Find Marriage License in Izard County
The Izard County Clerk in Melbourne issues the Izard County marriage license and keeps the returned license on file for the county. Couples who plan to wed in north-central Arkansas apply at this office, and anyone who needs to look up an older Izard County marriage license record starts at the same clerk. The county is one of the oldest in the state, with marriage records that reach back to 1826. This page walks through the clerk, the fee, the ID rules, and where to look for a record online.
Izard County Marriage License Overview
Izard County Clerk for Marriage License
Izard County is a small rural county in north-central Arkansas. The County Clerk issues every marriage license and keeps the record after the ceremony. The Izard County Courthouse sits on Main Street in Melbourne, AR 72556. The main courthouse number is 870-368-4316. Call ahead before you drive, since the office may close early on some days and hours can shift.
The county was formed on October 27, 1825 from Independence County, and the county clerk has held marriage license records from 1826 forward. Melbourne has been the county seat for most of the county's history. The clerk also handles probate, voter registration, and minister credential filings, so the marriage license window is part of a mix of daily work.
The Association of Arkansas Counties directory for Izard County lists the clerk, the circuit clerk, the county judge, and the courthouse address with direct numbers.
The directory page is a handy stop when you need to call a specific office at the Melbourne courthouse and don't want to dial the main line.
How To Apply for an Izard County Marriage License
Both parties show up at the Melbourne clerk's office together. There is no appointment, so plan a walk-in visit during regular hours. Each party shows a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. A state driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work for proof of age and identity.
The Izard County marriage license fee is $60. That matches the state rate set in Arkansas Code § 9-11-201. The clerk takes cash, and a card is often accepted with a small extra surcharge. Call the office first if you want to pay by card.
Applicants 18 or older sign the application and walk out with the license the same day. No blood test is required. No residency rule applies, so out-of-state couples may apply in Izard County and hold the wedding anywhere in Arkansas.
A 17-year-old applicant needs both parents present, a notarized affidavit of consent, and a 5 business day wait before the license is released under § 9-11-102. No license goes to anyone under 17 except in rare court-reviewed cases under § 9-11-103.
Items to bring:
- Photo ID for each party
- Social Security number for each party
- Divorce decree or spouse's death certificate for any prior marriage
- $60 fee in cash or a card
- Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17
Izard County Marriage License Rules
Izard County follows the rules in Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is good anywhere in Arkansas, not just inside Izard County. A couple may use an Izard County license for a wedding at a ranch near Calico Rock, a church in Mountain View, or a venue in any other county in the state. The signed license must come back to the Melbourne office, used or not, inside 60 days.
Under § 9-11-213, officiants include any current judge of a court of record, any regularly ordained minister or priest, the Governor, a mayor of a city or town, justices of the peace, and other officers named in the statute. A minister must record credentials with a county clerk before signing the license. Izard County keeps the minister credential file at the same clerk office.
There is no residency rule and no blood test. Arkansas law does not require witnesses at the wedding, which lets small couples hold a private ceremony with just the officiant.
Couples who want a covenant marriage pick that option on the application under Arkansas Code § 9-11-803. The extra steps include premarital counseling and a signed declaration of intent. The clerk provides the form with the standard license application.
Note: Small counties can run on shorter hours. A quick call to 870-368-4316 before the trip to Melbourne saves a wasted drive to the courthouse.
Certified Copies of Izard County Marriage License
A certified copy from the Izard County Clerk carries the seal of the office. Social Security, the State Department for a passport change, and other offices ask for a certified copy, not a plain copy. The clerk issues copies at the Melbourne window or by mail. Call the office first to confirm the copy fee and the mail steps.
For a mail order, send a signed written request to the Izard County Clerk at the courthouse on Main Street, Melbourne, AR 72556. Include both parties' names, the date of the marriage if known, a phone number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of the certified copy.
The state also keeps a short coupon of each Arkansas marriage license from 1917 forward. Order the state copy from the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records for $10. The state's online partner VitalChek is another option for an online order.
For older family history research, the FamilySearch wiki for Izard County lists what records exist for the county and where to look for the early years before the state index started.
Izard County Marriage License Search
Izard County does not currently take part in the CIS Arkansas statewide marriage search portal. That means the fastest way to look up an Izard County marriage license is a call or a walk-in to the clerk in Melbourne. The staff will search the index by name and date.
The Arkansas CourtConnect system is a related tool. It shows civil, probate, and domestic relations court cases from many Arkansas trial courts. CourtConnect does not hold marriage license records, but it can help trace divorce filings and name change orders tied to a past marriage.
For older marriage license records not yet in a digital system, the clerk can pull a paper book from the vault. Bring the names and an approximate year to speed the search. The staff is used to helping family history researchers, estate workers, and long-time residents who need to confirm an old family wedding.
Izard County Marriage License Resources
Melbourne is the only city in Izard County with the clerk's office. Small towns in the county, such as Calico Rock, Horseshoe Bend, Oxford, and Sage, all apply at the same Izard County Clerk office at the Melbourne courthouse. There is no separate city clerk for marriage.
For cross-county help, the Association of Arkansas Counties directory lists every clerk in the state. If a license turns out not to be in Izard County, the clerk in Melbourne can often point you to the right office next door.
The Arkansas Judiciary site at arcourts.gov lists standard forms for name change, annulment, and other court-led matters. The clerk does not provide legal advice, so for those questions you'll want the court or a private attorney.
Nearby Counties
If an Izard County marriage license search comes up empty, try one of the counties next door. The clerk in Melbourne can often point you to the right clerk.