Mississippi County Marriage License Records
Mississippi County is a two-district county in the northeast corner of Arkansas. The Chickasawba District seat is Blytheville, and the Osceola District seat is Osceola. Each district keeps its own set of marriage license records, so the location of the ceremony can point you to the right office. This page walks through both clerks, the state $60 fee, and the search steps so you can find the right Mississippi County marriage license record without driving from one courthouse to the other.
Mississippi County Marriage License Overview
Mississippi County Clerk Offices
Mississippi County runs two courthouse districts by law. The Chickasawba District office sits at PO Box 1498, Blytheville, AR 72316-1498. Hours run 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. The phone line is 870-762-2332, with a fax at 870-762-8148. The Osceola District office sits at PO Box 466, Osceola, AR 72370, with a phone line at 870-563-6471. You can apply at either office, and the license is good anywhere in Arkansas once it's issued.
Both offices follow the same state fee and the same ID rules. Records for the Chickasawba District stay in Blytheville, and records for the Osceola District stay in Osceola. If you're not sure which district held the ceremony, start with a call to either clerk. Staff can often point you to the right book if you know the rough date.
The Mississippi County government site is a good starting point if you need a full directory.
The page above lists the two district seats side by side, which makes it easier to plan a call or a visit when you're not sure which district clerk to reach first.
How to Apply for a Mississippi County Marriage License
Both parties must appear at the clerk's office together at either district. Bring a valid, non-expired, government photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, US passport, or military ID all work. Each party needs a Social Security number for state reporting.
The fee is $60, set by Arkansas Code § 9-11-201. Call the district clerk in advance to confirm what forms of payment the office takes that day. Most Arkansas counties accept cash and cards, with a card fee on top. Adults get the license on the spot. No waiting period and no blood test.
If a party was married before, bring a certified divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate. For a 17-year-old applicant, both parents must be present, bring ID, and sign a notarized affidavit of consent under § 9-11-102. The mandatory 5 business day wait applies for any 17-year-old. No one under 17 may apply outside the narrow court review at § 9-11-103.
Note: Pick the district office by drive time. The license works the same whether it's issued in Blytheville or Osceola.
Mississippi County Marriage License Rules
Mississippi 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 ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the same district clerk that issued it, used or not. A late return can bring a $100 fine.
Under § 9-11-213, a short list of people can solemnize a wedding. The list covers judges, mayors, justices of the peace, the governor, and any regularly ordained minister. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk in Arkansas before they can sign a Mississippi County marriage license. The clerk keeps a minister registry on file.
Covenant marriage is the second type of marriage in Arkansas. Under § 9-11-803, the couple must take authorized premarital counseling and sign a declaration of intent before the clerk issues the license. The grounds for a covenant divorce are tighter than a regular divorce.
Certified Copies of Mississippi County Marriage Licenses
A certified copy of a Mississippi County marriage license runs about $5 at the county clerk. Pick up the copy at the district office that holds the original license. If the license was issued in Blytheville, that's where the 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 fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Confirm the fee and the mailing address with the clerk before you send the request. The Chickasawba and Osceola offices are separate mailing addresses.
For a state-level copy, 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 at the Little Rock office, by mail, by phone, or online through VitalChek. VitalChek adds a processing fee on top of the state fee.
Older Mississippi County records sit in a microfilmed set at FamilySearch.
The page above points to the FamilySearch catalog entry for 1901-1951 marriage records, which includes the bond, affidavit, license, and certificate for older files in both districts.
Mississippi County Marriage License Search
Mississippi County is not on the list of taking-part counties in the CIS Arkansas statewide portal, so each district clerk is your main stop for a Mississippi County marriage license search. Call the Blytheville office at 870-762-2332 or the Osceola office at 870-563-6471. In-person searches at either office are usually free. Certified copies carry the $5 fee.
Court cases can be pulled through the Arkansas CourtConnect case search. Mississippi County is in the 2nd Judicial District. CourtConnect shows civil, probate, and domestic relations cases tied to many of the county's older marriage records. It's a good second stop when a marriage license search also needs a divorce file.
For family history work, FamilySearch indexes older Mississippi County marriage records. The microfilmed set covers 1901 to 1951 and includes separate indexes at the beginning of each volume, which makes it easier to find a name across both districts.
The county vital records reference at vitalrec covers the split district system.
The reference page above names the two courthouse districts and explains which office to call for a marriage record from each side of the county.
Heads up: If you only call one office and they can't find the file, call the other district. Records don't cross between Blytheville and Osceola automatically.
Secondary Sources and Related Records
The Association of Arkansas Counties directory has phone numbers for every county clerk in the state. Use it when you think a license may have been issued in a nearby county. The vitalrec Arkansas page is a quick reference for which office to call at the county and state level.
The Arkansas Vital Records certificates page explains what you can order from the state. Combine the county clerk's copy with the state coupon when you need proof for more than one record user, such as a Social Security office and an immigration file at the same time.
For genealogy work, arkansasgenealogy.com's Arkansas vital records guide is a useful reference. The site breaks down which records sit at the county and which live at the state, and which are only on microfilm.
Nearby Counties
If a license isn't on file in either Mississippi County district, try a neighbor. Couples in the Delta often apply in the next county over, based on the wedding site.