Clay County Marriage License Records

Clay County sits in the far northeast corner of Arkansas and is one of the few counties in the state with two seats, Piggott and Corning. The County Clerk issues every Clay County marriage license and keeps marriage records dating back to 1889. Couples who want to wed here and anyone looking to pull an old Clay County marriage license record should start with the clerk. This page walks you through the office, the fees, the rules, and the search paths so you can plan a trip or a mail-in request with less fuss.

Clay County Clerk for Marriage License Records

The Clay County Clerk's Office in Piggott issues marriage licenses and keeps the county's marriage records. The office sits at 151 S 2nd Avenue, Piggott, AR 72454. Phone the clerk at (870) 598-2667. The clerk is the official keeper of Clay County marriage license records from 1889 forward. A couple can apply in Piggott and, once signed, the license can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Arkansas.

Clay County has a second courthouse in Corning at 800 SW 2nd Street. The Corning side handles circuit court filings, land records, and Recorder of Deeds work. For marriage license needs, the Piggott office is the primary stop. If you need court records tied to a past marriage, such as a divorce or a name change order, the Clay County Circuit Clerk in Corning at (870) 857-3271 can help. The Circuit Clerk in Piggott at (870) 598-2813 handles Piggott-side circuit matters.

For general county info, the Clay County Arkansas official site lists offices and hours for both county seats. A quick call before you drive is smart in smaller counties where the lunch hour can close the counter.

How To Apply for a Clay County Marriage License

Both parties must show up together at the clerk's office in Piggott. There is no appointment system. Each party brings a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, or original birth certificate will do. Social Security numbers are collected for state reporting under Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11.

The fee is $60. Most small counties take cash, and many now take cards with a small surcharge. Call ahead to confirm payment types the Clay County Clerk is taking on the day of your visit. There is no blood test and no residency rule for Arkansas, so out-of-state couples are free to apply in Piggott and hold the ceremony anywhere in the state.

If you were married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate of a prior spouse. If one party is 17, both parents must appear with a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. A 5 business day wait applies when a 17-year-old is part of the couple. No one under 17 may get a license in Arkansas except in narrow court-approved cases at § 9-11-103.

Here is what to bring when you apply:

• Valid photo ID for each party
• Social Security number for each party
• $60 in cash or a card for the fee
• Certified divorce decree or death certificate if there was a prior marriage
• Notarized parental affidavit if one party is 17

Clay County Marriage License Rules

Clay County follows the state's rules. The marriage license is good for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. The couple must return the signed license, used or not, to the Piggott clerk inside that window. Failure to return the license can bring a $100 fine.

Arkansas offers a covenant marriage under Arkansas Code § 9-11-803. A couple choosing this form takes premarital counseling and signs a notarized declaration of intent. The Clay County Clerk will have the paperwork at the window if you ask.

Under § 9-11-213, a short list of officials and clergy may perform the ceremony. That list includes any judge of a court of record, any minister or priest in good standing, justices of the peace, and mayors. Ministers file their credentials with a county clerk before they sign a license. No witnesses are needed at an Arkansas wedding, but many officiants still ask for one or two. The state's general marriage rules live in Title 9, Chapter 11 of the code.

Clay County Marriage License Search

Clay County is not listed on the CIS Arkansas marriage license search portal, so the clerk's office in Piggott is the main way to look up a record. A phone call with names and an approximate year is usually enough for the staff to find the file. For a certified copy, a mail-in request with a check is the standard route. Ask the clerk for the current fee before you mail anything.

The Clay County, Arkansas genealogy wiki on FamilySearch lists the marriage record dates the county holds and points to film indexes for older records. That's a good first stop when you are doing family history work and don't yet know the right year.

For a general state-level confirmation of a marriage, the Arkansas Marriage Records Search page points to county-by-county clerk contacts and vital record fees.

The reference above pulls the Clay County Clerk phone and address together with the state-level Vital Records fee, which is handy when you need both pieces in one place.

For a state-level coupon of the marriage, order from the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records. The state index starts at January 1917 and runs $10 per copy. You can walk into the Little Rock office, mail in a request, or order online through VitalChek.

Certified Copies of Clay County Marriage Licenses

A certified copy from the clerk holds the signatures, the officiant line, and the raised county seal. That is the copy Social Security, passport offices, and pension funds accept. In most Arkansas counties the fee is $5 to $6 per copy. Call the Clay County Clerk at (870) 598-2667 for the current cost and the exact mailing steps.

The state-held coupon is a different document. It is the short return slip the clerk mails in after the wedding. The coupon confirms a marriage took place and is enough for many name change tasks. Order it from Arkansas Vital Records for $10 per copy. The state keeps the $10 as a non-refundable search fee, so a record must exist for you to get a copy.

Ask the clerk for two or three certified copies while you are at the counter. Extras save a second mail round when one gets used up for a name change or a job file. Be sure you check the names, the date, and the ceremony date before you leave the office.

Related Clay County Records

The Clay County Recorder of Deeds in Corning keeps land records, mortgages, and liens at 800 Southwest 2nd Street, Corning, AR 72422. Phone is (870) 857-3271. For court cases that link to a marriage, try the Arkansas CourtConnect public case search. That tool shows civil, probate, and domestic relations cases for Clay County and most Arkansas circuits.

The Clay County Health Department at 301 N. Missouri #18 in Corning can help with birth and death questions tied to a marriage or a name change. Reach the unit at (870) 857-6281. For a full state-level vital records order, the Arkansas Vital Records certificates page shows the fees for marriage, birth, death, and divorce copies.

The Association of Arkansas Counties keeps an up-to-date directory of every county clerk in the state. That's a useful second stop when you are not sure which county holds the record.

Nearby Counties

If your marriage license wasn't pulled in Clay County, the neighboring counties are a good next look. The clerks often talk to each other and can point you the right way.