Search Fayetteville Marriage License Records

Fayetteville is the seat of Washington County, and the Washington County Clerk is the only office that issues a Fayetteville marriage license. The city itself does not run a separate marriage office. Couples who plan to wed in Fayetteville apply with the county clerk, and anyone who needs to look up an older Fayetteville marriage license record also starts at that clerk. This page lays out the clerk's address, hours, the fee, the state rules, and the online search tools so you can plan the trip or track down the record with fewer calls.

Where to Apply for a Fayetteville Marriage License

The Washington County Clerk is the office that issues every Fayetteville marriage license. The office is at 280 North College Avenue, Suite 300, Fayetteville, AR 72701. The main phone line is (479) 444-1711. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Becky Lewallen holds the elected Washington County Clerk post. The clerk's office is the official bookkeeper of county government and handles voter registration, DBA certificates, minister credentials, and marriage license records. It also serves as clerk for the County Court and the Circuit Court Probate Division.

Both applicants must appear in person, together, to pull a Fayetteville marriage license. No appointment is needed. The office is on the third floor, so allow a few extra minutes for the elevator on a busy morning.

The clerk's marriage information page sums up the fee and the ID rule.

Visit the Washington County Marriage Information page for the full walk-through.

That search portal also indexes Fayetteville marriage license records by party name and date range, which is useful when you need to confirm a date before you head to the clerk.

How to Get a Fayetteville Marriage License

The steps are simple. Both parties show up at the clerk's office in Fayetteville at the same time. Each party 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. An original birth certificate is accepted as a second ID. Each party also provides a Social Security number for the state index.

The fee is $60. Washington County has long taken only cash at this window, in exact amount. That rule shifts now and then, so call the office at (479) 444-1711 before you drive out to confirm whether cards are in play on the day of your visit.

If either party was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. If a past spouse died, a certified copy of the death certificate is needed. If a past divorce restored a prior name, the decree must show the name change so the new Fayetteville marriage license lists the correct legal name.

Applicants 18 and older sign on the spot with no waiting period. Under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102, a 17-year-old applicant needs both parents present to sign a notarized affidavit of consent, and a 5 business day wait applies. No license is issued to anyone under 17 except under the narrow pregnancy exception at § 9-11-103.

No blood test, no residency rule, and no witnesses are required at the ceremony. A Fayetteville marriage license is good for a wedding anywhere in Arkansas.

What to bring:

• Photo ID for each party
• Social Security numbers
• Divorce decree or death certificate if either party was married before
• $60 cash, exact amount
• Notarized parental affidavit if one party is 17

Fayetteville Marriage License Rules

The statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11 apply the same way in Fayetteville as they do in the rest of the state. The license is good for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. The signed license must be returned to the Washington County Clerk inside those 60 days, used or unused. Failure to return it can bring a $100 fine under state law.

The license itself is valid for a ceremony anywhere in Arkansas, not just inside Fayetteville or Washington County. Couples often pull the license in Fayetteville and then hold the wedding at a venue in Eureka Springs, Devil's Den, or another part of the state.

Under § 9-11-213, a list of people can perform the ceremony: 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 in advance. Washington County charges a $5.00 fee to file the minister's papers of record.

The Washington County Clerk also maintains a list of elected officials who perform marriages, including special officials who can run a ceremony for a Fayetteville couple in English or Spanish. A quick call to the clerk's office lines up an officiant when the couple doesn't have one already.

Covenant marriage is also offered. Act 1486 of 2001, now at Arkansas Code § 9-11-803, lays out the extra steps, including premarital counseling and a signed declaration of intent. Couples pick the covenant option when they fill out the Fayetteville marriage license application.

Certified Copies of a Fayetteville Marriage License

A certified copy of a Fayetteville marriage license is available from the Washington County Clerk for a small fee, usually about $5. The copy carries the clerk's seal. Use a certified copy for Social Security name changes, passport updates, pension claims, immigration work, and any case where a court or agency wants a sealed original.

Mail orders work too. Send a short written request with both parties' names, the marriage date if known, a phone number, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for the fee. The office sends the copy back by mail once it's ready.

For a state-level copy of the Fayetteville marriage license coupon, order through the Arkansas Division of Vital Records. The state copy is $10 and is pulled from the central marriage index going back to January 1917. You can walk in at 4815 West Markham Street in Little Rock, mail a request, or use the state's online vendor VitalChek. VitalChek charges an extra processing fee and delivers the copy by mail once identity is verified.

Online Fayetteville Marriage License Search

The CIS Arkansas marriage license search for Washington County indexes every Fayetteville marriage license issued in Washington County and held by the clerk. Search by either party's name. Date search types cover marriage date, issued date, and recorded date. The tool is free to use and does not require an account.

Older records are also covered by the Washington County Archives. The archives hold Fayetteville marriage records from 1845 to 1963, with records through 1941 available online, along with minister credentials from 1845 to 1886. The archives are a good stop for a family history project that goes past the clerk's digital cutoff.

For court cases tied to a Fayetteville marriage, Arkansas CourtConnect covers civil, probate, and domestic relations filings from many Washington County courts. It does not hold marriage license records, but it's the right place to trace a linked divorce, a name change, or a related probate case.

The FamilySearch Washington County page lists more genealogy records for anyone looking beyond the clerk's index.

Fayetteville Marriage License Hours and Tips

The Washington County Clerk is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office closes on state holidays. Plan to arrive by 4:00 p.m. at the latest so the clerk has time to process the Fayetteville marriage license before the doors close.

Parking at the 280 North College complex is limited during lunch. If you're coming from Springdale or Johnson, take Highway 71B and turn off a block early to find street parking. The clerk's office is on the third floor of the building.

If you plan to invite friends to witness the signing, remember Arkansas does not require witnesses. The clerk still works quickly either way.

Washington County and Nearby Cities

Fayetteville is one of several cities served by the Washington County Clerk. Springdale residents apply at the same office, as do couples from Johnson, Elkins, and West Fork. For the full county page, with the clerk's name, fee notes, and more detail on Washington County marriage license records, see Washington County Marriage License Records.

If the marriage license you want isn't on file in Washington County, try one of the nearby city pages. Each one links back to the right county clerk.