Access Monroe County Divorce Records
Monroe County divorce records are on file with the Circuit Clerk in Clarendon and fall under the 1st Judicial Circuit. All divorce filings in Monroe County are processed through the circuit court, and the clerk's office maintains the official case files. This page covers how to find Monroe County divorce records through CourtConnect, how to request certified copies, and what you need to know about the distinction between a divorce decree held at the courthouse and a divorce certificate available through the Arkansas Department of Health.
Monroe County Overview
Monroe County Circuit Clerk in Clarendon
The Monroe County Circuit Clerk in Clarendon maintains all divorce records for the county. The courthouse is at 123 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029. Phone: (870) 747-3915. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Clarendon is a small town in east-central Arkansas, and the courthouse serves the entire county for circuit court matters including all divorce filings in the 1st Judicial Circuit. If you plan to visit or call, have the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce ready.
For in-person visits, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Staff can locate most recent records quickly. Very old records, including cases from the 19th century when the county was first formed, may only exist in paper form and may require extra time to retrieve. If you have a case number from a prior CourtConnect search, provide it with your request to help staff find the file immediately.
Monroe County was created from Arkansas County and named for President James Monroe. It sits in the heart of the Arkansas Delta region and is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. The Arkansas Association of Counties page for Monroe County has current contact information for the courthouse and clerk's office.
The image below shows the Monroe County Circuit Clerk listing from the Arkansas Association of Counties resource directory.
The Arkansas Association of Counties provides up-to-date contact information for the Monroe County Circuit Clerk office in Clarendon.
Search Monroe County Divorce Cases Online
The statewide CourtConnect public access portal includes Monroe County circuit court cases. Select Monroe County from the county drop-down and choose case type 14 for Domestic Relations to search divorce records. Search by either party's name or by case number. The portal is free, public, and does not require a login or registration.
CourtConnect shows case summary information: party names, case number, filing date, hearing dates, and case status. It does not show document images or the actual text of court orders. The case number you find in CourtConnect is what you need to provide when you contact the Circuit Clerk to order a certified copy of the divorce decree. Keep it handy before you close out of the portal.
Cases that predate electronic records may not appear in CourtConnect. If you cannot find a case online, call the Clarendon courthouse at (870) 747-3915 and ask about the older paper indexes. The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts at 625 Marshall St Suite 1100, Little Rock, 501-682-9400, also handles CourtConnect technical issues and can assist if you are having trouble with the search system.
The CourtConnect portal operated by the Arkansas judiciary provides free public access to circuit court case data from all Arkansas counties including Monroe County.
Use CourtConnect to search Monroe County domestic relations cases by party name or case number before submitting a certified copy request.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Monroe County
Two separate documents prove a divorce in Arkansas, and they come from two entirely different agencies. Understanding the difference will prevent you from contacting the wrong office or paying for a record you cannot legally access.
The divorce decree is the complete court order signed by the circuit judge in Monroe County. It is the legally binding document that ends the marriage. The decree contains the names of both parties, the case number, the date the divorce was granted, the legal grounds, and all terms set by the court including property division, support, and custody of children if any were involved. The Monroe County Circuit Clerk holds this record at the Clarendon courthouse. It is a public record under Arkansas law with no eligibility restrictions. Any person may request a certified copy. Call (870) 747-3915 to confirm current copy fees before visiting or mailing a payment.
The divorce certificate is a different document entirely. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains it as a summary record for vital records tracking and public health statistical purposes. Under ACA § 20-18-305, access is restricted. Only direct parties to the divorce, their immediate family, or authorized legal representatives can request the ADH certificate. It does not contain the full terms of the divorce and is not suitable as a substitute for the court order in most legal situations. For legal matters, the divorce decree from the Circuit Clerk is almost always what you need. Request the decree, not the certificate, unless you have a specific reason to need the ADH summary record.
Note: The divorce decree is public and available to anyone. The ADH certificate is restricted under ACA § 20-18-305.
How to Request Monroe County Divorce Records
The fastest way to get a certified copy of a Monroe County divorce record is an in-person visit to the courthouse at 123 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties to the divorce and the year it was filed. For recent and electronically filed cases, staff can usually provide copies during your visit. For older records, the retrieval process may take longer.
For mail requests, write a letter with your full name, return mailing address, the full names of both parties in the divorce, the year of the divorce, and any case number you have from CourtConnect. Include a check or money order payable to the Monroe County Circuit Clerk. Mail to 123 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029. Always call (870) 747-3915 first to verify the current fee before sending payment. The clerk will mail the certified copy to you after processing the request.
For ADH divorce certificates, 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. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Online orders can be placed through VitalChek for $10 plus $5 processing and $1.85 for ID verification. Eligibility documentation is required for the restricted ADH certificate.
Arkansas Divorce Law in the 1st Judicial Circuit
Monroe County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. All divorces filed in the county follow Arkansas state law. ACA § 9-12-301 lists the fault-based grounds recognized by Arkansas courts: adultery, felony conviction, habitual drunkenness, cruel and barbarous treatment, general indignities to one's person, and willful desertion for one year or more. These grounds are available in Monroe County just as they are statewide. A petitioner who uses a fault ground must be able to prove it if the other party contests the case.
For those who do not want to prove fault, ACA § 9-12-306 provides the 18-month separation ground. Living separately and apart from a spouse for 18 continuous months is enough to file for divorce without citing any wrongdoing. This is a common choice in uncontested cases and makes the process less adversarial. Arkansas requires at least one spouse to have been a state resident for 60 days before filing, and the case must be open for at least 30 days before a final decree can be granted.
Access to Monroe County divorce records is subject to ACA § 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Most divorce case records, including the final decree, are public documents under this law. Sealed filings and certain records involving minor children may have restricted portions, but the divorce order itself is generally accessible to any person who asks for it.
Legal Resources for Monroe County Residents
Legal Aid of Arkansas serves income-qualifying residents statewide. If you live in Monroe County and need free legal help with a divorce case, Legal Aid may be able to assist. Visit their website to check eligibility or call to ask about family law services available in the Arkansas Delta region.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership offers a free online divorce guide that covers the full process under Arkansas law. It explains grounds for divorce, how to file, what to expect in court, and how to handle custody and property issues. This guide applies to Monroe County filers the same as it does statewide and is a useful resource before hiring an attorney.
The Arkansas Bar Association at 400 W Capitol Ave Suite 1100, Little Rock, phone 501-375-4606, provides a lawyer referral service. If your divorce case involves disputes over property, custody, or support, finding a licensed family law attorney through the bar association is a practical step. They can match you with attorneys serving the 1st Judicial Circuit area.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership provides online guidance for anyone navigating a divorce in Arkansas, including resources specific to uncontested cases that can proceed without an attorney.
Visit arlawhelp.org for the free Arkansas divorce guide, which covers filing steps, grounds, custody, and other key topics for Monroe County residents.