Clark County Marriage License Lookup

Clark County marriage license records are kept by the Clark County Clerk in Arkadelphia. The clerk's marriage index goes back to 1821, one of the deepest in the state. Couples who plan to wed in Clark County come to the clerk in the Clark County Courthouse to apply. This page walks through the clerk's address, hours, the $60 fee, the $6 certified copy fee, and the online tools you can use to look up a Clark County marriage license record from home.

Clark County Clerk for Marriage License Records

Tracy Pruitt is the elected Clark County Clerk. The clerk's office sits on the second floor at 401 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fax is (870) 246-6505. The clerk is the official bookkeeper of the county and serves as the clerk for the county, quorum, and probate courts.

Brian Daniel is the elected Clark County Circuit Clerk, in the same courthouse at 401 Clay Street. The Circuit Clerk handles court records and serves as the ex-officio county recorder for deeds, mortgages, and liens. The Circuit Clerk's office phone is 870-246-4491. Marriage license records, though, are handled by the County Clerk, not the Circuit Clerk.

For a full signed Clark County marriage license, this is the office. The clerk also records minister credentials and keeps probate records.

The Clark County Clerk page lists the full set of duties.

The page above is a good first stop for office hours, phone contacts, and the general scope of what the Clark County Clerk handles.

How To Apply for a Clark County Marriage License

Both parties must appear in person at the Arkadelphia office. The fee is $60.00. Ages 21 and older bring a valid driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport. Ages 18 to 20 need to bring a birth certificate along with a photo ID. This Clark County rule adds a bit more proof for the younger adult ages, so plan ahead.

If either of you has been married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate of the prior spouse. If a prior name was restored in a divorce, the decree must show the name change.

Applicants who are 17 must bring both parents and a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. A 5 business day wait applies. No one under 17 may be issued a license except under the narrow pregnancy exception at § 9-11-103, which goes before a circuit judge.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. It can be used anywhere in Arkansas, but the ceremony must happen inside the state. Once married, the couple has 7 working days to return the signed license to the Clark County Clerk for recording.

Items to bring:

• Valid photo ID for each party
• Birth certificate if ages 18 to 20
• Prior divorce decree or death certificate if needed
• Cash or card for the $60 fee
• Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17

The Clark County marriage license info page spells out each rule.

The page above lists the ID rules by age group and the recording window for the signed license, which is a useful reference before a trip to Arkadelphia.

Clark County Marriage License Rules

Clark County follows the statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is valid anywhere in the state, but the ceremony must take place inside Arkansas. The officiant must have credentials recorded in Arkansas, not any other 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. The Clark County Clerk keeps the minister credential index for the county, so a quick call or email confirms whether a specific minister is on file.

Marriage licenses for genealogy are available in Clark County from 1821 to present, which makes the office a strong resource for long-range family research. Records that far back may need a hand search from a bound ledger, so give the clerk a day or two of lead time.

Clark County Marriage License Search

Clark County takes part in the online statewide index. Search at CIS Arkansas for Clark County by either party's name. Date fields cover the marriage date, the issued date, and the recorded date. The search is free and covers the records indexed online by the county.

The Clark County landing page in CIS Arkansas lets you narrow the hit list to the Arkadelphia office.

The portal above is the fastest way to confirm that a Clark County marriage license was issued without a trip to Arkadelphia.

For court cases tied to a Clark County marriage license, like a divorce or a name change, the Arkansas CourtConnect case search is a solid backup. It covers many trial courts, including those that serve Clark County.

For deeds and liens recorded through the Circuit Clerk, see the Clark County Circuit Clerk page.

The Circuit Clerk's page shown above is the right stop for real estate records and court case filings that often pair with marriage license research.

Certified Copies of Clark County Marriage Licenses

A certified copy of a Clark County marriage license is $6.00. The copy carries the clerk's raised seal, which is what Social Security, passport services, pension funds, and immigration offices ask for. The clerk can hand you the copy the same day at the window.

Mail requests work too. Send a written note with both parties' names, the date of the marriage if known, your phone number, and a check for $6.00. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail the copy back. Call the office first if you need to confirm the fee or the turnaround time.

For a state-level copy of the marriage coupon, the Arkansas Vital Records office holds the index from 1917 forward. The fee is $10 per copy. You can also order online through VitalChek, the state's official online vendor, which adds a processing fee on top of the state fee.

Clark County Marriage License Return

Clark County asks that the signed license come back fast. After the ceremony, the couple or the officiant has 7 working days to drop off the license with the clerk. That timing is tighter than the 60 day outer limit set by state law. Plan the return trip around that window.

Walk-in returns are the simplest option. The clerk will stamp the license, record it in the county index, and send the coupon to the Arkansas Department of Health. Couples who married out of town can mail the license back to 401 Clay Street, Second Floor, Arkadelphia, AR 71923. A prepaid envelope with the return address helps the clerk send the certified copy back the same week.

The state still requires the full return inside the 60 day outer window under § 9-11-219. A missed return draws a $100 fine and delays the certified copy. Arkadelphia is small enough that a quick visit to the clerk's counter is usually faster than a mailed return.

Nearby Counties

If the license isn't on file in Clark County, try a county next door. Clark sits in south central Arkansas and shares region with several of its neighbors.