Search Arkansas Marriage Records
Arkansas marriage records are kept at the county level by the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued. The state has 75 counties, and each one holds its own set of marriage licenses and related documents going back to the county's founding. If you need a certified copy of an Arkansas marriage record, you go to the County Clerk in the right county. The Arkansas Department of Health keeps a statewide index of marriage coupons from 1917 forward, but for the full record you need the county office. This guide covers how to find and request Arkansas marriage records through both county offices and state resources.
Arkansas Marriage Records Overview
Arkansas Marriage Records: Where to Look
The County Clerk is your first stop when you need Arkansas marriage records. Every county keeps its own records going back to when that county was formed. Some of the oldest counties have marriage licenses from the early 1800s. The clerk's office holds the original marriage license, the application, and in most cases the certificate returned by the person who performed the ceremony. These are public records. Anyone can request copies without giving a reason.
The Arkansas Department of Health keeps a separate statewide record at its Vital Records Section, located at 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205. You can reach the office at (501) 661-2336 for a recorded message with current fee information. The state office holds what are called marriage coupons. These are index entries or abstracts of each marriage. A coupon confirms the marriage took place and shows the county where it was recorded, but it does not include all the details found on the original license. For the full certified copy, you need the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued.
County records in Arkansas often go back much further than 1917. If you are researching a marriage from before the state began keeping coupons, contact the county clerk directly or check historical archives. The Arkansas State Archives holds pre-registration marriage records on microfilm for many counties, with some records going back to the territorial period. These archives are located in Little Rock and open to public researchers.
The CDC's official reference for Arkansas vital records confirms that the Arkansas Department of Health is the primary state office for marriage record requests. The CDC page also provides the full mailing address and summarizes what the state office can and cannot provide.
The CDC's Where to Write page for Arkansas lists the Department of Health Vital Records Section as the official source for state-level marriage records and provides current contact details.
According to the CDC, Arkansas marriage coupons from 1917 to present are available through the Vital Records Section, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, with a fee of $10 per copy.
County Clerk and Arkansas Marriage Records
The County Clerk issues and stores marriage records at the local level. To get married in Arkansas, both parties must go to the County Clerk's office in person. You each need a valid photo ID. The clerk issues the license and records the filing date. After the ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the license to the clerk within 60 days. Once filed, the marriage record becomes part of the permanent county archive.
Marriage license fees vary by county but typically run around $60. Some counties charge a bit more, some a bit less. Call the county clerk before your visit to confirm the current fee and what payment types they accept. Most offices take cash and money orders. Some accept personal checks or cards. Hours are usually Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, though a few counties offer extended hours one day per week.
Getting a certified copy of a marriage record from the County Clerk is straightforward. You can visit in person or send a written request by mail. Include the full names of both people, the approximate date of marriage, and a check or money order for the copy fee. The clerk can search by name or date. Some county offices have records in searchable databases. Others require staff to pull physical files from older collections. Either way, most requests can be handled the same day in person. Mail requests may take a week or two depending on the office's workload.
Note: If you are not sure which county issued the marriage license, the Arkansas Department of Health can check their statewide index. Call (501) 661-2336 to get started, then contact the right county clerk once you have the location.
State-Level Arkansas Marriage Records
The Arkansas Department of Health processes requests for marriage coupons from 1917 to present. The fee is $10 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. You must include a photo ID copy with your application. Payment should be a personal check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health.
A marriage coupon is not the same as a certified copy of the marriage license. The coupon is an abstract. It shows the names, date, and county of marriage, but not all the fields from the original document. For some purposes, like updating your Social Security name or checking your own marital history, a coupon may be enough. For others, like a passport application or property transfer, the agency may require the full certified copy from the County Clerk. Check what the requesting agency needs before you order.
For online requests, VitalChek is the official authorized third-party vendor that processes online orders for Arkansas vital records. The service operates 24 hours a day and is typically faster than mailing a request to the state office. VitalChek has partnered directly with Arkansas vital records agencies and maintains full PCI compliance for data security. Phone support is available at 866-209-9482 if you need help with an order.
The VitalChek Arkansas vital records portal is the state's official authorized vendor for online record orders, with a direct partnership established with Arkansas vital records agencies.
Online orders through VitalChek process faster than mail-in requests and include secure handling with PCI-compliant data protection for all personal information submitted during the order.
Arkansas Marriage License Requirements
Both people must appear together at the County Clerk's office to get a marriage license. No proxy applications are accepted. You each need valid photo identification. The clerk will review your IDs, take the application, and issue the license. Getting the license does not mean you can marry the same day.
Arkansas law requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This waiting period applies to all Arkansas marriages with limited exceptions for certain documented emergencies. The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it was issued. If the ceremony does not take place within those 60 days, the license expires and you must apply for a new one at the county clerk's office.
Age rules are set by state statute. You must be at least 18 to marry without any parental involvement. Those aged 17 may marry with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Anyone younger than 17 needs both parental consent and approval from a court. No blood test is required in Arkansas. Common law marriage has not been recognized in the state since 1941. Arkansas will honor a valid common law marriage established in another state that allows it, but you cannot create a new one here.
After the ceremony, the person who performed the marriage signs the license and returns it to the County Clerk within 60 days. The clerk records it and the official Arkansas marriage record is created. Cousin marriages are prohibited under Arkansas law. First cousins may not marry in Arkansas, which is worth checking if you are coming from a state where it is allowed.
Arkansas Marriage Laws and Statutes
Arkansas marriage law falls under Title 9 of the Arkansas Code, which covers domestic relations. The statutes set out who can marry, how licenses are issued, how records must be kept, and how certified copies are obtained. The full text of these statutes is published by the Arkansas State Legislature online. Reviewing these laws directly can help you understand your rights and the county clerk's obligations when you request a record.
Under Arkansas Code, each County Clerk has a legal duty to issue marriage licenses and to maintain a permanent record of all marriages in the county. The clerk must forward a marriage coupon to the Arkansas Department of Health after each marriage is recorded. This is how the state builds and maintains its central index under Title 20 of the Arkansas Code, which governs vital statistics. The Department of Health acts as the state registrar for vital records, overseeing uniform reporting standards and ensuring county data flows to the state system.
The 72-hour waiting period is written directly into Arkansas statute. It begins the moment the license is issued and cannot be shortened without a formal exception process. The 60-day validity window is also statutory and not subject to extension. If your license expires, you return to the county clerk and start again. There is no way to extend or renew an existing license.
Note: Arkansas has not recognized common law marriage since 1941, so a couple living together in Arkansas does not acquire marriage rights simply from cohabitation, no matter how long they have been together.
The University of Arkansas Libraries genealogy guide outlines how to access Arkansas vital records through both state agencies and the Special Collections department for historical family research.
The UA Libraries Special Collections holds census records on microfilm from 1830 to 1920, mortality schedules, newspaper collections, and manuscript family papers that can complement a search for early Arkansas marriage records.
Historical Arkansas Marriage Records and Research
County marriage records in Arkansas often predate 1917 by decades or more. Some of the oldest counties have records going back to the territorial period before Arkansas became a state in 1836. These older records may be at the County Clerk's office, at the Arkansas State Archives, or on microfilm through the Family History Library. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds microfilm of county marriage records from across the state, including marriage bonds, registers, and applications that predate formal state registration.
Early Arkansas marriage documents varied in form. Marriage bonds were common in the 19th century, requiring a bondsman to vouch for the legal standing of the marriage. Registers recorded marriages in bulk volumes, while individual licenses became more common over time. In many counties, records were kept in separate volumes by race during periods when segregation laws were in effect. Researchers looking into 19th century or early 20th century Arkansas marriages should be aware that records may be indexed separately based on this historical practice.
The CDC National Vital Statistics System places Arkansas marriage data in a national context. Arkansas participates in the national vital statistics program, which means state marriage data is also reflected in federal reports on marriage rates and demographic trends. For genealogical purposes, this federal data can sometimes help identify time periods and geographic patterns when direct records are incomplete.
The CDC National Vital Statistics System works with state agencies including the Arkansas Department of Health to compile national marriage and vital records data used in public health research and reporting.
Arkansas reports marriage events to the CDC national program, contributing to long-term tracking of marriage rates, demographic trends, and public health indicators at the national level.
After Marriage: Using Your Arkansas Marriage Record
Once the County Clerk files the signed marriage license, it is a permanent public record. You can request a certified copy at any point. Keep at least one certified copy in a safe place because you will likely need it for name changes, insurance updates, passport applications, or property transfers. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and signature, which is what most agencies require as proof of marriage.
Name changes after marriage start with the marriage record itself. You take the certified copy to the Social Security Administration first to update your Social Security record. Then you go to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to update your driver's license. After that, you update financial accounts and other documents. If your name change affects a business registration, a notary commission, or a trademark, contact the Arkansas Secretary of State to update those records as well. Voter registration updates also run through the Secretary of State's office.
The Arkansas Secretary of State's office handles voter registration updates and business entity name changes that follow a marriage-related name change in Arkansas.
After updating your Social Security record and driver's license, check with the Secretary of State about any business registrations, notary commissions, or other state-registered documents that need to reflect your new name.
Browse Arkansas Marriage Records by County
Each of Arkansas's 75 counties has its own County Clerk who issues marriage licenses and stores the official records. Select a county below to find clerk contact information, local fees, and resources specific to that area.
Arkansas Marriage Records by City
Marriage licenses in Arkansas are issued through the County Clerk, not through city offices. Select a city below to find out which county office handles marriage records for that area, along with contact details and local resources.