Perry County Marriage Records
Perry County marriage records have been kept since 1840, the year the county was formed in central Arkansas. The County Clerk in Perryville is the official custodian of all marriage licenses and completed certificates filed in the county. Perry County sits between the Arkansas River valley and the Ouachita Mountains and draws some residents from nearby Pulaski and Conway counties. This page explains how to request marriage records from the county clerk, what state resources are available, and where to find older Perry County marriage records through genealogical and archival sources.
Perry County Marriage Records
Perry County Clerk Marriage Records Office
The Perry County Clerk's office is at 310 W. Main Street, Perryville, AR 72126. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is (501) 889-5126. The clerk issues marriage licenses, receives completed licenses from officiants after ceremonies, and maintains the permanent register for the county. The clerk's office is the direct source for certified copies of Perry County marriage records.
In-person requests are handled same-day in most cases. Bring photo ID and know both parties' names and the approximate marriage date. The staff can search the index and pull the record quickly. If you prefer to mail a request, send a letter with the same details plus your return address, along with the copy fee. Call the office first to confirm the current fee. Mail requests typically take a few business days once the record is located. Calling ahead is a good idea both for mailed requests and for in-person visits, since it confirms hours and availability.
The Perry County website lists contact information for county offices. The City of Perryville website has local community information and municipal services.
Perry County Marriage License Requirements
Arkansas law requires both parties to appear in person together at the County Clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. There is no blood test requirement. A 72-hour waiting period follows the issuance of the license before the ceremony can proceed. The license is valid for 60 days. If no ceremony takes place within that window, the license expires. Both parties would need to return to the clerk's office and apply again.
Both applicants must be 18 or older to marry without special conditions. A 17-year-old may marry with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Anyone under 17 requires a court order in addition to parental consent. Arkansas eliminated common-law marriage in 1941. Couples who live together without a license are not legally married, regardless of how long the relationship has lasted. After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the county clerk. The clerk then records it and it becomes a permanent public record.
Bring valid government-issued photo ID to the clerk's office. If either applicant was previously married, the clerk may ask for a divorce decree or death certificate showing that the prior marriage ended. It is worth a quick phone call to the clerk to confirm what documents to bring before your visit.
Searching Perry County Marriage Records
The Arkansas Department of Health has maintained statewide marriage records since 1917. You can request certified copies through the Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205 by calling (501) 661-2336, or through the VitalChek portal for online orders. The fee is $10 per copy. The ADH record is a summary coupon, not a full copy from the county clerk. It includes the key identifying facts and is accepted for many purposes, but for the original license document, contact the Perry County Clerk.
For genealogical research or records before 1917, FamilySearch's Perry County guide is a useful starting point. Their free online indexes include some digitized marriage registers from the 19th century. The Arkansas State Archives holds historical county records and can help supplement what is available online. The Archives website describes their holdings and the process for requesting records remotely.
The Arkansas Genealogical Society maintains member databases that can help researchers find records in smaller counties like Perry. The University of Arkansas Special Collections genealogy guide covers Arkansas research methods and lists which record sets are digitized and which require an in-person visit.
State Image Reference
The CDC publishes a guide to vital records for every state. The Arkansas entry lists how to contact the Arkansas Department of Health for certified marriage record copies. Source: CDC Where to Write
Historical Perry County Marriage Records
Perry County was established in 1840 from Conway County. Early records from the county's formation period are on file at the County Clerk's office. Perry County remained a rural, lightly populated county throughout the 19th century, which means the total volume of historical marriage records is smaller than in more populous counties. That also means that most records that survived are well-preserved at the clerk's office or in the state archives.
For researchers looking at 19th-century marriages, a direct contact with the County Clerk or a search through FamilySearch is the most efficient approach. Some older registers have been digitized, and FamilySearch's free name-search tool can locate them quickly. When a specific record is not indexed online, the Arkansas State Archives may have the original or a microfilm copy. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas provides county-level context that can help researchers understand which communities were active in what time periods.
Arkansas Statutes for Perry County Marriage Records
Marriage law is set in Title 9 of the Arkansas Code. Title 20 covers vital statistics and record-keeping obligations. Both are free to read on the Arkansas Legislature website. These statutes apply uniformly across the state, including in Perry County. The clerk must maintain a permanent register of all marriages, issue certified copies on request, and report data to the state vital statistics office. The Arkansas Secretary of State manages other public records but does not handle marriage records directly.
Counties Near Perry County, Arkansas
Perry County is in central Arkansas, not far from Little Rock. Records researchers often need to check neighboring counties, especially Pulaski, which includes Little Rock and has extensive records for families across the region.
- Yell County - to the west
- Conway County - to the north
- Faulkner County - to the northeast
- Pulaski County - to the east
- Saline County - to the southeast
- Garland County - to the south