Find Divorce Records in Stone County
Stone County divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Mountain View, the county seat of this north-central Arkansas county. This page covers how to search for divorce cases using the free CourtConnect portal, how to request a certified copy of a divorce decree from the clerk's office, and how to obtain a divorce certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health when that document fits your need.
Stone County Overview
Stone County Circuit Clerk Office
The Stone County Circuit Clerk is located at 1 Courthouse Square, Mountain View, AR 72560. Phone: (870) 269-3885. Fax: (870) 269-3248. This office is the official keeper of all court records in Stone County, including divorce cases filed under the 14th Judicial Circuit. Staff are available Monday through Friday during regular courthouse hours. If you plan to visit, call ahead to confirm current hours and ask whether the case file is on hand and ready to be pulled.
Stone County was created in 1873 from parts of Izard, Independence, Searcy, and Van Buren counties. The county takes its name from its rocky Ozark terrain rather than a person, making it one of the few Arkansas counties named for a geographic feature. The Circuit Clerk office has kept court records since the county's formation. Earlier records from the 1870s and 1880s may exist only in paper form at the Mountain View courthouse. For very old cases, contact the clerk directly to ask about availability and format.
The Circuit Clerk handles civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases in Stone County. When you call about a divorce record, have both parties' full names and a rough year for the case. That will help staff locate the right file. Bring a photo ID if you plan to pick up certified copies in person.
The screenshot below is from the Stone County page on the Arkansas Association of Counties website, which provides current contact information for the Circuit Clerk office in Mountain View.
Check the Association of Counties page to confirm the current phone, fax, and address for the Stone County Circuit Clerk before sending a request by mail or visiting Mountain View.
Online Search for Stone County Divorce Cases
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal gives you free online access to Stone County divorce case information. On the portal, select Stone County from the county list, then choose case type 14 for Domestic Relations. You can search by party name or by case number if you already know it.
CourtConnect returns case data including the names of both parties, the filing date, current case status, and any scheduled hearings. It does not give you images of the actual documents. The key thing it gives you is the case number, which is what you will need to order certified copies from the Mountain View courthouse. The Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts maintains the CourtConnect system from its office at 625 Marshall St Suite 1100, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone 501-682-9400.
Cases that predate Stone County's switch to digital records will not appear in CourtConnect. The county has kept records since 1873, and some of those older cases may only exist in paper files at the courthouse. If you are looking for an older case that does not show up online, call the Stone County Circuit Clerk at (870) 269-3885 and ask about a manual search.
Note: CourtConnect is free and shows case status, but document images are not available. Use it to confirm the case exists and get the case number before contacting the clerk.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
Stone County divorce records come in two forms, and people often confuse them. They are separate documents from separate agencies. Knowing which one you need will keep you from contacting the wrong office.
The divorce decree is the full court order that the judge signed to end the marriage. This document is held by the Stone County Circuit Clerk. It shows the names of both parties, the grounds for divorce, the date the marriage was dissolved, and any court orders about property, debt, or children. The decree is a public record. You do not need to be a party to the case to request a certified copy. Anyone can get one from the Mountain View courthouse by paying the applicable fees and presenting a photo ID.
The divorce certificate is a summary document created by the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records. Under ACA § 20-18-305, this certificate is a restricted record. Only the named parties, their immediate family, or their legal representatives can order it from ADH. The ADH Vital Records office is 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.
If you are a third party who just needs to verify that a divorce took place, the public decree from the Circuit Clerk is the right document to request. If you are a named party and a short summary is enough for your purpose, the ADH certificate is also an option. Both options require fees. Confirm the current amounts before sending any payment.
Requesting Stone County Divorce Records
You can request Stone County divorce records by visiting the courthouse in person, sending a written request by mail, or ordering a divorce certificate online from ADH. Each method has different steps.
In person is the fastest option. Visit the Stone County Circuit Clerk at 1 Courthouse Square, Mountain View, AR 72560. Bring a government-issued photo ID. Give staff the names of both parties and an approximate filing year. They will pull the file and prepare certified copies. Fees cover a per-page copy charge plus a certification fee. Call (870) 269-3885 before you go to confirm hours and current fees.
By mail, send a written request to the Stone County Circuit Clerk at 1 Courthouse Square, Mountain View, AR 72560. Your letter should include your full name, return address, contact phone, the names of both parties, and a rough year of the case. Include a check or money order for the fee. Call the office first to confirm the right amount. Mail requests take longer to process than in-person visits.
For a divorce certificate from ADH, you can order online through VitalChek for $10 per copy plus $5 processing and $1.85 ID verification. You can also apply in person at the ADH office in Little Rock for same-day service. Mail orders to ADH take 7 to 14 business days.
Divorce Filing Rules Under Arkansas Law in Stone County
Divorce cases in Stone County are filed in the Circuit Court under the 14th Judicial Circuit. Arkansas state law sets the requirements that apply to every filing in the county.
At least one party must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing. After the case is filed, there is a 30-day mandatory waiting period. The court cannot grant a divorce before those 30 days pass. That rule cannot be waived. Arkansas allows fault and no-fault divorce. Fault grounds are listed in ACA § 9-12-301. No-fault divorce based on 18 months of living apart is available under ACA § 9-12-306. When children are involved, the court requires a parenting plan and a child support order before it will finalize the divorce.
Stone County is a rural county in the Arkansas Ozarks. Mountain View is a small town, and the courthouse there is the sole source of all local divorce records from 1873 to the present. Court filings in Stone County follow the same state procedures as anywhere else in Arkansas, but the rural setting means local attorney options may be more limited than in the state's urban counties.
Legal Aid and Support for Stone County Residents
Free and low-cost legal resources are available to Stone County residents who need help with a divorce case or a records request. Rural location does not prevent access to these programs.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership provides free forms and plain-language guides for divorce cases in Arkansas courts. The site has the Complaint for Divorce, Financial Affidavit, and Child Support Worksheet available to download. These forms apply in Stone County's Circuit Court. If you plan to file without an attorney, this site is a good first stop for understanding what you will need to prepare and file. Legal Aid of Arkansas offers free attorney help to qualifying low-income residents across the state. Call their office to ask whether services are available in Stone County and whether you meet the income requirements.
For private legal representation, the Arkansas Bar Association at 501-375-4606 can refer you to a family law attorney with experience in the 14th Judicial Circuit. The Bar Association's referral service is free to use and can connect you with someone familiar with Stone County's court procedures.