Springdale Marriage License Records

Springdale spans two counties, but the city itself does not issue marriage licenses. The bulk of Springdale sits in Washington County, and the Washington County Clerk in Fayetteville issues a Springdale marriage license for couples in that part of the city. Residents in the Benton County section apply at the Bentonville clerk instead. This page walks through the right clerk for a Springdale marriage license, what to bring, the fee, the hours, and the online search tools so you can plan a quick trip with less back and forth.

Where to Get a Springdale Marriage License

The city of Springdale does not run a marriage license office. Washington County covers most of Springdale, so the Washington County Clerk at 280 North College Avenue, Suite 300, Fayetteville, AR 72701, is the office that issues a Springdale marriage license for most residents. The drive from central Springdale to the Fayetteville clerk is about 15 to 20 minutes on Highway 112 or I-49.

The Washington County Clerk phone is (479) 444-1711. Becky Lewallen holds the elected post. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No appointment is needed. Both applicants must appear in person at the same time.

For Springdale residents in the small slice of the city that sits inside Benton County, the office is the Benton County Clerk at 215 East Central Avenue, Bentonville, AR 72712. Phone (479) 271-1013. Either clerk can issue an Arkansas marriage license that is good for a ceremony anywhere in the state.

The Washington County Clerk's marriage information page covers the fee and the ID rule.

See the public records summary for Springdale.

The page above points Springdale residents to the Washington County Clerk for a Springdale marriage license and lists other vital records the county handles.

How to Apply for a Springdale Marriage License

Both parties must appear in person at the Washington County Clerk in Fayetteville at the same time. Each brings a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. A state driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID all work. An original birth certificate is accepted as a second ID. The clerk will also want each party's Social Security number for the state index.

The fee is $60. Washington County often takes only cash at this window, in exact amount. Cards sometimes work and sometimes don't. Call (479) 444-1711 before you drive out to confirm the payment method in play on the day of your visit.

If either party was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. If a prior spouse died, bring the death certificate. If a past divorce restored a prior name, the decree must reflect that change so the Springdale marriage license lists 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 can get a license except in narrow court-reviewed cases.

Arkansas does not require a blood test and has no residency rule. A Springdale marriage license is good anywhere in the state.

Bring this checklist:

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

Springdale Marriage License Rules

Springdale 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 same clerk that issued it 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 wedding anywhere in Arkansas, not just inside Springdale. Couples often pull a Springdale marriage license and then hold the ceremony at a venue in Eureka Springs, Devil's Den, or another part of Northwest Arkansas.

Under § 9-11-213, a short list of people can solemnize the ceremony. 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 file credentials with a county clerk first. Washington County charges a $5.00 fee to record the minister's papers.

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. Couples pick the covenant option when they fill out the Springdale marriage license application.

Certified Copies of a Springdale Marriage License

Certified copies of a Springdale marriage license are available from the Washington County Clerk for a small fee, usually about $5. The copy carries the clerk's seal and is what Social Security, the State Department, pension plans, and immigration offices want for a name change or a benefits claim.

Pick up a copy in person at the Fayetteville office, or send a mail request with both parties' names, the marriage date, a phone number, a check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk mails the copy back once the request is processed.

For a state-level copy, 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.

Springdale Marriage License Search Tools

The CIS Arkansas marriage license search for Washington County covers every Springdale marriage license held at the Washington County Clerk in Fayetteville. Search by either party's name. Date search types include marriage date, issued date, and recorded date. The tool is free and open to the public.

Couples whose license was pulled in Benton County can use the CIS Arkansas Benton County search instead. Both portals run the same way.

Older Washington County marriage records are held by the Washington County Archives. The archives index marriage records from 1845 to 1963, with records through 1941 available online, and minister credentials from 1845 to 1886. That helps a lot for family history work that predates the clerk's digital index.

For court cases tied to a Springdale marriage, Arkansas CourtConnect covers civil, probate, and domestic relations filings from many Washington County courts. It doesn't hold marriage license records, but it's useful for tracing a linked divorce, a name change, or a probate case.

The FamilySearch Washington County page adds more genealogy resources for anyone looking past the clerk's index.

Springdale Marriage License Tips

Plan the Fayetteville drive. The Washington County Clerk is 15 to 20 minutes south of Springdale on Highway 112 or I-49. Parking near 280 North College can fill up at lunch, so an early morning arrival works best.

Call first. Payment rules shift from time to time at the Washington County window. The main phone line is (479) 444-1711. Confirm whether cards are accepted that day before you drive in for a Springdale marriage license.

Bring pens. The Washington County Clerk has asked applicants to bring blue or black ink pens for the paperwork. A small bag with pens, ID, and the $60 covers everything the clerk needs.

If your license was filed on the Benton County side, the office runs the same way but the fee is payable as $60 exact cash or $62.80 by card, based on the surcharge rules at that clerk.

Washington County and Nearby Cities

Springdale is served by the Washington County Clerk for most residents and the Benton County Clerk for the small slice on the Benton side. For the full Washington County page, with clerk info, more detail on fees, and links for court and archive searches, see Washington County Marriage License Records. For residents on the Benton side, see Benton County Marriage License Records.

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