The short answer
If you or your spouse lives in Pulaski County (Little Rock), you file new divorce cases with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk’s Central Receiving Department at the Pulaski County Courthouse, 401 West Markham Street. The clerk lists a $165 filing fee for starting any case, based on a fee schedule dated 2019.
This page covers Pulaski County only, as a worked example of what to expect. Other counties differ, so check your county’s clerk.
Where to go
- Office: Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk, Central Receiving Department
- Address: Pulaski County Courthouse, 401 West Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201
- Phone: 501-340-8500
- Judicial circuit: Sixth
Central Receiving files all new civil, domestic and probate cases. The public entrance to the courthouse is on Markham Street, across from the Doubletree Hotel. Employees and visitors with physical disabilities use the Spring Street entrance.
Hours and parking
The clerk’s office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and it is closed on holidays including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and Christmas Eve and Day. Metered street parking is available, and there’s a paid garage at the Doubletree Hotel across the street.
How to file
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Prepare your papers
See the forms hub and the filing guide.
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Bring them to Central Receiving
The clerk says attorneys file electronically. People representing themselves who can’t use the electronic system file at Central Receiving, in room 120. Ask the clerk whether you can e-file as a self-represented person.
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Or send them by mail
The clerk prefers in-person filing but accepts mail through USPS, FedEx or UPS. If your papers need corrections or the payment is wrong, they’re mailed back, which delays your filing date. Put your full name, driver’s license number and phone number on personal checks and money orders.
The clerk’s staff aren’t allowed to give legal advice.
Fees
From the clerk’s published fee schedule, dated May 20, 2019, which the clerk labels a partial list:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Starting any case (civil, domestic or probate, including appeals) | $165 on paper, $185 to e-file, not refundable |
| Each summons | $2.50 |
| Certified copies | $5 |
| Reopening a case | $50 |
| Order of protection | No charge |
Because this schedule is from 2019, confirm the current fees with the clerk. Can’t afford the fee? Ask about a fee waiver.
Forms on the clerk’s site
The clerk posts Domestic Relations forms, including a Domestic Relations Cover Sheet, a Confidential Informant Sheet and a domestic subpoena, plus a list of additional domestic relations forms. The clerk also posts a list of process servers in Pulaski County. We list the divorce forms and what they do in the forms hub.
Questions about an existing case
Central Receiving only handles new filings. For a case that’s already open, contact the Court Clerks Department at 501-340-8431.
Safety and protection orders
If you’re a victim of domestic violence, you can seek an order of protection through the clerk’s office, and the clerk lists no charge for this. The clerk’s site also points to the court advocate with Arkansas Women and Children First at 501-372-5630. If you’re in danger, call 911.
When you need a lawyer
Talk to an attorney, or call Legal Aid if money is tight, if there’s domestic violence, you can’t find your spouse, or there are retirement accounts or a business to divide.
Sources
- Pulaski County Circuit Clerk: Central Receiving, Hours and Location and the court filings fee schedule (May 20, 2019). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- Arkansas Judiciary, Circuit Clerks directory