Find Marriage License in Drew County
Drew County keeps marriage license records at the County Clerk in Monticello. The clerk issues every new license and holds the signed record after the wedding. Anyone searching for an old Drew County marriage license record, or a couple ready to apply for a new one, starts at the same office. This page lays out the clerk's office hours, the fee, the staff, and the state and county online tools so you can plan the trip or the search without extra calls.
Drew County Marriage License Overview
Drew County Clerk for Marriage License
Stephanie Chisom is the elected Drew County Clerk. The office sits at 210 South Main Street, Monticello, Arkansas 71655, in the Drew County Courthouse. Call the clerk at 870-460-6250. The fax line is 870-412-1133. Email is drewctyclerk@yahoo.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Staff in the office include Michelle Hammons as Executive Deputy, Becky Gipson as Chief Deputy and Payroll, and DeeAnn Jones as Deputy. Services handled at the same counter include marriage licenses, U.S. passport applications, business name filings, and copies of birth and death certificates. That means a couple can pick up a passport application and a marriage license in one trip.
The Drew County Clerk office also records probate filings and serves as the secretary to the Quorum Court. Marriage records in Drew County go back to 1850, so researchers looking for 19th century ancestors may find an entry on file at the clerk.
See the Drew County Clerk department page for staff contact details and a short list of services.
The department page is the best place to check hours and confirm which deputy to ask for when you call ahead.
How To Apply for a Drew County Marriage License
Both parties must come to the clerk's office in person. No appointment is needed. Bring a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. A state driver's license, a state ID card, a passport, or a military ID all work. If your name has changed through a past divorce, bring the divorce decree that shows the name was restored.
The fee is $60.00, the standard Arkansas rate. Cash is easiest. Debit and credit cards are accepted, but some card transactions may include a small surcharge. The clerk will issue the license at the window once the papers are signed and the fee is paid.
Applicants 18 or older do not face any waiting period. A blood test is not required in Arkansas. A party who is 17 years old must appear with both parents, who sign a notarized affidavit of consent, and the state's 5 business day wait applies under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. No one under 17 may get a license except in narrow court-reviewed cases under § 9-11-103.
What to bring to the clerk:
- Valid photo ID for each party
- Social Security number for each party
- Divorce decree or death certificate if there was a prior marriage
- $60 cash or a debit/credit card
- Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17
Note: Drew County does not require a waiting period for adult applicants, so walk-in couples can get the license and hold the ceremony the same day.
Drew County Marriage License Rules
Drew County follows the statewide rules in Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. Once issued, the license is good anywhere in Arkansas for 60 days, so a couple can drive from Monticello to Little Rock, Hot Springs, or any small town for the ceremony. After the wedding, the signed license must come back to the Drew County Clerk, used or not, inside 60 days. Failure to return the paper can bring a $100 fine.
Under § 9-11-213, a judge, justice of the peace, mayor, minister, priest, or other listed official may perform the ceremony. Ministers must register their credentials with a county clerk first. A phone call to the Drew County Clerk at 870-460-6250 is enough to confirm a minister is on file before the wedding.
The state also allows a covenant marriage license. This is a stricter type of marriage that needs premarital counseling and a signed declaration of intent. The full rules sit at Arkansas Code § 9-11-803. Divorce options are narrower with a covenant license.
Certified Copies of Drew County Marriage Records
A certified copy from the Drew County Clerk carries the clerk's seal. Couples use the certified copy for Social Security name changes, passport updates, pension claims, and immigration paperwork. The clerk sells a certified copy for the standard small per-copy fee and can print it the same day at the window. Mail orders take longer than a walk-in pickup.
For a state-level coupon copy of a Drew County marriage, the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records holds the central index from 1917 forward. The state charges $10 per copy. Order by mail, by walk-in at 4815 West Markham Street in Little Rock, or through the state's online vendor at VitalChek.
Older Drew County marriage records sit at the clerk. The FamilySearch Drew County genealogy wiki confirms marriage records go back to 1850 in this county, which makes the Drew County Clerk the first stop for family history research.
Drew County Marriage License Search
Drew County takes part in the CIS Arkansas online marriage license search for the county. Search by either party's name. The tool filters by marriage date, issued date, or recorded date. It's free to use.
The portal below is the fastest way to confirm an entry before you drive to the courthouse.
A match in the portal shows the names of the couple and the dates the license was filed, which gives you enough info to order a certified copy by mail from the clerk.
For related court matters, the Arkansas CourtConnect system lets you look up civil, probate, and domestic relations cases in Drew County. That can help when a marriage record ties back to a divorce, a name change, or a probate case.
The main Drew County Arkansas government site links out to the other county offices, which is helpful when your records request covers more than just the marriage license.
From the main site you can reach the Circuit Clerk, the Assessor, the Tax Collector, and other county offices in one place.
Cities in Drew County
Monticello is the county seat and the largest city in Drew County. Wilmar, Tillar, Winchester, and Jerome are the other small cities. None of them hit the threshold for a dedicated city page on this site, so couples from any of them apply at the same County Clerk in Monticello. The clerk's office at 210 South Main Street sits a short walk from the old courthouse square.
Drew County also neighbors a few rural counties with small populations. Residents of any of those nearby counties can come in and apply like any Drew County resident, because Arkansas has no residency rule for marriage licenses.
Nearby Counties
If the marriage license you're after isn't on file in Drew County, try one of the counties next door. A quick call to a nearby clerk can save a second trip.