private representation, the Arkansas Bar Association lawyer referral service can help you find a family law attorney in the south-central Arkansas area. Initial consultations are often affordable and can help you gauge how much legal help your situation actually needs.
How to Get Copies of Dallas County Divorce Records
In person is the straightforward choice. Visit the courthouse at 3rd and Oak Streets in Fordyce during business hours, Monday through Friday. Bring a photo ID and information about the case. Staff can search the index and provide copies the same day in most cases. Ask about the per-page copy rate and certification fee before anything is printed.
By mail is available if you cannot come in person. Write to the Dallas County Circuit Clerk at 3rd and Oak Streets, Fordyce, AR 71742. Include the names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and a return address. Enclose a check or money order for the estimated fees. Call or fax (870) 352-7323 ahead of time to confirm current costs. Mail requests can take one to two weeks to process, sometimes longer.
For ADH divorce certificates, use the contact information above or order through VitalChek for online ordering. VitalChek also offers expedited shipping for an additional fee.