Union County Public Records /Union County Divorce Records

Union County Divorce Records

How To Find a Divorce Record In Union County in 2026

UnionCountyRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to divorce records in Union County, Arkansas. Members of the public may find case numbers, filing dates, party names, final decrees, and related court documents through official channels. Record categories available through authorized sources include dissolution of marriage filings, final judgments, property division orders, child custody arrangements, and post-judgment modifications.

Records may be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following methods are available to members of the public seeking divorce records in Union County.

Online Searches

1. Clerk of Court Case Search

The Union County Circuit Clerk maintains an index of court filings accessible to the public. Basic case information is available at no charge; fees apply for obtaining copies of documents.

2. State Court System Portal

The Arkansas Judiciary operates Search ARCourts, a statewide portal that allows members of the public to search court records across jurisdictions. The portal provides consolidated access to case information, docket entries, and, in some instances, links to filed documents. The Arkansas Judiciary Case Search tool offers direct case lookup by party name or case number.

3. State Vital Records

Arkansas does not issue divorce certificates through the Arkansas Department of Health in the same manner as birth or death certificates; however, the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office maintains a Divorce Index for statistical purposes. Certified proof of divorce is obtained directly from the Circuit Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted.

In-Person Searches

Clerk of Court – Union County Circuit Court

Union County Courthouse – Circuit Clerk's Office
101 N. Washington Ave.
El Dorado, AR 71730
Phone: (870) 864-1940
Union County Circuit Clerk

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Services available in person:
- Search case files by party name or case number
- View documents at public access terminals
- Request certified copies of final decrees and orders
- Staff assistance for locating archived records

By Mail

Written Request:

Mail to: Union County Circuit Clerk, 101 N. Washington Ave., El Dorado, AR 71730
Include the following with each request:
- Full names of both parties (including maiden names, if applicable)
- Approximate date of divorce
- Case number, if known
- Requestor's name, mailing address, and contact information
- Payment for applicable copy fees
- Self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents
Processing time: Requests are processed within approximately one to two weeks, depending on volume and whether records require retrieval from archives.

By Phone

Limited Information Available:

Circuit Clerk's Office: (870) 864-1940
Staff may confirm:
- Whether a case exists in the index
- Case number and filing date
- Current case status
Staff cannot provide detailed document contents, copies of filings, or confidential information by telephone.

Through Attorneys

An attorney licensed in Arkansas may access court records on behalf of a client, request sealed documents upon a proper showing, and assist with complex searches involving multiple counties or older archived cases. The Arkansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service connects members of the public with licensed legal counsel.

Information Needed for Search

Essential Information:

Full legal names of both spouses at the time of divorce
Maiden names, if applicable
Approximate date of divorce or year of filing
Case number, if previously obtained

Helpful Information:

Date and location of marriage
Prior addresses in Union County
Names of attorneys of record, if known

Search in Correct County

Under Arkansas Code § 9-12-301, a divorce action must be filed in the county where either spouse resides at the time of filing. Members of the public should search the county of residence of either party, not necessarily the county where the marriage occurred. If the county of filing is uncertain, the statewide Search ARCourts portal may be used to identify the correct jurisdiction.

Residency Requirement:

Arkansas law requires that at least one spouse have been a resident of the state for a minimum of 60 days immediately preceding the filing of the complaint for divorce, pursuant to Arkansas Code § 9-12-307.

Time Considerations

Recent Divorces:

Newly finalized cases may not appear in online systems immediately following the final hearing.
Members of the public should allow several business days to several weeks for processing after the final decree is entered.

Older Divorces:

Records predating electronic filing may be stored in physical archives.
Retrieval of archived paper records may require additional processing time.
Not all historical records have been digitized.

What If You Cannot Find a Record

Common Issues:

The divorce was filed in a different county
Name variations between married and maiden names
Spelling differences in the index
The case has not yet been finalized
Very old records stored in off-site archives
The case has been sealed by court order

Next Steps:

Contact the Circuit Clerk's Office at (870) 864-1940
Attempt alternate name spellings
Search under both spouses' names
Use the statewide Search ARCourts portal
Consult a licensed Arkansas attorney for complex searches

What Are Union County Divorce Records?

Union County divorce records are official court documents generated during and after divorce proceedings filed in the Union County Circuit Court. These records constitute part of the permanent court file maintained by the Circuit Clerk and are classified as public records subject to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Arkansas Code § 25-19-101 et seq.

Types of Divorce Records:

Court Case Files include the full set of documents filed in a dissolution of marriage proceeding:

Complaint for divorce and summons
Response or answer filed by the respondent
Financial affidavits submitted by both parties
Parenting plans and child custody agreements
Marital settlement agreements
Motions, orders, and hearing notices
Transcripts of court proceedings (where prepared)
Final judgment of divorce

Final Decree of Divorce is the official court order that legally dissolves the marriage. It establishes the date of dissolution, division of marital property, any spousal support obligations, child custody and visitation arrangements, child support orders, and any court-ordered name changes. Certified copies of the final decree are available from the Circuit Clerk's Office.

Supporting Documents filed in the case record may include property appraisals, business valuations, financial disclosure statements, parenting plan worksheets, child support calculation worksheets, and post-judgment modification orders.

Purpose of Divorce Records:

Divorce records serve a range of legal and personal purposes, including:

Establishing proof of marital status for remarriage
Documenting name changes for government identification
Supporting immigration proceedings and Social Security benefit claims
Facilitating estate planning and property transfers
Genealogical and family history research

Who Maintains Divorce Records:

The Union County Circuit Clerk is the primary custodian of all divorce case files and is responsible for indexing, maintaining, and providing access to these records. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains a statistical divorce index but does not issue certified copies of divorce decrees; certified copies are obtained exclusively from the Circuit Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted.

Are Union County Divorce Records Public?

Divorce records filed in Union County Circuit Court are public court records under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Members of the public may access basic case information, docket entries, and most filed documents without demonstrating a specific need or interest.

What Is Public:

Case number and filing date
Names of the parties (petitioner and respondent)
Names of attorneys of record
Court hearing dates and docket entries
Final judgment of divorce and property division orders
General case status and disposition

What May Be Restricted:

Financial Information:

Social Security numbers are redacted from all publicly accessible documents pursuant to court rules
Bank account and credit card numbers are redacted
Detailed tax returns may be filed under seal or with restricted access

Children's Information:

Names and addresses of minor children may be partially redacted
Child custody evaluations and guardian ad litem reports may be sealed by court order
Psychological evaluations of children are restricted

Sensitive Personal Information:

Domestic violence allegations and related evidence may be sealed
Mental health and substance abuse records are restricted
Personal addresses of domestic violence victims are protected

Sealed Records:

A court may seal all or part of a divorce case file upon a showing of good cause. Sealed records are not accessible to the general public. Parties to the case and their attorneys retain access to sealed materials in their own proceedings.

Who Can Access Records:

General public: May access public portions of the case file, view docket summaries, and obtain copies of non-restricted documents upon payment of applicable fees.
Parties to the case: Retain full access to their own case file, including documents that may be restricted from general public view.
Attorneys: May access case files on behalf of clients and may petition the court for access to sealed materials upon a proper showing.
Researchers and media: May access public portions of case files; access to sealed records requires a court order.

Prohibited Uses:

Members of the public are prohibited from using divorce records for stalking, harassment, identity theft, or any purpose that violates a protective order issued by the court.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Divorce Records in Union County?

The Union County Circuit Clerk charges standard fees for copies and certified copies of court records. Current fees are established pursuant to Arkansas Code § 21-6-306, which governs fees charged by circuit clerks for court-related services.

Service	Current Fee
Standard copy (per page)	$0.25–$0.50 per page
Certified copy of final decree	$5.00 per document (plus per-page copy fee)
Certification seal/stamp	Included in certification fee
Search fee	No separate search fee at present
Electronic copies (if available)	Varies; contact clerk for current schedule

Accepted Payment Methods:

Cash
Check or money order payable to Union County Circuit Clerk
Credit or debit card acceptance varies; members of the public should confirm with the clerk's office prior to submitting payment

Fee Waivers:

Parties who have been granted in forma pauperis status by the court may be entitled to reduced or waived fees for copies of records in their own case. A formal application must be submitted to the court.

What Is Available at No Charge:

Members of the public may inspect case docket entries and review case information through the public access terminals at the courthouse or through the Search ARCourts online portal at no charge. Fees apply only when copies or certified copies are requested.

What's Included in Divorce Records in Union County

A complete Union County divorce case file contains all documents filed from the initiation of proceedings through final judgment and any post-judgment actions. The following categories of documents are part of the official court record.

Initial Pleadings:

Complaint for divorce, identifying both parties, the date and place of marriage, grounds for divorce, and relief requested
Summons issued by the clerk
Response or answer filed by the respondent, including any counterclaim
Financial affidavits from both parties disclosing income, expenses, assets, and liabilities

Discovery and Financial Disclosure Documents:

Tax returns and pay stubs
Bank and investment account statements
Retirement account statements
Property inventories and appraisals
Business financial statements, where applicable
Interrogatories and responses filed with the court

Property-Related Documents:

Marital asset inventory listing real property, vehicles, accounts, and personal property
Debt inventory covering mortgages, loans, and credit obligations
Appraisal reports and expert valuations

Children-Related Documents (where applicable):

Parenting plan establishing legal and physical custody, timesharing schedules, and decision-making responsibilities
Child support calculation worksheets reflecting income, overnights, and applicable costs
Custody evaluation reports (which may be sealed)
Guardian ad litem reports (which may be restricted)

Support Documents:

Alimony or spousal support orders specifying type, amount, duration, and termination conditions
Income deduction orders for support enforcement

Settlement Documents:

Marital settlement agreement resolving all contested issues
Mediation agreement, if the case was resolved through mediation

Court Orders and Final Judgment:

Temporary orders entered during the pendency of the case
Final judgment of divorce containing the court's findings, property division, support orders, custody determinations, and date of dissolution
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) dividing retirement accounts, filed as separate orders

Post-Judgment Documents:

Petitions to modify custody or support
Court orders on modification requests
Contempt motions and enforcement actions
Income deduction orders and liens

What Is Typically Confidential or Redacted:

Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
Children's residential addresses and school information
Domestic violence-related evidence
Mental health and substance abuse evaluations
Mediation communications, which are confidential by statute

How to Get Proof of Divorce in Union County?

Proof of divorce in Union County is obtained through a certified copy of the final judgment of divorce issued by the Union County Circuit Clerk. A certified copy bears the clerk's official seal and signature and is accepted by government agencies, financial institutions, and courts as legal proof that a marriage was dissolved.

Steps to Obtain a Certified Copy:

Identify the case number using the Search ARCourts portal or by contacting the Circuit Clerk's Office directly.
Submit a written request to the Union County Circuit Clerk, either in person, by mail, or as directed by the clerk's current procedures.
Provide the full names of both parties, the approximate date of divorce, and the case number if known.
Pay the applicable certification and copy fees at the time of the request.
Receive the certified copy in person or by mail, depending on the method of request.

Union County Circuit Clerk's Office
101 N. Washington Ave.
El Dorado, AR 71730
Phone: (870) 864-1940
Union County Circuit Clerk

Members of the public who require proof of divorce for immigration purposes should note that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires a certified copy of the final decree; a divorce index entry or case summary is not sufficient for this purpose.

Can a Divorce Be Confidential in Union County?

Divorce proceedings in Union County are presumptively public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act; however, specific portions of a case file may be sealed or restricted under certain circumstances.

A party may file a motion requesting that the court seal all or part of the case record, demonstrating good cause such as the presence of domestic violence, child safety concerns, or sensitive financial information.
Domestic violence victims may seek protection of their residential addresses and contact information pursuant to Arkansas law.
Mental health evaluations, substance abuse records, and psychological assessments of children are restricted from general public access.
Mediation communications are confidential by statute and are not part of the public court record.
Custody evaluations and guardian ad litem reports may be sealed by court order to protect the interests of minor children.
Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from all publicly accessible documents as a matter of standard court practice.
Cases involving adoption or the termination of parental rights, which may arise in connection with divorce proceedings, are sealed under Arkansas law.

The court applies a balancing test when evaluating requests to seal records, weighing the public interest in transparency against the privacy interests of the parties and any minor children involved.

How Long Does Union County Keep Divorce Records?

Union County divorce records are maintained as permanent court records. Under Arkansas court records retention schedules, final judgments of divorce and the complete case files associated with dissolution of marriage proceedings are retained indefinitely and are not subject to routine destruction.

Final decrees of divorce are permanent records and are retained without a scheduled destruction date.
Complete case files, including all pleadings, orders, and supporting documents, are retained as part of the permanent court record.
Older paper records may be transferred to archival storage, which may require additional retrieval time for in-person or mail requests.
Electronic records filed through the Arkansas eFiling system are maintained in the statewide court records management system.
Post-judgment modification orders and enforcement actions are added to the original case file and retained as part of the permanent record.
The Arkansas Supreme Court establishes records retention schedules for all circuit courts pursuant to the court's administrative authority over the state court system.

Members of the public seeking records from cases filed prior to the implementation of electronic filing should contact the Union County Circuit Clerk's Office directly to confirm availability and retrieval procedures for archived paper records.