Craighead County Marriage Records Search
Craighead County marriage records are filed with the County Clerk in Jonesboro and go back to 1859 when the county was formed. Jonesboro is the largest city in northeast Arkansas and home to Arkansas State University, giving the county a large and active population that generates a steady volume of marriage records each year. Whether you need to apply for a license, get a certified copy of a past marriage, or do genealogy research, this page covers the county and state resources available to you.
Craighead County Marriage Records
Craighead County Clerk in Jonesboro
The Craighead County Clerk office is at 511 S. Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401. The phone number is (870) 933-4520. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk is the official keeper of all marriage licenses and certified records for Craighead County. For any marriage-related document, this is the first office to contact.
The Craighead County website has current office information, including any changes to hours or procedures. The city of Jonesboro website can help with directions and local logistics if you are planning an in-person visit. Jonesboro is well connected by major roads, and the courthouse at 511 S. Main is easy to find in the downtown area. Parking is available nearby.
To request a certified copy in person, bring a valid government photo ID and the information needed to find the record, including the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the marriage. For mail requests, include the same details plus a check or money order for the fee and a copy of your ID. Call (870) 933-4520 to confirm the current fee before sending payment by mail.
Marriage License Requirements in Craighead County
Both applicants must appear at the Clerk's office in Jonesboro to apply for a marriage license. A valid government photo ID is required from each person. Acceptable IDs include driver's licenses, state ID cards, and passports. If either person was previously married, bring documentation showing how that marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate of the former spouse meets this requirement. The Clerk will review your documents and issue the license once everything is in order.
Arkansas imposes a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued. You cannot hold the ceremony until 72 hours have passed from the time the license was issued. The license is then valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that 60-day window, the license expires and a new application must be submitted. Title 9 of the Arkansas Code sets these requirements and they apply equally to all Arkansas counties, including Craighead.
Age requirements follow state law. Anyone 18 or older may apply without parental consent. A 17-year-old requires written parental or guardian consent. Anyone under 17 must have a court order. No blood test is required in Arkansas. The state has not recognized common law marriages formed after 1941, so a valid license is always necessary. There is no residency requirement; applicants may live anywhere and still obtain a Craighead County marriage license.
Note: The Craighead County Clerk office at 511 S. Main Street in Jonesboro is the sole office for marriage licenses in this county; no satellite locations issue licenses.
Getting Certified Copies of Marriage Records
Certified copies of Craighead County marriage records come from the County Clerk's office. These copies carry the official county seal and are legally valid for use with courts, banks, government agencies, and other official purposes. Call the Clerk at (870) 933-4520 or visit in person at 511 S. Main Street to request a copy. Bring a valid ID and be ready to provide the names and approximate date of the marriage.
The Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office also holds marriage records for the state since 1917. The ADH address is Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, and the phone number is (501) 661-2336. The ADH issues marriage coupons for $10 each. These are summary records, not full certified copies. For legal and official purposes, the county-certified copy is what you need. The ADH records are useful for quick verification or when a full copy is not needed.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek, which is the authorized service for Arkansas vital records. A service fee applies in addition to the state fee. This is a good option if travel to Jonesboro or Little Rock is not practical. The CDC vital records page for Arkansas gives a useful overview of the system for first-time requesters.
Genealogy and Historical Marriage Records
Craighead County has records starting in 1859. Many of the older records have been maintained at the courthouse, though researchers should expect some gaps in very early collections. FamilySearch has a Craighead County research guide that identifies what digitized records are available and where to find them. Some older marriage records have been indexed and can be searched online without a trip to Jonesboro.
The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds historical collections from across the state. For marriages from before 1917, the Archives may have marriage bonds or early registers from Craighead County. The Archives staff can help identify what records exist for a specific time period and assist with retrieval requests. Both mail-in requests and on-site visits are available.
Arkansas State University in Jonesboro maintains academic and historical collections that may be useful for researchers interested in northeast Arkansas. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas covers Craighead County in detail. The University of Arkansas genealogy guide and the Arkansas Genealogical Society both provide research tools for Arkansas family history work.
Arkansas Marriage Statutes
Marriage in Arkansas is governed by Title 9 of the Arkansas Code, which covers marriage licenses, eligibility, waiting periods, and the role of the County Clerk. Title 20 governs vital records and instructs the Department of Health on what information to collect and retain. Craighead County operates under the same statutes as every other Arkansas county.
Marriage records are public records in Arkansas. Access is not limited to the parties involved. Anyone may request a copy of a marriage record from the County Clerk or the ADH. The clerk sets fees for county-issued copies, and the ADH fee is $10 per coupon. The open access policy is consistent with Arkansas's treatment of marriage as a civil and public legal act. For additional context on Arkansas record access laws, the Arkansas Secretary of State website is a useful reference.
Name Change After a Craighead County Marriage
After your marriage in Craighead County, a certified copy of the marriage record is the document you need to change your name with various agencies. Start with the Social Security Administration. After the Social Security card is updated, get a new driver's license at the Arkansas DMV. Then update bank accounts, employer records, and other documents as needed. Keep at least one certified copy in a safe place for future reference.
Order at least two certified copies from the Clerk's office. One will go to the Social Security Administration and you will want a spare for other agencies. Getting extra copies at the time of your initial request is more convenient than ordering them later. If you ever need more, the Craighead County Clerk can issue additional certified copies for a fee. Some institutions return the original after reviewing it; others keep a copy.
The Craighead County official website provides direct access to county government contacts and services, including the County Clerk office that issues and stores all marriage records for the county.
The Craighead County government website lists the County Clerk's contact details and office information for anyone seeking marriage licenses or certified record copies in Jonesboro.
The Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro maintains collections and research resources that complement the county's public records, particularly for northeast Arkansas genealogy and historical research.
Arkansas State University's library and special collections offer additional genealogy and historical materials that researchers can use alongside the official Craighead County Clerk records.
Nearby Arkansas Counties
Craighead County is surrounded by several northeast Arkansas counties. If a marriage took place near a county border, check the clerks in adjacent counties as well.