Search Ashley County Marriage License

Ashley County marriage license records are kept by the County Clerk in Hamburg, the county seat. Couples who plan to wed in the county come here to apply, and anyone who needs to pull an old Ashley County marriage license record starts at this same office. This page walks through the clerk's address, phone, fee, and the online tools you can use to look up an Ashley County marriage license without a trip to Hamburg. State and county rules both apply.

Ashley County Clerk for Marriage License Records

The Ashley County Clerk is the office that issues every Ashley County marriage license. The clerk's office sits at 205 East Jefferson Street, Suite 5, Hamburg, AR 71646. Call the office at (870) 853-2020 to ask a question before you go. The Circuit Clerk and Recorder, which handles court records and deeds, is at the same 205 East Jefferson Street address with its own phone line at (870) 853-2030.

The County Clerk issues the license on the spot once both parties show ID and pay. The office also keeps minister credentials, probate files, and the county's marriage index. For the full signed license with the officiant line, this is the office to contact.

The Association of Arkansas Counties Ashley County page lists the current clerk's info and confirms Hamburg as the county seat. That directory is a good first stop when you want the latest phone number for the clerk.

The page above also points out the other elected officials who share the courthouse with the clerk, which can help you find the right office for a related record.

How To Apply for an Ashley County Marriage License

Both parties must appear at the clerk's office in Hamburg together. Bring a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID works. If either of you has been married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate of the prior spouse.

The fee is $60. Cash is always accepted. The office may take a card with a small added fee for card use. Applicants 18 or older sign the application and the clerk issues the license that same day. No wait and no blood test apply to adults.

Applicants who are 17 need both parents present. The parents sign a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. Ashley County, like every county, applies the state's 5 business day wait for 17-year-olds. No one under 17 may be issued a license, with the narrow pregnancy exception at § 9-11-103 going through a circuit judge.

Items to bring:

• Valid photo ID for each party
• Social Security number for each party
• Divorce decree or death certificate if you were married before
• Cash or card for the $60 fee
• Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17

Ashley County Marriage License Rules

Ashley County follows the statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The marriage license is good anywhere in the state, so a couple can pull the paper in Hamburg and hold the wedding in a different part of Arkansas. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it was issued.

After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the Ashley County Clerk that issued it, used or not, inside of 60 days. A missed return can bring a $100 fine. The clerk then files the return, adds the marriage to the index, and sends a coupon to the state health department.

Under § 9-11-213, the list of people who may officiate covers judges, justices of the peace, ministers, mayors, and a few others. Ministers must first record their credentials with a county clerk. Many couples call the Ashley County Clerk to confirm the minister is on file before the big day.

For a broader look at Ashley County public records and how they tie to marriage filings, see the Ashley County public records guide.

The page above pulls together the clerk, the circuit clerk, and the state vital records office in one place, which helps if you need more than just the marriage license.

Certified Copies of Ashley County Marriage Licenses

A certified copy of an Ashley County marriage license runs around $5 to $6 at the clerk's window. The copy has a raised seal that makes it valid for a name change at Social Security, a new passport, pension claims, and immigration paperwork. Walk in with cash and come out with the copy the same day.

Mail requests take longer. Send a written note with both parties' names, the date of the marriage if you know it, your phone number, and a check for the fee. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail the copy back. Call (870) 853-2020 if you need to confirm the exact fee before mailing.

For a state-level copy of the marriage coupon, the Arkansas Vital Records office is the spot. The fee is $10 per copy. You can also order online through VitalChek, which is the state's official online vendor. VitalChek adds its own processing fee on top of the state's cost.

For a closer look at how Arkansas marriage records are structured at the state and county level, see the Arkansas marriage records search reference page.

The page above lists the Hamburg office and explains how the Ashley County marriage license records path differs from the state vital records path.

Ashley County Marriage License Search

The best online search for Ashley County marriage license records is the statewide portal at CIS Arkansas. Not every county takes part, so if the Ashley County index is not shown, the clerk's office in Hamburg is the way to confirm a record.

For court cases tied to a marriage, like a divorce or a name change, the Arkansas CourtConnect case search covers many of the state's trial courts. It does not hold the marriage license itself but can help you trace related filings.

Older Ashley County marriage license records go back further than many online tools reach. The FamilySearch wiki for Ashley County lists microfilm reels and early record sets that can help genealogy searches. For anything before the state index began in 1917, the county clerk is the main source.

Ashley County Marriage License Tips

Plan the trip to Hamburg for a weekday morning. Lines get short after the lunch hour on most days, but the office closes at 4:30 p.m. and cuts off new walk-ins a few minutes before that. Call ahead if a state holiday falls that week. The clerk's staff will tell you if the courthouse is open.

Couples from out of state may use the Ashley County Clerk as their license office. There is no residency rule in Arkansas. Bring the same photo ID you would use at home. A passport works fine. So does a military ID. The clerk will still want a Social Security number from each party, per Arkansas Code § 9-11-201, which the state ties into the vital records coupon.

If the wedding takes place in a park or a private home in the county, the officiant still has to sign and return the license to Hamburg. That 60 day clock runs from the day the clerk issued it, not from the wedding day. A missed deadline draws the $100 fine at § 9-11-219 and can delay the certified copy.

Nearby Counties

If the marriage license is not on file in Ashley County, try a county next door. The clerks in this region often work closely together and can point you to the right office.