Lee County Marriage License Search

The Lee County Clerk in Marianna issues the Lee County marriage license and keeps the file for the county. Couples in east Arkansas start at this office, and anyone who needs to pull an older Lee County marriage license record goes to the same clerk. Marriage records in Lee County reach back to 1873, the year the county was set up. This page walks through the clerk's address, the fee, the ID rules, and the ways to search for a record on file.

Lee County Clerk for Marriage License

The Lee County Courthouse sits at 15 E Chestnut St, Marianna, AR 72360. The main courthouse number is 870-295-7715. The County Clerk runs the marriage license office, issues every license, and keeps the file after the wedding. The clerk also handles voter registration, probate, and minister credential filings.

Lee County was formed on April 17, 1873 from Phillips, Monroe, and Crittenden counties. Marianna has been the county seat from the start. The County Clerk has marriage records from 1873 forward, and the Circuit Clerk keeps divorce and court records in the same courthouse.

The Association of Arkansas Counties directory for Lee County lists the clerk, the circuit clerk, and the county judge with direct numbers.

The directory page is a useful quick reference for the fax line and the clerk's office hours before you drive to Marianna.

How To Apply for a Lee County Marriage License

Both parties come to the Marianna clerk's office together. There is no appointment, and the application 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 for proof of age and identity.

The fee is $60. That's the state rate set under Arkansas Code § 9-11-201. Cash is always accepted. A card may be accepted with a small extra surcharge, so call 870-295-7715 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. No residency rule.

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:

• Photo ID for each party
• Social Security number for each party
• Prior divorce decree or spouse's death certificate
• $60 fee
• Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17

Lee County Marriage License Rules

Lee County follows the rules in Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is good anywhere in Arkansas, not just inside Lee County. The signed license must come back to the same Marianna 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. The 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. Arkansas does not require witnesses at the ceremony. Out-of-state couples are welcome to apply at the Lee County clerk and hold the wedding elsewhere in the state.

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 county clerk has the covenant form at the window along with the regular license application.

Certified Copies of Lee County Marriage License

A certified copy from the Lee County Clerk carries the seal of the office. Social Security name changes, passport updates, pension claims, and immigration paperwork all ask for a certified copy, not a plain copy. The clerk issues copies at the Marianna window or by mail.

Mail a signed written request to the Lee County Clerk at 15 E Chestnut St, Marianna, AR 72360. 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 copy.

For a state-level copy of the marriage coupon, the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records holds the central index from 1917 forward. The state fee is $10. The state's online partner VitalChek is another option for an online order.

For pre-1917 Lee County marriage license research, the FamilySearch guide for Lee County lists what records exist and where to look for older family trees. The county's marriage records chain starts in 1873, so 19th century research often needs church records and land records in addition to the clerk's vault.

Lee County Marriage License Search

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

For court cases tied to a past Lee County marriage, use the Arkansas CourtConnect system. CourtConnect shows civil, probate, and domestic relations cases for many Arkansas trial courts, including Lee County. It is a good second stop for tracing divorce filings or name change orders tied to a past marriage.

Family history researchers and estate workers often work with the clerk's staff directly. Bring the names and an estimated year of the wedding to speed the search through the older paper books.

Lee County Marriage License Resources

Marianna is the county seat and the home of the Lee County Clerk. Small towns in the county like Aubrey, Moro, and Haynes all apply at the same Marianna 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 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.

Lee County Marriage License Return and Recording

Lee County follows the standard state return rule. The signed license goes back to the same Marianna clerk's office inside 60 days. The clerk then stamps the license as recorded, indexes it in the county marriage books, and mails the short coupon to the state Department of Health under § 9-11-201.

A couple who picks a venue outside the county should plan for the return trip. A signed license mailed back to Marianna is fine. Send it with tracking so the paper does not get lost. The officiant can also sign and mail the license, which is common when the wedding is at a church or venue in another town.

Certified copies can be picked up at the window after the license is recorded. That usually takes a few business days from the day the signed license comes back. For a rush copy, the clerk can sometimes pull it the same day. A call to 870-295-7715 will confirm the timing. The certified copy is the one Social Security and most banks want to see. A plain photocopy is not valid for name changes or legal use.

Nearby Counties

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