Access Perry County Divorce Records

Perry County divorce records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Perryville and are part of the 5th West Judicial Circuit court system. This page explains how to search Perry County divorce records using the state's free online tool, request certified copies of a decree from the county courthouse, and obtain a divorce certificate from Arkansas vital records.

Perry County Circuit Clerk Office

The Perry County Circuit Clerk is located at 310 Plum Street, Perryville, AR 72126. The main phone number is (501) 889-5126. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk keeps all Perry County divorce case files, including the original petitions, court orders issued during the case, and the final signed decrees.

Perry County was created in 1840 from Conway County. It is a small county in central Arkansas, located between the state capital region and the Ouachita Mountains. Because Perry County is rural and sparsely populated, the clerk's office handles a manageable caseload and can often process requests more quickly than larger county offices. When you contact the clerk, have both parties' full names and the approximate year of the divorce ready. A case number, if available, makes any search faster. For cases that predate the electronic records system, call ahead before visiting to confirm the files are accessible and to ask how long a search may take.

The Arkansas Association of Counties listing for Perry County provides verified contact information for the clerk and other county offices. The screenshot below shows that listing page.

Verify the current contact details on that page before mailing or faxing a records request to Perryville.

Online Search for Perry County Divorce Records

Arkansas offers a free public case search tool called CourtConnect. It is managed by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts at 625 Marshall Street, Suite 1100, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone (501) 682-9400. To search Perry County divorce records through CourtConnect, select "Perry County" from the county list and set the case type to "14 - Domestic Relations." The search results show the case number, party names, filing date, and current case status. This is the fastest way to check whether a case exists without going to the courthouse.

Not every Perry County divorce case appears in CourtConnect. Cases filed before the county entered records electronically may only be available in physical form at the clerk's office in Perryville. If a case does not appear online, call the clerk directly. Also, try searching under both party names in CourtConnect, because records are indexed under both the petitioner and the respondent. One name may return a result even if the other does not.

The image below shows the Arkansas CourtConnect public access portal, where Perry County divorce records can be searched using case type 14.

CourtConnect is updated regularly and covers active and closed cases in the statewide electronic system.

Perry County Divorce Decrees and Certificates

Two types of records document a divorce in Arkansas. They come from different offices and have different rules for who can get them.

A divorce decree is the full court order that the judge signed to end the marriage. It contains the terms of the case: property division, debt allocation, custody of children, visitation schedules, and any support obligations. The Perry County Circuit Clerk holds the decree. To request a certified copy, go to the clerk's office at 310 Plum Street in Perryville or mail a written request. Include both parties' names, the approximate year, and the case number if you have it. The clerk charges a fee per page plus a certification fee for official copies. Current fees are available by phone at (501) 889-5126. Divorce decrees are public records and are available to anyone who requests them.

A divorce certificate is a one-page summary maintained by the state. It confirms the divorce occurred and lists names, dates, and county, but it does not contain the case terms. Certificates are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records at 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Call ADH at (501) 661-2336 or (866) 209-9482, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The fee is $10 per copy. Arkansas Code Annotated 20-18-305 restricts access to divorce certificates to the named parties, their legal representatives, and those who can show a direct and tangible interest.

Online orders for Arkansas divorce certificates are available through VitalChek. The cost is $10 for the certificate plus $5 for the service fee and $1.85 for ID verification. Online processing is usually faster than mailing a request directly to ADH.

Filing for Divorce in Perry County

Perry County divorce cases are filed with the Circuit Court, Domestic Relations division, at the courthouse in Perryville. Arkansas law allows both fault and no-fault divorce. Fault grounds are defined in Arkansas Code Annotated 9-12-301 and include adultery, cruel and barbarous treatment, habitual drunkenness, and felony conviction. No-fault divorce requires 18 months of continuous separation under ACA 9-12-306. Both statutes can be reviewed through the Arkansas Code online. The 18-month separation requirement is longer than what most states require, so it factors into the timing of any no-fault case filed in Perry County.

At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before the petition is filed. The case is filed where the petitioner lives. After the divorce is granted, the Circuit Clerk sends a notice to the Arkansas Department of Health, which creates the statewide vital records entry for the event. That entry becomes the divorce certificate held at ADH, separate from the court decree at the Perry County Clerk's office.

Most Perry County divorce records are public under ACA 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Portions of files involving minor children may be sealed. Ask the clerk before visiting if you are unsure about access to any part of a specific record.

Legal Help in Perry County

Perry County residents who need legal help with a divorce or family law matter have several options. Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free services to income-eligible clients statewide. They handle divorce cases, custody and support disputes, and other family law matters. Call ahead to confirm eligibility and schedule an appointment.

The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership provides a free online guide to divorce and separation in Arkansas. It covers the full process and links to court forms you can use to file on your own. It is a useful first step before deciding whether to hire an attorney.

For a referral to a private attorney familiar with Perry County and the 5th West Judicial Circuit, contact the Arkansas Bar Association by phone at (501) 375-4606. Their referral service can connect you with family law attorneys in central Arkansas. Perry County is close enough to Little Rock that many attorneys serve clients in the Perryville area as well.

The image below shows the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts website, which manages CourtConnect and provides resources for accessing court records statewide.

The AOC site links to CourtConnect and provides information about court locations and procedures across all Arkansas circuits.

What Perry County Divorce Files Include

A standard Perry County divorce file at the Circuit Clerk's office includes the original petition, the respondent's answer if the case was contested, any temporary orders that were issued, and the final decree. Short uncontested cases with no property or custody disputes may be just a few pages. Contested cases can be much longer, with financial disclosure forms, custody evaluations, and hearing records.

Perry County records go back to 1840. Files from that era are in physical storage and may require extra time to locate. If you need historical records for genealogy or legal purposes, call the clerk's office before visiting to discuss what is available. For cases from the past decade or two, CourtConnect is the fastest first step to find case numbers and basic information before contacting the clerk for copies.

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