Bentonville Marriage License Search

Bentonville is the seat of Benton County, and the Benton County Clerk in Bentonville is the office that issues every Bentonville marriage license. The city itself does not run a separate marriage office. Couples who plan to wed in Bentonville apply at the clerk's downtown office, and anyone who needs to look up an older Bentonville marriage license record starts there too. This page lays out the clerk's address, hours, fee, state rules, and online search tools so the trip and the record check take less time.

Where to Get a Bentonville Marriage License

The Benton County Clerk is the office that issues every Bentonville marriage license. The office is at 215 East Central Avenue, Bentonville, AR 72712. The phone line is (479) 271-1013. Betsy Harrell holds the elected Benton County Clerk post. The main county site also links to the Benton County Government portal for other services.

Benton County schedules marriage license appointments. Walk-ins are accepted, but booking an appointment cuts the wait in half on busy days. Email the clerk at marriage@bentoncountyar.gov to pick a time that works. The office also keeps a list of persons who perform weddings, which is handy if the couple does not have an officiant lined up.

Both applicants must appear in person at the same time. Each brings valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. The office asks applicants to bring their own pens, blue or black ink. A small but telling detail.

The clerk's licenses and certificates page lays out the fee and the payment rule.

See the Benton County marriage license page for the current details.

The page above covers the cash fee, the card fee, and the appointment email that apply to a Bentonville marriage license filed at 215 East Central Avenue.

How to Apply for a Bentonville Marriage License

Both parties must appear together at the Benton County Clerk in Bentonville. Each brings a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. A state driver's license, a state ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID all work. Each party also provides a Social Security number for the state index.

The fee is $60.00 in cash, exact amount only, or $62.80 by credit/debit card. The card surcharge covers the processor's fee. Cash is the simpler route if the couple has it on hand.

If either party was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. If a past spouse died, bring the death certificate. If a past divorce restored a prior name, the decree must list the change so the Bentonville marriage license uses the right legal name.

Adults 18 or older sign on the spot with no wait. Applicants who are 17 need both parents present to sign a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102, and a 5 business day wait applies. Under § 9-11-103, no one under 17 may get a license except under the narrow pregnancy exception, which sends the case to a circuit judge.

Arkansas does not require a blood test. No witnesses are needed at the ceremony, and there is no residency rule. A Bentonville marriage license is good for a wedding anywhere in the state.

Bring this to the clerk:

• Photo ID for each party
• Social Security numbers
• Divorce decree or death certificate if either party was married before
• $60.00 exact cash, or $62.80 by card
• Blue or black ink pens
• Notarized parental affidavit if one party is 17

Bentonville Marriage License Rules

Bentonville follows the state rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is valid for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. The signed license must be returned to the Benton County Clerk inside those 60 days, used or unused. A failure to return can bring a $100 fine under state law.

The license is good for a ceremony anywhere in Arkansas. A Bentonville couple can pull the license at the Benton County Clerk and then hold the wedding at a venue in Rogers, Bella Vista, Eureka Springs, or anywhere else in the state.

Under § 9-11-213, a short list of people can officiate. The list covers the Governor, any current judge of a court of record, any former Supreme Court justice, any justice of the peace, any regularly ordained minister or priest, the mayor of any city or town, any official picked by the quorum court, and any elected district court judge. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk before they can sign a Bentonville marriage license. The Benton County Clerk keeps a list of wedding officiants on file.

Covenant marriage is an option at the window. Act 1486 of 2001, now at Arkansas Code § 9-11-803, sets the extra steps, including premarital counseling and a signed declaration of intent. The couple picks the covenant option on the Bentonville marriage license application.

Certified Copies of a Bentonville Marriage License

Certified copies of a Bentonville marriage license are available from the Benton County Clerk for a small fee, usually about $5. The certified copy has the clerk's raised seal. Use it for a Social Security name change, a passport update, a pension claim, or immigration work. Walk-in pickups are the fastest.

Mail requests work too. Send a short letter with both parties' names, the marriage date if known, a phone number, a check or money order for the copy fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk mails the copy back after the request is processed.

For a state-level copy of the Bentonville marriage license coupon, the Arkansas Division of Vital Records holds a coupon going back to 1917. The state copy is $10. Order in person at 4815 West Markham Street in Little Rock, by mail, or online through VitalChek, the state's official online vendor. VitalChek adds a small processing fee and delivers the copy by mail after an ID check.

For older family history work, the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records index can be paired with the FamilySearch Benton County page to trace a marriage across decades.

Bentonville Marriage License Search Online

The CIS Arkansas marriage license search for Benton County indexes every Bentonville marriage license held by the clerk. Search by either party's name. Date search types include marriage date, issued date, and recorded date. The portal is free.

Try the CIS Arkansas search tool for Benton County.

The tool above pulls Bentonville marriage license records by name in a few seconds, which makes a quick date check easy when the clerk's office is closed.

The Benton County Circuit Clerk public records page covers civil court docket cases, real estate records, and deed searches. That office is next door at 215 East Central, Room 202, Bentonville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone (479) 271-1015 for court docket questions.

For court cases tied to a past Bentonville marriage, Arkansas CourtConnect covers civil, probate, and domestic relations filings from Benton County trial courts. CourtConnect doesn't hold marriage license records, but it's a good stop for tracing a linked divorce, a name change, or a probate case.

The Association of Arkansas Counties directory lists every clerk office in the state and works as a backup when the license you need was filed in a neighbor county like Washington, Madison, or Carroll.

Bentonville Marriage License Hours and Tips

The Benton County Clerk runs a standard weekday schedule. Plan to arrive at the Administration Building with enough time to finish the application before the clerk closes. Book an appointment if you want a short wait.

Parking at the Administration Building usually works, with overflow nearby. The downtown Bentonville square is a quick walk away, so couples often grab a coffee after the Bentonville marriage license is in hand.

Benton County also runs satellite offices in Rogers and Siloam Springs. Hours at those offices vary. For marriage licenses, most couples still come to the main Bentonville clerk. Call (479) 271-1013 if you want to confirm which office can handle your visit.

Couples planning a large Bentonville wedding often line up the minister or officiant weeks in advance. Filing the minister's credentials with the Benton County Clerk takes only a short visit but is required before the officiant can sign a Bentonville marriage license.

Benton County and Nearby Cities

Bentonville is the county seat of Benton County. The same clerk office serves Rogers, Bella Vista, Centerton, and Siloam Springs residents as well. For the full county page, with more detail on Benton County marriage license records and all clerk contacts, see Benton County Marriage License Records.

Try a nearby city page below when the marriage license you're after was actually pulled somewhere else.