Search Lee County Marriage Records
Lee County marriage records are held by the County Clerk at 15 E. Chestnut Street in Marianna and cover marriages from 1873 to the present. The clerk's office is the official source for marriage license applications and certified copies for anyone married in Lee County. Whether you need a copy for a legal name change, a court proceeding, or genealogical research, the clerk in Marianna is the right starting point.
Lee County Marriage Records
Lee County Clerk - Where to Go for Marriage Records
The Lee County Clerk's office is at 15 E. Chestnut Street, Marianna, AR 72360. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (870) 295-7715 to ask about fees, to confirm hours, or to check whether a record has been filed before you make the drive. The clerk's office is the only place in Lee County where you can get a certified copy of a marriage record or apply for a new license.
Lee County was formed in 1873 from parts of four other counties, which means its marriage records begin at that point. For marriages that occurred in areas now within Lee County but before 1873, you would need to check the records of the predecessor counties. The clerk's staff can help you identify which county to contact based on a specific location and date.
Note: Records for marriages in areas now within Lee County but prior to 1873 may be held by the predecessor counties that existed before Lee County was formed.
How to Apply for a Marriage License in Lee County
Both parties must come to the clerk's office together in person. No proxy applications are accepted, and there is no online option. Each person must bring valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, or passport all work. The clerk checks both IDs, records your names and dates of birth, and collects the license fee at the time of application.
Arkansas law does not require a blood test or any medical exam. You don't have to be a resident of Lee County or of Arkansas to apply here. The age requirements come from Title 9 of the Arkansas Code. Both parties must be 18 or older to marry without any additional steps. If one party is 17, a parent or legal guardian must be present and provide written consent. Those under 17 also need a court order before the license can be issued.
Once the license is in your hands, a 72-hour waiting period begins. You cannot hold the ceremony until that period ends. The license is valid for 60 days from issue. After the ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the license to the clerk. The clerk records it and enters the information into the county register, at which point certified copies become available.
Getting a Certified Copy of a Lee County Marriage Record
A certified copy from the Lee County Clerk carries the clerk's seal and is accepted as legal proof of marriage. You need one for a Social Security name change, a driver's license update, a passport application, or any court-related purpose. Insurance companies and financial institutions may also ask for one when you update your records after a marriage.
In-person requests are the most direct way to get a copy. Go to the clerk's office, bring photo ID, fill out the request form, and pay the fee. The clerk can usually provide the copy the same day for recent marriages. Older records from the 1800s and early 1900s may take additional time because they are stored in physical register books.
You can also send a mail request. Write out the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, and your return address. Include a check or money order for the fee. Call (870) 295-7715 to confirm the current fee and mailing address before you send anything.
Note: Certified copies with the clerk's seal are required for most legal and government purposes; uncertified copies are not accepted by federal agencies.
State Marriage Records for Lee County
The Arkansas Department of Health has maintained a statewide marriage record index since 1917. The state Vital Records office holds marriage coupons sent by county clerks from that year forward. A coupon is a brief summary of the marriage, not a full certified copy. It confirms that the marriage was recorded in a specific county and lists basic details.
State copies cost $10 per record and can be ordered by mail or through VitalChek, the authorized online vendor. For Lee County marriages before 1917, the county clerk is the only source. The state has no records for that period.
Researchers working on Lee County family history can also use the Arkansas State Archives for older records and guides to genealogical research in the eastern Delta region of the state.
Arkansas Marriage Law and Lee County
Lee County operates under the same state marriage statutes as every other Arkansas county. Title 9 of the Arkansas Code sets out the core rules: both parties must appear in person, photo ID is required, a 72-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued, and the license is valid for 60 days. None of these rules can be changed at the county level.
Arkansas stopped recognizing common law marriage in 1941. Only marriages performed under a valid license are legally recognized in the state. If you were married in another state under common law rules, Arkansas may or may not recognize that marriage depending on the laws of that state. For questions about specific situations, contact a licensed Arkansas attorney.
Title 20 of the Arkansas Code requires county clerks to report marriages to the state. After the clerk records a returned license, a coupon is sent to the Arkansas Department of Health to update the state's vital statistics records. You can find the full text of Arkansas statutes at the Arkansas Legislature website.
Genealogy Research for Lee County Marriages
Lee County, formed from parts of Monroe, Phillips, St. Francis, and Crittenden counties in 1873, sits in the eastern Arkansas Delta region. Marriage records from this county reflect the post-Civil War period of Arkansas settlement and reconstruction. Researchers exploring this region's genealogy need to be aware that before 1873, records for families in what is now Lee County would be found in those predecessor counties.
FamilySearch maintains a free online index for Lee County marriage records starting from 1873. The index is a helpful first search tool. For confirmed records or certified copies, the Lee County Clerk's office is the official source. The clerk can also help researchers understand which records are available in the physical register books and which may have been digitized.
The Arkansas State Archives provides research guides and access to older Arkansas records. The CDC's Arkansas vital records page is a useful reference for understanding the scope and availability of state-level records.
Reference Images for Lee County
The image below is from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics Arkansas vital records reference, which explains what state-level records are available and how to access them.
For Lee County specifically, the state holds marriage coupons from 1917 forward. The county clerk in Marianna holds the full record set from 1873. For any marriage before 1917, the county is the only official source. For recent marriages, either the state or county can provide documentation depending on your needs.
The image below comes from the Arkansas State Archives, which holds older records and genealogical resources for researchers studying Lee County and other Delta region counties.
The Archives can assist with older marriage records that predate digital indexing. Staff can help identify what records exist and how to access them for Lee County research going back to the county's founding in 1873.