Search Pulaski County Divorce Records
Pulaski County divorce records are maintained by Circuit Clerk Terri Hollingsworth at the courthouse in Little Rock, and the county's collection extends back to 1839. As Arkansas's most populous county, Pulaski handles more divorce filings than any other county in the state. This guide covers the clerk's office details, online search tools, fees, how to get certified copies, and what legal resources are available in the 6th Judicial Circuit.
Pulaski County Overview
Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk
The Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's office is located at 401 W Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201. Circuit Clerk Terri Hollingsworth leads the office. The main phone number is (501) 340-8500. This office is your primary point of contact for divorce decrees and case files from cases filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court.
Certified copies of divorce decrees in Pulaski County cost $5, which is lower than the standard $10 rate charged in most other Arkansas counties. If you need copies by mail, send your written request to the County Records Department at Suite 103 of the same building. Include the party names, the year of the divorce, your return address, and a check or money order for $5 made out to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk. Processing times for mail requests vary; call ahead to ask what to expect.
The courthouse at 401 W Markham is listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. Beyond its current role, the building holds Chancery Court divorce records from 1839 through 1979. Those older records are part of the county's deep archive of family law filings. For cases from 1839 to 1979, ask the clerk about the Chancery Court records specifically when you visit or call.
The Pulaski County Clerk website at pulaskiclerkar.gov provides up-to-date office hours, staff contacts, and department details. The image below shows the clerk's main online portal, which is the starting point for most records requests.
That site also lists the County Records Department at Suite 103, where mail-in copy requests should be directed.
Online Search for Pulaski County Divorce Cases
Pulaski County divorce cases are searchable through the state's free CourtConnect tool at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. Select Pulaski County and use case type 14 for Domestic Relations. The system returns party names, case numbers, filing dates, and hearing information. It is run by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts at 625 Marshall St Suite 1100, Little Rock, phone 501-682-9400, and is free to use without any account.
The County Records Department page on the clerk's website explains the mail-in copy process and provides forms or instructions for records requests. The image below shows that department's web listing, which details what information you need to include in a request.
That page is regularly updated and reflects the current process for requesting records through the mail from the Suite 103 office.
The Pulaski County Court marriage and divorce records page also provides guidance specific to divorce and marriage record access, including which office handles which types of requests. The image below shows that resource.
That page covers how to search for Pulaski County marriage and divorce records and what documents are available through the clerk versus the state vital records office.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
There are two documents commonly referred to as divorce records, and they come from different agencies with different access rules. The divorce decree is the full court order signed by a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge. It is filed with the Circuit Clerk and is a public record. The decree contains the full names of both parties, the grounds for divorce, the date of the final judgment, and all orders about property division, debts, and custody or support if children were involved. Anyone can request a certified copy from the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk for $5.
The divorce certificate is a separate document produced by the Arkansas Department of Health. It is a statistical summary, not a full court order. Under ACA § 20-18-305, access to certificates is limited. Only the named parties, their immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives may obtain one. For most common needs, the decree from the clerk is simpler to get and contains far more useful information than the certificate. The certificate is mainly relevant when a state-issued summary format is specifically required.
Arkansas Divorce Law
Divorce cases in Pulaski County proceed under state statutes that apply across all 75 Arkansas counties. ACA § 9-12-301 sets out fault-based grounds, including adultery, habitual drunkenness, cruel and inhuman treatment, and felony conviction. Fault grounds require evidence. They are used less often now than in past decades.
Most Pulaski County divorces are filed on no-fault grounds. ACA § 9-12-306 allows a divorce when both parties have lived separate and apart for 18 consecutive months. This approach does not require proof of wrongdoing by either party. It is the standard route for uncontested cases. Whatever grounds are used, the final decree is filed with the Circuit Clerk and becomes a public record under ACA § 25-19-105, Arkansas's Freedom of Information Act.
Vital Records and State-Level Copies
If you need a divorce certificate from the state rather than the full decree from the clerk, 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. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Online orders can be placed through VitalChek for $10 plus a $5 processing fee and $1.85 ID verification charge. The Vital Records office is physically located in Little Rock, the same city as the Pulaski County courthouse.
Legal Help in Pulaski County
Legal Aid of Arkansas offers free civil legal services to income-eligible residents of Pulaski County. The organization can help with divorce filings, custody cases, protective orders, and related family law matters. Call or check the website to confirm current intake procedures and eligibility requirements.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership has detailed free guides on filing for divorce, including what forms to use and how to handle uncontested cases without an attorney. For referrals to licensed attorneys in the Little Rock area, contact the Arkansas Bar Association at 400 W Capitol Ave Suite 1100, Little Rock, phone 501-375-4606. The bar's lawyer referral service covers the 6th Judicial Circuit, which includes all of Pulaski County.
Cities in Pulaski County with their own records pages include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, and Maumelle. Residents of any of these cities file divorce cases through the same Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at 401 W Markham Street.