Access Sevier County Divorce Records
Sevier County divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in De Queen, the county seat of this southwest Arkansas county. This page covers the steps to search for a divorce case online, request a certified copy of a divorce decree from the clerk's office, and obtain a divorce certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health when restricted access applies.
Sevier County Overview
Sevier County Circuit Clerk Office
The Sevier County Circuit Clerk is located at 115 N 3rd Street, De Queen, AR 71832. Phone: (870) 584-3055. Fax: (870) 642-5229. This office is the official keeper of all court records in Sevier County, including divorce cases filed in the Circuit Court. Staff are available Monday through Friday during regular business hours at the De Queen courthouse.
The Circuit Clerk handles domestic relations cases along with civil and criminal court records under the 15th Judicial Circuit. When you contact the office about a divorce record, have the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the case. That information helps staff find the right file. A photo ID is standard when picking up certified copies in person. Call ahead before visiting to confirm hours and current fee amounts.
Sevier County was created in 1828 from Hempstead County. The county is named for Ambrose Hundley Sevier, who served as an Arkansas territorial delegate and later as a U.S. Senator. The courthouse in De Queen holds records from the county's early days forward, though the oldest records may only exist in paper form. For cases predating the county's digitization, a direct contact with the clerk is your best option.
The screenshot below is from the Sevier County page on the Arkansas Association of Counties website, which lists current contact information for county offices including the Circuit Clerk in De Queen.
Use this page to confirm current contact details for the Sevier County Circuit Clerk before mailing a request or making the trip to De Queen.
How to Search Sevier County Divorce Cases Online
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal is a free tool for searching divorce cases in Sevier County without visiting the courthouse. On the site, choose Sevier County from the county list and then select case type 14 for Domestic Relations. You can search by party name or by case number if you have it.
CourtConnect displays party names, the filing date, case status, and upcoming hearings. It does not show document images. The main value is that it gives you the case number, which you need to order certified copies from the De Queen courthouse. The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts, located at 625 Marshall St Suite 1100, Little Rock, AR 72201 (phone: 501-682-9400), manages the CourtConnect system statewide. Contact them if you cannot find a case that should be in the system.
Older cases from Sevier County that predate the county's switch to digital recordkeeping will not appear in CourtConnect. For those older cases, the Circuit Clerk office in De Queen is the only source. Call them at (870) 584-3055 and ask about their oldest available records.
Note: CourtConnect is free to use and shows case status, but does not provide document images. Get your case number there before contacting the clerk for copies.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
Two types of divorce records exist in Sevier County. They come from two different agencies, and the rules about who can get them are different. Knowing which one you need before you make contact will save time.
The divorce decree is the full court order that was signed by the judge at the end of the case. This document is held by the Sevier County Circuit Clerk. It includes both parties' names, the date the divorce was finalized, grounds for divorce, and any terms related to property or children. The divorce decree is a public record. Anyone can request a certified copy from the clerk in De Queen by paying the applicable fees and providing a valid photo ID. You do not have to be a party to the case.
The divorce certificate is a separate summary document kept by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records. Access is restricted under ACA § 20-18-305. Only the named parties, immediate family members, or their legal representatives can order this record 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. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
If you need the full text of the court's order, the Sevier County Circuit Clerk is the right place to start. If a brief summary is enough to meet your legal need, and you have the standing to request it, the ADH route works. Both require fees. Confirm the current fee before sending any payment.
Requesting Copies of Sevier County Divorce Records
You have a few options for getting copies of Sevier County divorce records. Each has its own process and timeline.
In person is the fastest method. Go to the Sevier County Circuit Clerk at 115 N 3rd Street, De Queen, AR 71832, during regular business hours. Bring a government-issued photo ID. Tell staff the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. Staff will locate the case and prepare certified copies. Per-page copy fees and a certification fee apply. Call (870) 584-3055 ahead of time to confirm the current rates and hours.
By mail, send a written request to the Sevier County Circuit Clerk at 115 N 3rd Street, De Queen, AR 71832. Include your name, return address, phone number, both parties' full names, and the approximate year of filing. Include a check or money order for the fees. Call first to get the correct amount. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, and turnaround time depends on office workload.
For a divorce certificate from ADH, order online through VitalChek for $10 per certificate plus a $5 processing fee and $1.85 ID verification. You can also apply at the ADH Little Rock office in person for same-day service if you arrive before 4:00 PM. Mail orders from ADH typically take 7 to 14 business days.
Arkansas Divorce Law as It Applies in Sevier County
Sevier County divorce cases are filed in the Circuit Court under the 15th Judicial Circuit. State law governs all divorce proceedings in Arkansas, and the same rules apply in Sevier County as anywhere else in the state.
One spouse must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before the divorce is filed. After filing, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period. The court will not grant a divorce before those 30 days are up, regardless of how simple the case is. Arkansas recognizes fault and no-fault grounds. Fault grounds are defined in ACA § 9-12-301. No-fault divorce based on 18 months of living apart is covered by ACA § 9-12-306. When children are involved, the court must approve a parenting plan and child support order before the divorce is finalized.
Sevier County sits in the southwest corner of Arkansas, bordering Oklahoma and Texas. The county has access to legal aid resources through state programs, though rural counties like Sevier have fewer local attorneys than the larger population centers in the state. If you plan to represent yourself, the free forms and guides from the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership are a valuable starting point before you go to the De Queen courthouse.
Legal Help and Resources for Sevier County Residents
Several resources exist for Sevier County residents who need help with a divorce case or a records request. Most are available at no cost or low cost.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership offers free legal forms and guides that apply statewide, including in Sevier County. Download the Complaint for Divorce, the Financial Affidavit, and the Child Support Worksheet directly from their site. Plain-language instructions explain what each document is for and when to file it. This is useful if you plan to handle the divorce yourself.
Legal Aid of Arkansas serves low-income residents across the state, including those in rural counties in the southwest region. If you qualify based on income, a staff attorney may be available to help with your case at no charge. Contact their office to check eligibility and service availability in Sevier County. For private legal representation, the Arkansas Bar Association at 501-375-4606 offers a referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney familiar with the 15th Judicial Circuit.
The screenshot below shows the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership page covering divorce, separation, and annulment, which provides forms and guides applicable to Sevier County cases.
This resource is free to use and provides forms directly applicable to any Sevier County Circuit Court divorce case, whether you are filing or just reviewing your options.