Marion County Marriage License Records

Marion County sits in the Ozark hill country of northern Arkansas. The county seat is Yellville. Marion is one of a handful of Arkansas counties with a combined Circuit-County Clerk office, so one elected official covers both the marriage license and court records work. This page walks through that combined clerk office, the state-set $60 fee, the ID checklist, and the search options, so you can pull a Marion County marriage license record without guessing which desk to call.

Marion County Clerk for Marriage License

Marion County has a combined Circuit-County Clerk office. Voters elect one person to carry out the duties of both the circuit clerk and the county clerk. The same office issues marriage licenses, runs elections, and keeps the court records. The combined office sits in the courthouse in Yellville, Arkansas. The FamilySearch Marion County wiki lists the courthouse address and the phone line for the combined office.

Because the offices are joined, a single phone call reaches both sets of records. The county clerk side handles the marriage license, voter registration cards, DBA filings, and minister credentials. The circuit clerk side keeps court records and acts as ex-officio recorder, which covers deeds, mortgages, and liens. You'll get a faster answer by naming the record type you need when you call.

For a clear summary of what the combined clerk does, see the state's cooperative extension overview.

The UAEX cooperative extension article explains which Arkansas counties, including Marion, use a combined clerk office instead of two separate ones.

How to Apply for a Marion County Marriage License

Both parties must appear at the clerk's office in Yellville together. Bring a valid, non-expired, government photo ID for each party. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all work. Each party also needs a Social Security number for state reporting.

The fee is $60, set by state law. Most Arkansas counties take cash and cards, with a small card surcharge in some counties. Call the clerk to confirm the payment options on the day you plan to apply. The license is issued on the spot for adults, with no waiting period and no blood test.

If either party was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the prior spouse's death certificate. For a 17-year-old applicant, both parents must be present and sign a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. The mandatory 5 business day wait applies for underage applicants. No one under 17 may apply outside the narrow circuit court review at § 9-11-103.

Marion County Marriage License Rules

Marion County follows the statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. Under § 9-11-201, the clerk of the county court is the officer who issues the license. The license is good anywhere in Arkansas for 60 days from the date of issue. Marriage records are kept permanently by the county clerk under the statewide County Clerks Procedures Manual.

Under § 9-11-213, a short list of people can solemnize a wedding. The list covers the governor, judges, mayors, justices of the peace, and any regularly ordained minister. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk before they sign a Marion County marriage license. Clerical licenses and minister credentials are kept on file permanently under the state's retention rules.

Some parts of the fee go back to the county for records work. The Association of Arkansas Counties FAQ explains how $2.00 of a $13.00 additional marriage license fee goes into the county clerk's cost fund for the automated records system. In combined offices, the clerk has to pick between the county clerk cost fund or the recorder's cost fund for that money.

The FAQ page above covers fee distribution, clerk duties, and what the combined office keeps in the automated marriage license records system.

Certified Copies of Marion County Marriage Licenses

A certified copy of a Marion County marriage license costs around $5 at the county office. The copy carries the clerk's raised seal and is the official form you need for a name change at Social Security, a passport file, a pension claim, or an immigration record.

Pick the copy up in person at the combined clerk office in Yellville. Mail requests are accepted. Write a short letter with both parties' full names, the marriage date if you know it, a phone number, a check or money order for the copy fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the clerk first to confirm the fee and the right mailing address.

For a state-level copy of the marriage coupon, the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records keeps a central index from January 1917. The state fee is $10 per copy. Order by walk-in, mail, or the online portal through VitalChek. Turnaround through VitalChek runs 7 to 14 days plus shipping.

Marion County Marriage License Search

Marion County is not on the current list of counties in the CIS Arkansas statewide portal, so the combined clerk is your main stop for a Marion County marriage license search. Call the office to look up a record by name or by date. In-person searches are usually free, with the $5 fee only if you want a certified copy.

Court cases can be pulled through the Arkansas CourtConnect case search. Marion County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit. CourtConnect shows civil, probate, and domestic relations cases from many courts in the state. Use it as a side tool when a marriage license search also calls for a divorce or probate file.

For family history work, FamilySearch indexes older Marion County marriage records back to 1888. Those indexes point to the right book and page at the clerk. A notebook of book and page numbers speeds up your visit.

Secondary Sources and Related Records

The Association of Arkansas Counties county directory lists contact info for every county clerk in the state. Use it when a license was pulled in a nearby county. The vitalrec Arkansas vital records page ties county offices to state vital records in one reference.

For older records, FamilySearch's Marion County genealogy wiki has microfilm notes for the marriage books. The wiki also lists the neighboring counties, which helps when a couple lived near the line and may have applied a county over.

The Arkansas Genealogy vital records overview is another solid reference. It summarizes which records live at the county and which sit with the Arkansas Department of Health. Read it first if you're new to Arkansas marriage license research.

Nearby Counties

If a Marion County marriage license isn't on file, try a neighbor. Couples in the Ozarks often apply in the next county over, based on where the ceremony is planned.