Find Divorce Records in Miller County
Miller County divorce records are on file with the Circuit Clerk in Texarkana on the Arkansas side of the state line. Miller County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, and its county seat of Texarkana straddles the Arkansas-Texas border, which makes the county unique among Arkansas counties. Only the Arkansas portion falls under Miller County jurisdiction. This page covers how to find Miller County divorce records, how to request certified copies, and what the difference is between a divorce decree and a divorce certificate under Arkansas law.
Miller County Overview
Miller County Circuit Clerk in Texarkana
The Miller County Circuit Clerk handles all divorce records for the county. The courthouse is at 400 Laurel Street, Texarkana, AR 71854. Phone: (870) 774-3381. Fax: (870) 774-3385. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Texarkana is a city that sits right on the Arkansas-Texas border. The courthouse at 400 Laurel Street is on the Arkansas side. If you are coming from the Texas side of Texarkana, make sure you go to the Arkansas courthouse for Miller County records, not the Bowie County courthouse in Texas, which handles Texarkana, TX cases separately.
When you contact or visit the clerk's office, have the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce on hand. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for in-person visits. If you already have a case number from a CourtConnect search, include it in your request. This helps staff locate the file much faster. Call ahead to confirm current copy fees before mailing payment.
The Arkansas Association of Counties page for Miller County provides current contact information and links to county offices in Texarkana, AR. The county is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit along with neighboring Little River County.
The image below is from the Miller County Circuit Clerk listing on the Arkansas Association of Counties website.
The Arkansas Association of Counties maintains contact details and office information for the Miller County Circuit Clerk in Texarkana, AR.
Search Miller County Divorce Cases Online
Arkansas provides free online case lookup through the CourtConnect public access portal. Select Miller County from the county list and choose case type 14 for Domestic Relations to search divorce cases. You can search by last name of either party or by case number. No account is required and there is no cost to use the portal.
CourtConnect provides basic case summary data: party names, case number, filing date, court events, and case status. Document images and the text of court orders are not available through the portal. Once you locate the case number you need, use it when you contact the Circuit Clerk to order certified copies. Including the case number makes it much easier for the clerk's staff to pull the correct file.
The image below shows a Miller County court records resource that can supplement CourtConnect searches for local divorce cases.
The Miller County records resource can help locate case information that may not appear in the CourtConnect online system for older or less digitized records.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts at 625 Marshall St Suite 1100, Little Rock, 501-682-9400, manages CourtConnect statewide. Contact them if you encounter access issues or cannot interpret results from your search.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Miller County
Two separate documents prove a divorce in Arkansas, and they are maintained by two different agencies. Getting the correct one for your specific need before you start the request process will save you significant time and frustration.
The divorce decree is the court order signed by the circuit judge in Miller County. It is the complete legal record of the divorce. It contains the names of both parties, the case number, the date granted, the legal grounds cited, and all court-ordered terms including property division, spousal support, and child custody if applicable. The Miller County Circuit Clerk holds this document at the Texarkana courthouse. It is a public record with no access restrictions. Any person can request a certified copy. Call (870) 774-3381 to ask about the current copy fee before visiting or mailing a request.
The divorce certificate is an entirely separate summary document created by the Arkansas Department of Health. Under ACA § 20-18-305, access to the ADH certificate is restricted by state law. Only the parties to the divorce, their immediate family members, or their authorized legal representatives can obtain a copy. The certificate is created for vital records and statistical purposes, not as a legal instrument. For nearly all practical and legal purposes, including proof of divorce for court proceedings, name changes, or remarriage, the divorce decree from the Circuit Clerk is the correct document to request.
Note: Miller County is on the Arkansas side of Texarkana. Texas records for Texarkana, TX are held in Bowie County, Texas.
Requesting Certified Copies from Miller County
The most direct way to get a certified copy of a Miller County divorce decree is to visit the courthouse at 400 Laurel Street, Texarkana, AR 71854. Bring a government-issued photo ID and know the names of both parties and the year of the divorce. Staff can usually locate recent cases quickly. For older records, allow more time, especially if the file predates digital record-keeping.
For mail requests, write a letter that includes your full name, return address, the names of both parties, the year of the divorce, and a case number if you have one. Make a check or money order payable to the Miller County Circuit Clerk and enclose it. Mail to 400 Laurel Street, Texarkana, AR 71854. Call (870) 774-3381 first to confirm current copy fees. Sending the wrong amount will delay your request. The office will mail the certified copy to you once they process the request.
To request an ADH divorce certificate, contact the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records at 4815 W Markham St Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, phone 501-661-2336 or toll-free 866-209-9482. Online ordering is available through VitalChek for $10 plus $5 processing and $1.85 for ID verification. Eligibility requirements apply under state law for ADH certificate requests.
Arkansas Divorce Law in the 8th Judicial Circuit
All Miller County divorces are governed by Arkansas state law. ACA § 9-12-301 defines the fault-based grounds available to petitioners in the 8th Judicial Circuit. These include adultery, felony conviction, habitual drunkenness, cruel and barbarous treatment, general indignities, and willful desertion for one year. Fault must be proven in court if it is the stated ground.
The no-fault 18-month separation ground under ACA § 9-12-306 allows either party to seek a divorce without proving wrongdoing. Continuous living apart for 18 months is sufficient. This is one of the most commonly used grounds in Arkansas divorces, particularly in uncontested cases. Arkansas also requires that at least one spouse be a resident of the state for 60 days before filing and that the case be pending at least 30 days before a final decree can be entered.
Access to divorce records in Miller County is subject to ACA § 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Most divorce case files including the final decree are public records under this law. Some portions may be restricted if they involve sealed proceedings or records relating directly to minor children, but the divorce decree itself is generally accessible without restriction.
Legal Resources for Miller County Residents
Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free civil legal services to income-qualifying residents across the state, including southwest Arkansas. If you are a Miller County resident facing a divorce and cannot afford an attorney, Legal Aid may be able to help. Visit their website or call to learn about eligibility and service availability in the Texarkana area.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership has a free online guide covering divorce and separation in Arkansas. It explains filing procedures, grounds, what to expect in court, and how to handle custody and property. This guide is useful whether you plan to hire an attorney or navigate the process on your own. It is available online at no cost and covers Miller County cases along with all other Arkansas counties.
The Arkansas Bar Association at 400 W Capitol Ave Suite 1100, Little Rock, phone 501-375-4606, runs a lawyer referral service. Given Miller County's location in the Texarkana metro area, you can also find attorneys who are licensed in both Arkansas and Texas if your situation involves property or issues on both sides of the state line. The bar association can help identify attorneys appropriate for your needs.