Search Johnson County Divorce Records
Johnson County divorce records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Clarksville, Arkansas, with records going back to 1833 when the county was formed. This page explains how to use CourtConnect to search Johnson County divorce cases online, how to get a certified copy of a divorce decree from the courthouse, and where to find legal assistance if you need help with a pending or past divorce case.
Johnson County Overview
Johnson County Circuit Clerk Office
The Johnson County Circuit Clerk maintains all court records in the county, including divorce filings. The office is at 215 W Main Street, Clarksville, AR 72830. Phone: (479) 754-2177. Fax: (479) 754-6557. Staff can help with case lookups, certified copy requests, and questions about what records are available and in what form.
Johnson County was created November 16, 1833 from Pope County and named for Benjamin Johnson, a territorial judge. Clarksville serves as the county seat. Court records run from 1833 to the present. Very old records may only exist on paper and can require extra time to retrieve. When contacting the office, have the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce ready. A photo ID is needed if you visit in person to pick up copies. Mail requests can also be processed, so ask about that option when you call if a visit is not convenient.
The image below shows the Johnson County listing at the Arkansas Association of Counties, which includes current contact information for county offices.
Visit the Johnson County page at the Arkansas Association of Counties for current clerk contact details and office information. It is a good first stop before calling or driving to Clarksville.
Finding Johnson County Divorce Cases Online
The state's free online case search tool, CourtConnect, includes Johnson County records. Go to the portal, choose Johnson County from the county list, and select case type 14 for Domestic Relations. Search by party name or case number. No registration is needed.
Results show the names of both parties, the case number, the filing date, the case status, and a timeline of court events. Document images are not available through CourtConnect. Once you have a case number, contact the Circuit Clerk to request certified copies of the actual divorce decree. Having the case number ready speeds up the process significantly.
Older cases may not be in the online system. For those, a direct call or written request to the clerk is the right approach. Try searching by both spouse names if a search by one name does not return results. Names with unusual spellings sometimes appear differently in older records.
The image below is from the Johnson County court records search page, which supplements CourtConnect for certain types of case lookups.
The Johnson County court records page is a secondary source for case information and may help if CourtConnect does not show what you need.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts manages CourtConnect and can assist with technical issues. They are at 625 Marshall Street, Suite 1100, Little Rock, phone (501) 682-9400.
Divorce Decree vs. Certificate: Johnson County
Two separate documents can prove a divorce in Johnson County, and getting the wrong one can slow things down. Know which one you need before you make a request.
The divorce decree is the full court order. It carries the judge's signature, the case number, all the terms the court ordered, and the legal grounds for the dissolution. This document is held by the Johnson County Circuit Clerk and is a public record. Certified copies are available to anyone who requests them. Call (479) 754-2177 to ask about copy fees and how to submit a request, whether in person or by mail. The decree is the right document for estate matters, legal name changes, and proceedings where the specific terms of the divorce are relevant.
The divorce certificate is a shorter summary document issued by the Arkansas Department of Health. It lists the names, the date, and the county. The fee is $10 per copy, non-refundable. Call ADH at (866) 209-9482 or mail a request to: Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 W Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205. Include both party names, the approximate year, and the county. You can also order through VitalChek, though extra fees apply on top of the state's $10 base charge. The certificate is enough for most administrative purposes, including updating a Social Security record or applying for a new marriage license.
State Law and Johnson County Divorces
Johnson County courts apply Arkansas state law to all divorce cases. There are no county-specific divorce statutes; everything follows the state code.
Arkansas Code § 9-12-301 sets out the legal grounds for divorce, including general indignities, adultery, habitual drunkenness, and felony conviction. One spouse must live in Arkansas for at least 60 days before filing. A divorce cannot be finalized until at least 30 days after the petition is filed. These timing and residency rules appear in § 9-12-306. Access to divorce certificates is governed by § 20-18-305, and access to court records generally falls under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act at § 25-19-105.
Free plain-language help on Arkansas divorce law is available through the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership. Their guides walk through how to file, what documents you need, and what happens at court hearings.
Legal Help in Johnson County
Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free legal help for civil cases including divorce to income-qualifying residents. Contact them as early as possible. Their intake process takes time, and capacity is limited. Even if you do not qualify for full representation, they may be able to point you to other resources.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership has free self-help guides and forms online. These are available any time and are a solid starting point before consulting an attorney.
To find a licensed family law attorney near Clarksville, use the Arkansas Bar Association referral service. Search by county and practice area. Many attorneys in this region offer a reduced-cost or free first meeting for family law cases.
The image below comes from the Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts, which runs the CourtConnect portal and publishes procedural guides for the public.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts website has forms, procedural info, and links to self-help resources for people navigating the court system.