Search Logan County Marriage License Records
Logan County is one of ten Arkansas counties with two county seats. The Northern District sits in Paris, and the Southern District sits in Booneville. Each district clerk issues Logan County marriage license paperwork and keeps the records for that side of the county. This page lays out both offices, the state fee, and the online search options so you can find the right clerk and pull a marriage license record without back and forth between the two courthouses.
Logan County Marriage License Overview
Logan County Clerk Offices
Logan County splits into two districts by law. The Northern District, also called the Eastern District in older records, has its clerk in Paris. The Southern District, sometimes called the Western District, has its clerk in Booneville. You can apply at either office, and the license is good anywhere in Arkansas, no matter which side of the county you pick.
Both offices follow the same state fee and the same ID rules. Staff at one office cannot always pull records from the other office's books, so it helps to know which side of the county held the original ceremony before you call. The clerk in Paris handles records for the Eastern District, while the clerk in Booneville handles the Western District. Records for the county go back to 1875 in the older volumes at the clerk.
The Logan County genealogy page on FamilySearch has a short history of each courthouse, which helps when you're tracking old marriage license records for Logan County.
The page above lists the offices that hold marriage, divorce, birth, and death records, so you can aim your request at the right desk on your first call.
How to Apply for a Logan County Marriage License
Both parties must appear together at one of the two clerks to apply. Pick the office that fits your travel. Bring a valid, non-expired, government photo ID. That means a state driver's license, state ID card, US passport, or military ID. Each party also needs a Social Security number for state reporting.
The license fee is $60, set by Arkansas Code § 9-11-201. Pay at the window. Most counties take cash, and many take a card with a small added fee. Call the district clerk in advance to confirm the payment methods, since small offices sometimes run cash only for the day. The clerk issues the license on the spot for adults. No blood test is needed. There is no waiting period for people 18 or older.
If a party was married before, bring a certified divorce decree or the prior spouse's death certificate. For a 17-year-old, both parents must be present and sign a notarized affidavit of consent under § 9-11-102, and the clerk imposes the state's mandatory 5 business day wait. Under § 9-11-103, no one under 17 may apply outside a narrow circuit court review. The narrow review is used only in rare cases.
Note: If you live close to the county line, you can pick the Paris office or the Booneville office based on drive time. The license is still good anywhere in Arkansas once it's issued.
Logan County Marriage License Rules
Logan County follows the statewide rules in Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is good for 60 days from the date of issue. After the wedding, the signed license must be returned to the same clerk that issued it, used or not. A late return can bring a $100 fine.
Under § 9-11-213, the list of people who can solemnize a wedding covers judges, mayors, justices of the peace, and any regularly ordained minister. Ministers must file their credentials with a county clerk before they sign a Logan County marriage license. If a minister is registered in any Arkansas county, they can perform a ceremony for a license pulled from either the Paris or the Booneville office. The cost to record minister credentials in most Arkansas counties is $5.
Covenant marriage is also offered under Arkansas Code § 9-11-803. Couples who pick a covenant marriage must first take authorized premarital counseling and sign a declaration of intent before the license is issued. The clerk keeps the declaration on file with the marriage license record.
Logan County Marriage License Search
Logan County is one of the counties taking part in the CIS Arkansas statewide marriage license search. Both the North and South districts are listed in the portal, which is a nice advantage over other two-district counties. You can search by either party's name and by a date range for the marriage date, the issue date, or the recorded date. The tool is free to use.
A direct link to the Logan North district search sits at the Logan North CIS portal. Pick the opposite district from the drop-down if the license was pulled in Booneville. The portal lists the couple's names, the issue date, and the book and page number. A certified copy still has to come from the clerk, but the portal saves time when you already know the date range.
The portal shown above pulls records straight from the clerk's system, so the results line up with what you'd see if you called the Paris or Booneville office in person.
For records before 1917, the state index does not help, since the state only started collecting marriage coupons in January of that year. The clerk's older marriage books at both courthouses are the main source, and FamilySearch has some older indexes that point to the right book and page. A fire or storage issue can affect very old records, so confirm a record with the clerk before you pay for a copy.
Certified Copies of Logan County Marriage Licenses
A certified copy carries the clerk's raised seal and is what you'll need for a Social Security name change, a passport file, or a pension claim. County clerks in Arkansas charge about $5 for a certified copy. Pick up the copy at the district office where the license was filed. If the original license was issued in Paris, that's where the certified copy comes from.
Mail requests are accepted. Send a short letter with both parties' names, the marriage date if you know it, a phone number, a check or money order for the $5 copy fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Address the letter to the correct district clerk. Mixing the two offices up will slow the request down.
For a state copy, the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records keeps a central index from 1917. The state fee is $10 per copy. You can walk in, mail an order, or go through VitalChek, which is the state's official online vendor.
For a broader look at Arkansas vital records, see the L-county listing at vitalrec.
The page above ties county-level marriage license records to the state-level vital records index, which is helpful when the file you need sits in both places.
Related Records in Logan County
A marriage license record often links to other files. Divorce cases are handled by the Circuit Clerk in each district. Court cases can be pulled from the Arkansas CourtConnect system. Logan County sits in the 15th Judicial Circuit, and both districts file cases through the state's case management system.
Archives.com has a Logan County vital records page that lists the right offices for birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Use it as a quick reference. For a list of every county clerk in the state, the Association of Arkansas Counties directory is the fastest way to find the right phone number.
If you're dealing with older records, the FamilySearch Logan County wiki has a solid summary of the microfilmed marriage books by decade. That's a good starting spot for family history work.
Nearby Counties
If a Logan County marriage license isn't on file in Paris or Booneville, try one of the next-door counties. Couples sometimes apply at the office closest to the wedding site rather than the office closest to home.