Mississippi County Divorce Records Lookup
Mississippi County divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and are accessible through two county seats: Blytheville in the Northern District and Osceola in the Southern District. Like Logan County, Mississippi County has two separate courthouse operations, and where a divorce was filed determines which district holds the record. This guide covers how to find Mississippi County divorce records, how to use CourtConnect, and how to distinguish between the two types of divorce documents Arkansas provides under state law.
Mississippi County Overview
Mississippi County Circuit Clerk: Two Districts
Mississippi County has two county seats, which means divorce records may be held at either the Blytheville courthouse (Northern District) or the Osceola courthouse (Southern District) depending on where the case was filed. The Northern District courthouse is at 200 W Walnut Street, Blytheville, AR 72315, phone (870) 762-2332. This is the primary contact number for the Circuit Clerk. If you are not sure which district handled the case, start by calling Blytheville and asking. Staff can typically tell you whether the record is in their system or whether you need to contact Osceola.
Both courthouse offices generally operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call ahead before visiting to confirm hours and ask whether the record you need is available at that location. Bring a government-issued photo ID for in-person visits. Have the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. If you have a case number from a prior CourtConnect search, include that as well. It will save time and help staff pull the exact file.
Mississippi County is named for the Mississippi River, which runs along its eastern boundary. The county is in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The Arkansas Association of Counties page for Mississippi County has current contact details for both courthouse locations.
The image below shows the Mississippi County Circuit Clerk listing from the Arkansas Association of Counties directory.
Visit the Arkansas Association of Counties for current contact details and office information for both Mississippi County courthouse locations.
Search Mississippi County Divorce Cases Online
The free CourtConnect portal operated by the Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts covers Mississippi County circuit court cases. Select Mississippi County from the county list and set case type to 14 for Domestic Relations. Search by either party's name or by case number. The portal is free and no account is needed.
CourtConnect returns basic case data: party names, case number, filing date, hearing history, and case status. It does not display document images or the full text of court orders. Once you find the case number you need, contact the appropriate Circuit Clerk office (Blytheville or Osceola) to order certified copies. Include the case number in your request to speed up the retrieval process. If a case does not appear online, it may predate electronic records or have been indexed under a different name spelling.
The image below shows Mississippi County court records as they appear in the Arkansas public case search system.
The Mississippi County records resource can help supplement CourtConnect when searching for older case data from either district courthouse.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts at 625 Marshall St Suite 1100, Little Rock, 501-682-9400, manages CourtConnect and can help you troubleshoot access problems or questions about your search results.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Mississippi County
Two separate records document a divorce in Arkansas. Understanding which one you need before you contact any agency will prevent a common and frustrating mistake that delays your request.
The divorce decree is the official court order entered by the circuit judge in Mississippi County. It is the legal record of the divorce and the document most people need for practical purposes. It contains the full names of both parties, the case number, the date granted, the grounds used, and all court-ordered terms covering property, debts, support, and custody. The Mississippi County Circuit Clerk holds this document at the relevant district courthouse. It is a public record under Arkansas law. Any person may request a certified copy without proving a relationship to the parties. Call (870) 762-2332 and ask about the current copy fee before submitting any payment.
The divorce certificate is a different record maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health. It is a short summary document used for vital records purposes, not a court order. Under ACA § 20-18-305, access to the ADH divorce certificate is restricted to direct parties, their immediate family, or authorized legal representatives. If you are not one of those three groups, you cannot obtain the ADH certificate. For most legal, administrative, or personal purposes, the full divorce decree from the Circuit Clerk is the correct document to request and is far more useful than the restricted ADH summary.
Note: If you are unsure which district in Mississippi County holds your case, start with the Blytheville courthouse at (870) 762-2332.
How to Request Mississippi County Divorce Records
In-person visits to the appropriate Mississippi County courthouse are the fastest way to get certified copies. If the case was filed in the northern part of the county, go to 200 W Walnut Street, Blytheville. For cases filed in the southern district, contact the Osceola courthouse. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties plus the year of the divorce. Staff will search the records and provide certified copies.
For mail requests to the Northern District, write a letter with your name, return address, the names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and any case number you have. Make a check or money order payable to the Mississippi County Circuit Clerk and mail to 200 W Walnut Street, Blytheville, AR 72315. Call (870) 762-2332 first to confirm current fees. For the Southern District, contact the Osceola office to get their mailing address and fee information. The office will mail certified copies back to you after processing.
To order 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. You can also order through VitalChek for $10 plus $5 processing and $1.85 for ID verification. Eligibility requirements under ACA § 20-18-305 apply.
Arkansas Divorce Law in the 2nd Judicial Circuit
All divorces filed in Mississippi County follow Arkansas state law as applied in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. ACA § 9-12-301 defines the fault-based grounds for divorce in Arkansas, including adultery, felony conviction, habitual drunkenness, cruel and barbarous treatment, general indignities, and willful desertion for one year or more. A petitioner who chooses a fault ground must be prepared to prove it in court if the other party contests the filing.
The no-fault ground under ACA § 9-12-306 allows a divorce based on 18 continuous months of separation without the need to prove fault. Either spouse may petition on this ground. It is widely used in Arkansas and is the most straightforward path to a divorce in uncontested cases. Both spouses need not agree to the divorce, but both must meet residency requirements. At least one spouse must have been an Arkansas resident for 60 days before filing. The case must sit open for at least 30 days before the court can enter a final decree.
Under ACA § 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, most circuit court records in Mississippi County are public. The divorce decree and basic case information are available to anyone who requests them. Sealed filings or records related to minor children may be restricted in part, but the final order itself is generally open to the public.
Legal Resources for Mississippi County Residents
Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents including those in Mississippi County. Family law matters like divorce are among the services Legal Aid handles. If you qualify based on income, they may be able to help you file or navigate your case. Check their website to apply or call to ask about services available in northeast Arkansas.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership offers a free online guide to divorce and separation in Arkansas. It covers the filing process, what grounds to use, how to handle service of process, and what happens in contested versus uncontested cases. It is a practical starting point for Mississippi County residents who want to understand the process before taking any formal steps.
The Arkansas Bar Association at 400 W Capitol Ave Suite 1100, Little Rock, phone 501-375-4606, can connect you with a licensed family law attorney through its lawyer referral service. If your case involves children, significant property, or conflict with the other party, having an attorney represent you in the 2nd Judicial Circuit is worth considering from the start rather than trying to fix problems later.