Find Woodruff County Divorce Records
Woodruff County divorce records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Augusta, with statewide vital records copies available through the Arkansas Department of Health for divorces granted from 1950 forward. This page explains how to search Woodruff County divorce cases, request certified copies, use the free CourtConnect search tool, and find legal help if you need it.
Woodruff County Overview
Woodruff County Circuit Clerk Office
The Woodruff County Circuit Clerk is located at 500 N 3rd Street, Augusta, AR 72006. The main phone number is (870) 347-2391. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all court records in Woodruff County, including divorce filings, custody orders, and other domestic relations cases. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call ahead to confirm hours before making a drive, especially if you are coming from outside Augusta.
Woodruff County is a small, rural county in the eastern Arkansas Delta region. It was created in 1862 from parts of Jackson and White Counties and was named for William E. Woodruff, founder of the Arkansas Gazette, the oldest newspaper in Arkansas. The county has a modest population, so the clerk's office is small by state standards. Staff are typically able to give personal attention to records requests, which can be an advantage for people with older or incomplete case information.
The Arkansas Association of Counties listing for Woodruff County provides current contact details for county offices. The screenshot below shows that page, which is a good place to verify contact information before you mail a request or drive to Augusta.
Always confirm current hours and fees by phone before submitting a records request. Small county offices occasionally adjust hours or staffing on short notice.
Search Woodruff County Divorce Cases on CourtConnect
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts provides a free online tool called CourtConnect for searching public court records. To find Woodruff County divorce cases, go to the CourtConnect portal, select "Woodruff County" from the county dropdown, and set the case type to "14 - Domestic Relations." Results show case numbers, party names, filing dates, and current status. The tool is free to use and does not require an account or login.
CourtConnect is most reliable for cases filed in recent years, since older paper records were not always entered into the digital system. If you search and find nothing, that does not necessarily mean no record exists. For cases that predate the electronic system, or for cases that simply were not entered correctly, you need to call the Circuit Clerk directly at (870) 347-2391. The clerk can search manual indexes for older filings.
Keep in mind that CourtConnect shows case-level summary data, not scanned documents. You can use it to confirm a case was filed, get the case number, and check the current status. To get actual copies of the divorce decree or other documents, you must contact the Circuit Clerk and request certified copies. The case number you find on CourtConnect will speed up that process.
Note: CourtConnect does not show sealed records or portions of files involving minor children that a judge has restricted from public view.
Pre-1950 vs. Post-1950 Divorce Records
The location of a Woodruff County divorce record depends on when the divorce was granted. Knowing this before you search saves time and avoids a wasted trip or a rejected request.
Divorces granted before 1950 are held only at the Woodruff County Circuit Clerk's office in Augusta. There is no statewide repository for these older records. To access them, contact the clerk at (870) 347-2391 or visit in person at 500 N 3rd Street. Provide full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. Older files are paper-only and require manual lookup, so allow extra time.
For divorces from 1950 forward, records are also available through the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office. ADH has maintained statewide divorce data more consistently since 1950. Their office is located at 4815 W Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. You can reach them at (501) 661-2336 or toll-free at (866) 209-9482. The standard fee is $10 per certified certificate. Mail-in requests typically take 7 to 14 business days. You can also order online through VitalChek for faster processing. VitalChek adds a $5 service fee and a $1.85 processing fee on top of the base $10 certificate cost.
Under Arkansas Code Annotated 20-18-305, ADH certificates are restricted to the named parties, their legal representatives, and individuals with a direct interest in the record. You will need to show valid photo ID and explain your relationship to the record when ordering through ADH or VitalChek.
Getting Certified Copies in Woodruff County
A divorce decree and a divorce certificate serve different purposes and come from different sources. Understanding which one you need saves you time and money.
The divorce decree is the full court order. It includes the judge's ruling on all issues in the case, such as property division, debt assignment, custody, and support. If you need the actual terms of the divorce for legal or financial purposes, the decree is what you want. Certified copies of decrees come from the Woodruff County Circuit Clerk in Augusta. Call (870) 347-2391 to ask about the current per-page copy fee and certification fee. You can typically request copies by mail; send a written request to 500 N 3rd Street, Augusta, AR 72006, along with your payment and identifying information about the case.
The divorce certificate is a short document issued by the state. It confirms the divorce took place and provides the names of the parties and the date of the final decree, but it does not include any terms or rulings. For divorces from 1950 forward, certificates can be ordered from ADH or through VitalChek. If you simply need proof that a divorce occurred, and you do not need the full terms, a certificate from ADH is usually faster and cheaper than getting a certified decree copy from the courthouse. Pick the right document for your situation before you pay fees or wait for processing.
Divorce Law and Filing in Woodruff County
Divorce cases in Woodruff County are filed in the Circuit Court, Domestic Relations division. The county is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, which covers several counties in eastern Arkansas. Arkansas law permits both fault and no-fault divorce. Fault grounds under Arkansas Code Annotated 9-12-301 include adultery, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, and cruel or barbarous treatment, among others. No-fault divorce is available under ACA 9-12-306 after 18 consecutive months of separation. That 18-month window is longer than most states, so be aware that a no-fault case takes longer from petition to final decree than it might elsewhere.
At least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before a petition can be filed. After the divorce is granted, the clerk's office notifies the Arkansas Department of Health to add the record to the statewide vital records database. Most divorce files are public records under ACA 25-19-105, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Portions of files involving minor children may be sealed by court order. If you are unsure whether a document in a specific case is accessible to the public, call the clerk's office and ask.
Legal Aid and Attorney Help in Woodruff County
Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible residents, including people in Woodruff County. They can assist with divorce filings, separation agreements, custody issues, and related family law matters. Call their intake line to ask about eligibility and service availability in your area. Free legal help is limited but worth exploring if cost is a barrier to getting proper representation.
The Arkansas Legal Services Partnership has an online guide to divorce, separation, and annulment in Arkansas. It covers residency requirements, grounds, uncontested vs. contested divorces, and what happens at a hearing. The guide also links to forms you can download and prepare yourself if you are handling a simple, uncontested case. It is a solid starting point if you are not sure what steps to take or what paperwork you need.
For paid attorney referrals, the Arkansas Bar Association runs a referral service at (501) 375-4606. They can connect you with a family law attorney licensed in Arkansas who handles cases in Woodruff County and the 1st Judicial Circuit. Attorney fees vary by case complexity and individual attorney rates.