Sebastian County Divorce Records

Sebastian County divorce records are held by the Circuit Clerk across two separate courthouse locations, one in Fort Smith and one in Greenwood, because Sebastian County is one of the few counties in Arkansas that operates two judicial districts. This page explains how to find the right office for your case, search records online, and request certified copies of a divorce decree or contact the Arkansas Department of Health for a divorce certificate.

Two Courthouses: Fort Smith and Greenwood

Sebastian County is unique in Arkansas because it has two county seats and two active courthouse locations. This matters a lot when you are searching for divorce records. The district where a case was filed determines which courthouse holds the records. If you go to the wrong location, staff will not have your file.

The Northern District courthouse is in Fort Smith at 35 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901. Phone: (479) 782-1046. This is the larger of the two offices and handles cases filed in the Fort Smith area. The city of Fort Smith is the major urban center in this district. If you are not sure which district your case belongs to, this is usually the right first call to make, since most divorces filed in Sebastian County come through the Fort Smith district.

The Southern District courthouse is in Greenwood at 301 East Center Street, Greenwood, AR 72936. Phone: (479) 996-4175. This office handles cases filed in the southern part of the county. Greenwood is a smaller city but has a fully staffed Circuit Clerk office. Cases filed there are kept separately from the Fort Smith records.

Both offices keep records for their respective districts. When you reach out, tell staff the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. They will confirm whether the case is in their records or direct you to the other district if needed.

The screenshot below is from the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk page on sebastianrecords.us, which covers divorce records access for the county.

Bookmark the sebastianrecords.us page for direct information on Sebastian County divorce record requests and fee schedules for both district offices.

Parker Annex: Where Older Cases Are Stored

For Sebastian County divorce cases that were closed more than two years ago, the records may not be at either active courthouse. Closed cases from the Northern District that are two or more years old are often stored at the Parker Annex, a separate records facility in Fort Smith.

The Parker Annex is located at 40 South 4th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901. Phone: (479) 784-1581. This office handles retrieval and copying for older case files. If you are looking for a divorce that was finalized several years back and the Fort Smith courthouse cannot find it in their active records, they will typically refer you here. It is worth calling the Parker Annex directly if you know the case is from more than two years ago, since it can save you time.

Fees at the Parker Annex follow the same schedule as the main courthouse. For mailed copies, the rate is $1 per page. In-person copies run $0.50 per page. Certified documents carry a $10 certification fee per document. There is also a $5 per name search fee. Have the names of both parties and an approximate filing year ready before you call. That information makes it easier for staff to locate the file quickly.

The screenshot below shows the Sebastian County family court records page, which provides additional information about access to divorce and domestic relations records in the county.

Use this page as a reference when you need to confirm which district holds your case and what documents you will need to bring or include with your request.

Online Search Through CourtConnect

The free Arkansas CourtConnect portal covers Sebastian County divorce cases and lets you search without calling or visiting a courthouse. Select Sebastian County from the county drop-down, then choose case type 14 for Domestic Relations. Search by party name or case number.

CourtConnect returns case data including party names, filing date, case status, and hearing information. It does not show document images or let you download files. What it gives you is the case number, which you will need to order copies from the appropriate courthouse. The system is managed by the Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts at 625 Marshall St Suite 1100, Little Rock, 501-682-9400.

CourtConnect covers cases that were entered into the digital system. Very old cases from Sebastian County's earlier records may not appear. For those, contact the Fort Smith courthouse or the Parker Annex and request a manual search. Staff can confirm what is available.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in Sebastian County

People looking for divorce records in Sebastian County often need one of two documents. They are not the same thing, and they do not come from the same place.

The divorce decree is the full court order. It is the public record held by the Circuit Clerk at whichever courthouse handled the case. It contains both parties' names, the date the divorce was granted, grounds for divorce, and any orders relating to property or children. No special standing is required to request a copy. Anyone can get a certified copy of a divorce decree from the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk by paying the fees and presenting a photo ID.

The divorce certificate is a summary record issued by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records. Access to this record is restricted under ACA § 20-18-305. Only a named party, their immediate family member, or their legal representative can order a divorce certificate from ADH. The ADH office is at 4815 W Markham St Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: 501-661-2336 or 866-209-9482. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Online orders go through VitalChek for $10 plus $5 processing and $1.85 ID verification.

Arkansas Divorce Law and Sebastian County Filing Requirements

Divorce cases in Sebastian County are filed in the Circuit Court under the 12th Judicial Circuit. State law applies to every filing in the county, and the rules are the same whether your case is in the Fort Smith or Greenwood district.

Arkansas requires at least one spouse to have been a resident of the state for 60 days before filing. After you file, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period before the court can finalize the divorce. That wait cannot be shortened by agreement of the parties. Both fault and no-fault grounds are available. Fault grounds are listed in ACA § 9-12-301. No-fault divorce based on 18 months of separation is covered by ACA § 9-12-306. Cases with minor children require a parenting plan and child support order before the divorce is granted.

Sebastian County was formed in 1851 and is named for U.S. Senator William K. Sebastian of Arkansas. The county's two-district structure has been in place for many years and affects how court records, including divorce files, are organized and stored.

Legal Aid and Attorney Resources in Sebastian County

Free legal help is available to Sebastian County residents who need it. Several organizations serve the Fort Smith area and the broader region.

The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership provides free forms and plain-language guides for divorce cases statewide. The Complaint for Divorce, Financial Affidavit, and Child Support Worksheet are all available for download. These forms work in Sebastian County's Circuit Court. The site walks you through what each form is for and when to file it. For low-income residents, Legal Aid of Arkansas may be able to provide free attorney representation. Contact them to find out whether you qualify and what services are available in the Fort Smith area.

For private family law attorneys, the Arkansas Bar Association at 501-375-4606 runs a lawyer referral service. Fort Smith is a larger city and has more family law attorneys than many other parts of the state. The Bar Association can connect you with someone familiar with the 12th Judicial Circuit and Sebastian County's two-district court structure.

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