Sebastian County Marriage Records
Sebastian County marriage records go back to 1851 and are held by the County Clerk, which operates out of two offices: one in Fort Smith and one in Greenwood. Sebastian County is the only Arkansas county with two official county seats, and both clerk offices can handle marriage license applications and records requests. This page covers both locations, explains what Arkansas law requires, and points you to additional resources for searching older records or getting certified copies.
Sebastian County Marriage Records
Two County Clerk Offices - Fort Smith and Greenwood
Sebastian County is unusual in Arkansas because it has two county seats and two active clerk offices. Both can issue marriage licenses and process records requests. The Fort Smith office is located at 35 S. 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, and can be reached at (479) 782-5065. The Greenwood office is at 301 E. Center Street, Greenwood, AR 72936, phone (479) 996-4175. The Sebastian County website has updated contact information and office hours for both locations. Check there before your visit to confirm hours and any current closures.
You can apply at either office. Both issue official Sebastian County marriage licenses. The license issued by either location is equally valid anywhere in Arkansas. After your ceremony, the signed license must be returned to whichever office issued it. That office then files it as the permanent record. If you need a certified copy later, contact the office that originally issued your license. The two offices do not always share the same records index, so knowing which location you used originally will save time.
Fort Smith is the larger of the two cities and handles a higher volume of requests. If you live in the eastern part of the county near Greenwood, that office may be more convenient. Either way, the process and requirements are identical at both locations.
Note: If you are unsure which office holds a specific record, call the Fort Smith location first, as it tends to maintain the broader archive of county documents.
How to Apply for a Marriage License in Sebastian County
Both applicants must appear together in person at either the Fort Smith or Greenwood clerk's office. Each person needs a valid, government-issued photo ID. Driver's licenses, state ID cards, and passports all qualify. The clerk will ask for your full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and information about any prior marriages. If either applicant was previously married, you must bring proof that the previous marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate of the former spouse are the standard forms of proof accepted.
Arkansas has a 72-hour waiting period. The clock starts when the license is issued, not when you apply. So if you get your license on a Wednesday at noon, the earliest your ceremony can legally take place is Saturday at noon. The license is good for 60 days from the date of issue. If the wedding does not happen in that window, the license expires and you must apply and pay again. Plan around this especially if your venue or officiant has a fixed date that is close to when you plan to apply.
The state does not require Arkansas residency. A couple from Texas, Oklahoma, or any other state can apply for a Sebastian County license just as easily as local residents can. There is no blood test requirement and no medical exam. The standard minimum age is 18. At 17, written parental consent is required. Under 17, a court order is needed. Arkansas has not allowed new common law marriages to form since 1941, so a license and a formal ceremony are required regardless of the circumstances.
The typical Arkansas marriage license fee runs around $60. Confirm the exact figure with the clerk before your visit since this can be adjusted. Both offices accept the same payment types, but it is worth asking when you call to confirm hours.
Searching Sebastian County Marriage Records
The Sebastian County Clerk maintains the official index of all marriage licenses issued in the county going back to 1851. For records from recent decades, contacting either clerk office directly is the most reliable approach. Give the clerk the names of both parties and an approximate year, and the staff can usually locate the record without much difficulty. Certified copies carry the official county seal and are valid for legal purposes including insurance updates, name changes, passport applications, and estate proceedings.
For older records, especially those from the 19th century and early 20th century, the Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock is a key resource. Their collections include microfilm and digitized records from Sebastian County covering marriage bonds, license books, and registers. Some of this material is searchable online through their catalog. Researchers who cannot visit the archives in person can submit a mail or email inquiry, and the staff will respond with what is available for a given name and time period.
FamilySearch's Sebastian County page provides a list of available record collections and direct access to digitized indexes and images. FamilySearch is free and has indexed a large portion of Arkansas marriage records. Their Sebastian County collection includes early registers and some bond records. Search by name and use the year and county filters to narrow your results quickly. If a transcribed entry appears, you can usually view the original image to check for details that may not have made it into the index.
Fort Smith is also well covered in printed genealogical indexes compiled by local historical societies. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas can point you toward organizations and publications that cover Sebastian County in more depth.
Arkansas Marriage Law and Sebastian County
Marriage in Arkansas is governed by Arkansas Code Title 9. The statutes set out the requirements for getting a license, who can perform ceremonies, what records clerks must keep, and how copies can be obtained. Sebastian County clerk staff follow these same statutes at both the Fort Smith and Greenwood offices. State law does not vary county by county on the core rules, though clerks have some discretion in how they handle certain administrative matters like office hours and copy fees.
The law requires that the signed license be returned to the issuing clerk within 60 days of the ceremony. The officiant is responsible for ensuring this happens. Both witnesses and the officiant sign the license. If it is not returned, the marriage is still legally valid, but the county record will be incomplete, which creates problems when certified copies are later needed. If you discover after the fact that the license was never returned, contact the clerk's office to ask about the process for correcting the gap in the record.
Arkansas does not allow first-cousin marriages. The state does not recognize new common law marriages. It will recognize valid common law marriages formed in states where they are legal, provided the marriage was properly established under that state's law before the couple moved to Arkansas. Officiants must be legally authorized to perform marriages, which includes judges, district court judges, magistrates, and ordained clergy with recognized standing.
Getting Certified Copies of Sebastian County Marriage Records
Certified copies of Sebastian County marriage records are available from either clerk office. The Fort Smith office is at 35 S. 6th Street and the Greenwood office is at 301 E. Center Street. Bring a valid photo ID and know the names and approximate year of the marriage you are requesting. The clerk will verify the record and issue a certified copy with the official county seal. These copies are legally accepted for most official purposes. Ask about the current copy fee when you call to confirm availability.
You can also request certified copies through the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office in Little Rock at 4815 W. Markham Street. The state has kept centralized marriage records since 1917. The fee for a state copy is $10. You can request records in person, by mail, or through VitalChek, the state's authorized online vendor. VitalChek charges an additional service fee but processes orders faster than mail. In-person requests at the state office are often handled the same day.
For records that predate 1917, the county clerk's office and the Arkansas State Archives are your main options. The archives hold many pre-statehood and early statehood records that the state vital records office does not cover. Contact the archives directly to ask what they hold for Sebastian County before the state reporting period began.
Fort Smith National Historic Site
The Fort Smith National Historic Site is one of the landmark institutions of western Arkansas. While the site focuses on frontier justice history rather than marriage records specifically, it provides important context for understanding the region's development during the period when Sebastian County's earliest records were created. The image below is from the National Park Service's Fort Smith page.
Fort Smith's growth as a regional center in the 19th century drove much of Sebastian County's population and record-keeping development. Many of the county's oldest families have roots in the Fort Smith area, making the historic site and its associated archives a useful secondary resource for genealogical researchers working in this region.
Nearby Counties
Sebastian County borders Crawford County to the north, Scott County to the southeast, and Logan County to the east. Each has its own county clerk and marriage records going back to the county's founding. If a license was issued in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county directly.
The Fort Smith metro area spills into Crawford County, so it is not uncommon for records related to Fort Smith-area families to appear in Crawford County's files as well. If your search in Sebastian County comes up empty, Crawford County is a logical next step.