Carroll County Marriage License Records
Carroll County is a two-district county. The Carroll County Clerk runs one office in Berryville for the Eastern District and a second office in Eureka Springs for the Western District. A couple can apply at either office for a Carroll County marriage license. This page walks through both offices, the $60 fee, the certified copy cost, and the online tools you can use to search Carroll County marriage license records by name or date.
Carroll County Marriage License Overview
Carroll County Clerk Offices for Marriage Licenses
Connie T. Doss is the elected Carroll County Clerk. She runs both district offices. The Eastern District office in Berryville is at 210 West Church Street, Berryville, AR 72616, phone (870) 423-2022. The Western District office in Eureka Springs is at 44 South Main Street, P.O. Box 109, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, phone (479) 253-8646. Hours at both offices are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
A couple may apply for a Carroll County marriage license at either office. The license is the same either way and is valid across the state. The clerk issues it on the spot once both parties show ID and pay. The office also keeps minister credentials, DBA certificates, nurse and physician credentials, and serves as the clerk for the Quorum Court, County Court, and Election Commission.
Carroll County is one of a small number of Arkansas counties that split its government between two seats because of its terrain and its history. The courthouse in Berryville covers the Eastern District, and the courthouse in Eureka Springs covers the Western District. Each district also has its own Circuit Clerk for court filings.
The Carroll County and Probate Clerk page lists the full set of duties the office covers, which include marriage license records, voter registration, and absentee voting.
How To Apply for a Carroll County Marriage License
Both parties must appear in person at the Berryville or Eureka Springs office. Bring valid photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. The office accepts checks, cash, or a credit card. The fee is $60.00 for the license, and a certified copy runs $5.00 plus postage and handling if you want to take one home.
No blood test is required. No waiting period applies for adults 18 or older. The license is issued on the spot. Applicants who are 17 need both parents present and a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. A 5 business day wait applies for 17-year-olds. No one under 17 may be issued a license under the normal rule.
What to bring:
- Valid photo ID for each party
- Social Security number for each party
- Divorce decree or death certificate if there was a prior marriage
- Cash, check, or card for the $60 fee
- Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17
After the ceremony, the license must be returned to the same Carroll County Clerk office within 60 days, or a $100 bond will be executed under the statute.
Carroll County Marriage License Rules
Carroll County follows the state rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The marriage license is good anywhere in Arkansas, so a couple from Eureka Springs can use the license at a wedding in Little Rock, Fort Smith, or any other town in the state. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue.
Under § 9-11-213, the list of officiants covers judges, justices of the peace, mayors, ministers, and a few others. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk in Arkansas before they can sign a marriage license. The Carroll County Clerk keeps the minister index for the county at both district offices.
Arkansas has no residency rule and no blood test. Many couples come to Eureka Springs for destination weddings, since the Victorian town is a popular wedding spot. A couple from any state may apply for a Carroll County marriage license at either district office and hold the ceremony anywhere inside Arkansas.
Note: Carroll County's two district clerks share one elected official. The office you apply at is the office you return the signed license to, so keep track of which one issued it.
Carroll County Marriage License Search
Both Carroll districts take part in the statewide online search. The Eastern District is at CIS Arkansas for Carroll Eastern. The Western District is at CIS Arkansas for Carroll Western. You can search by either party's name and by date range. Date types cover the marriage date, the issued date, and the recorded date.
The Eastern District search page covers marriage license records issued in Berryville.
The Eastern portal above is the fastest way to confirm a marriage license issued at the Berryville office.
The Western District portal covers marriage license records issued in Eureka Springs.
The Western portal above pulls the index for the Eureka Springs office, which handles many of the destination weddings held in the Victorian town.
For court cases tied to a Carroll County marriage license, like a divorce or a name change, the Arkansas CourtConnect case search is a good backup. It shows case party names, filing dates, and docket entries for the trial courts in both district courthouses.
Certified Copies of Carroll County Marriage Licenses
A certified copy of a Carroll County marriage license is $5.00 plus postage and handling if mailed. The copy carries the clerk's raised seal, which is what Social Security, passport services, and pension funds ask for. The clerk can hand you a copy the same day at the Berryville or Eureka Springs office, whichever one issued the license.
The Carroll County marriage license page spells out the fee and the payment options.
The page above lists both district offices and the return rule, and it is the most current source for Carroll County marriage license records online.
For a state-level copy of the marriage coupon, the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office is the right stop. The fee is $10. You can also order online through VitalChek, the state's official online vendor. VitalChek adds a processing fee on top of the state fee.
Tips for Eureka Springs Destination Weddings
Eureka Springs is a popular wedding spot. Couples drive in from all over for small ceremonies in the Victorian town. The Western District office on South Main Street handles their marriage license work. No residency rule applies. Both parties show ID and pay the $60 fee at the same counter.
A smart plan is to arrive a day early. Apply at the clerk in the morning, hold the ceremony the next day, and return the signed license before leaving town. The 60 day return rule still applies, so there is no real rush, but finishing the paperwork on the trip saves a mail step later. The Western office is a short walk from many of the chapels and wedding venues in the historic district.
A Carroll County marriage license issued at either district office is valid anywhere in Arkansas under § 9-11-201. So a couple could apply in Eureka Springs but wed in Berryville, or the other way around. The one firm rule is the return. The signed license goes back to the same district office that issued it.
Nearby Counties
If the license isn't on file in Carroll County, try one of the counties that border it in northwest Arkansas.