Lafayette County Marriage License Records

The Lafayette County Clerk in Lewisville issues the Lafayette County marriage license and keeps the returned license on file. Couples who plan to wed in this small southwest Arkansas county start here, and anyone who needs to pull an older Lafayette County marriage license record goes to the same clerk. The county has marriage records from 1848 forward, and there are no known courthouse disasters that destroyed files. This page lays out the clerk, the fee, the ID rules, and where to look for a record online.

Lafayette County Clerk for Marriage License

The Lafayette County Courthouse sits at 2 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845. The main courthouse number is 870-921-4633. The County Clerk runs the marriage license office at the courthouse, issues every license, and keeps the file after the wedding. The clerk also handles voter registration, probate, and minister credential filings.

Lafayette County was formed on October 15, 1827 from Hempstead County. Lewisville has been the county seat for much of the county's history. The County Clerk has held marriage records from 1848 forward. The Circuit Clerk, in the same courthouse, keeps divorce and land records.

The Association of Arkansas Counties directory for Lafayette County lists the clerk, the circuit clerk, and the county judge. That page is a handy first stop for a quick call before you head to Lewisville.

The directory page is a good quick reference when you need the fax line or the office room number before a trip to the Lewisville courthouse.

How To Apply for a Lafayette County Marriage License

Both parties come to the Lewisville clerk's office together. There is no appointment, and the application process is a walk-in. Each party shows a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. A state driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. An original birth certificate is also accepted by most Arkansas clerks.

The license fee is $60, set by state law at Arkansas Code § 9-11-201. Cash is always accepted. A card may be accepted with a small extra surcharge, so call 870-921-4633 if you plan to pay by card.

Applicants 18 or older sign the application and pick up the license the same day. No blood test is required. No residency rule applies, so out-of-state couples may apply at the Lafayette County clerk and hold the wedding anywhere in Arkansas.

If one party is 17, both parents must be present and sign a notarized affidavit of consent under § 9-11-102. The clerk imposes a 5 business day wait before the license is released. No license goes to anyone under 17 except under a rare court-reviewed path at § 9-11-103.

Items to bring:

• Valid photo ID for each party
• Social Security number for each party
• Prior divorce decree or spouse's death certificate if you were married before
• $60 fee
• Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17

Lafayette County Marriage License Rules

Lafayette County follows the rules in Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is good anywhere in Arkansas. The signed license must come back to the same Lewisville clerk's office, used or not, inside 60 days. Failure to return the license can bring a $100 fine.

Officiants are set by § 9-11-213. That list covers any current judge of a court of record, the Governor, any ordained minister or priest, mayors of cities and towns, justices of the peace, and other officers named in the statute. A minister must record credentials with a county clerk before signing the license.

Arkansas does not require a blood test. There is no required witness at the ceremony. The state's rules on age, ID, and the return of the license apply in Lafayette County in the same way they apply in the larger Arkansas counties.

Couples who want a covenant marriage pick that option on the application under § 9-11-803. The extra steps include premarital counseling, a signed declaration of intent, and a notary witness. The clerk has the covenant form at the window.

Certified Copies of Lafayette County Marriage License

A certified copy from the Lafayette County Clerk carries the seal of the office. It is the copy Social Security, the State Department for a passport change, and other offices ask for. The clerk can make a copy at the Lewisville window or by mail.

For a mail order, send a signed written request to the Lafayette County Clerk at 2 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845. Include both parties' names, the date of the marriage if known, a phone number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return.

The state also keeps a short coupon of each Arkansas marriage license from 1917 forward. Order the state-level 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 pre-1917 family research, the FamilySearch guide for Lafayette County lists what records exist and where to look for the older family trees. The county's unbroken record chain helps when you need to look back to the mid-1800s.

Lafayette County Marriage License Search

Lafayette County does not currently take part in the CIS Arkansas statewide marriage search portal. A call or a walk-in to the Lewisville clerk is the main way to look up a Lafayette County marriage license. The staff will search the index with the names and a rough year.

For court cases tied to a past marriage, the Arkansas CourtConnect public case search is a useful second stop. It pulls civil, probate, and domestic relations cases from many Arkansas trial courts. CourtConnect does not hold the marriage license paper, but it can help trace a divorce filing or a name change order.

The clerk's staff is used to helping family history researchers and estate workers who need to look through older paper books. Bring the names and an estimated year of the wedding to speed the search.

Lafayette County Marriage License Resources

Lewisville is the county seat and the home of the Lafayette County Clerk. Small towns in the county like Stamps, Bradley, and Buckner all apply at the same Lewisville clerk's office. There is no separate city clerk for marriage licenses.

For cross-county help, the Association of Arkansas Counties directory lists every clerk in the state. That's the right tool when you're not sure which county clerk holds the license.

The Arkansas Judiciary site at arcourts.gov lists standard court forms for name change, annulment, and divorce. The clerk does not give legal advice, so those questions go to the courts or a private attorney.

Lafayette County Marriage License Old Records

Lafayette County has one of the longer unbroken marriage chains in south Arkansas. Records reach back to 1848. There are no known courthouse fires or floods that wiped out the books. That makes the Lewisville clerk a strong source for older family research.

Older Lafayette County marriage license records are in bound ledger books. A hand search for a 19th century record can take a bit of time. Give the clerk a date range and the full names of both parties. A phone call to 870-921-4633 can set the staff on the right book before your visit.

Records from 1917 onward are also on file at the state level under Arkansas Code § 20-18-305. The state holds only the short coupon, not the full license with the officiant line. For pre 1917 Lafayette County marriage license records, the Lewisville clerk is the only source. Those old records are worth the extra time since they often name parents, witnesses, and the officiant.

Nearby Counties

If a Lafayette County marriage license search comes up empty, try one of the counties next door. The Lewisville clerk can often point you to the right office.