Monroe County Marriage License Search

The Monroe County Clerk in Clarendon issues every Monroe County marriage license and keeps the marriage license records on file. Monroe County uses a combined Circuit-County Clerk office, which means one elected official runs both the marriage license side and the court records side. This page walks through that office, the $60 state fee, the ID checklist, and the search options, so you can find the right contact and pull a marriage license record in Monroe County, Arkansas.

Monroe County Clerk for Marriage License

The Monroe County Clerk's office sits at 123 Madison Street, Clarendon, Arkansas 72029. The phone line is 870-747-3632. The office issues marriage licenses, handles voter registration, keeps court records, and serves as the ex-officio recorder for the county. That last role means the clerk also records deeds, mortgages, and liens.

Monroe County is one of the Arkansas counties that elects a combined Circuit-County Clerk. Voters pick one person to handle both sets of duties, which is common in rural counties with smaller populations. A single phone call to 870-747-3632 reaches both the marriage license desk and the court records side of the office.

The county's combined-office set-up is explained in a short guide from the state's cooperative extension service.

The UAEX article shown above covers the combined clerk office rule, which matters when you're calling about an old Monroe County marriage license record and the court file for the same couple.

How to Apply for a Monroe County Marriage License

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

The fee is $60. Call the clerk at 870-747-3632 to confirm the payment methods the office accepts. Most Arkansas counties take cash, and many take cards with a small added fee. The license is issued on the spot for adults, and there is no waiting period or blood test under state law.

If either 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 photo ID, and sign a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. The mandatory 5 business day wait applies for any 17-year-old. Anyone under 17 may apply only through a narrow court review at § 9-11-103.

Bring this to the window:

• Photo ID for each party
• Social Security number
• $60 fee
• Divorce decree or death certificate if you were married before
• Notarized parental affidavit for a 17-year-old

Monroe County Marriage License Rules

Monroe 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 for 60 days from the date of issue. A Monroe County marriage license is valid anywhere in Arkansas, so the ceremony can happen in Clarendon, Brinkley, or any other part of the state.

After the ceremony, 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 state rules. The applicants, not the officiant, are responsible for getting the license back to the clerk's office.

Under § 9-11-213, a short list of officials and clergy can perform the wedding. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk before they sign a Monroe County marriage license. The clerk keeps a minister registry, and the standard recording fee across Arkansas is $5.

Covenant marriage is the second type of marriage under Arkansas law. Arkansas Code § 9-11-803 spells out the premarital counseling rule and the declaration of intent that must be signed. The clerk files the declaration with the marriage license record.

Certified Copies of Monroe County Marriage Licenses

A certified copy of a Monroe County marriage license runs around $5 at the county office. The copy carries the clerk's raised seal. Use it for a Social Security name change, a passport file, a pension claim, or an immigration record. A plain photocopy has no legal weight.

Pick up the copy in person at the clerk's office. Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter with both parties' names, the marriage date if you know it, a phone number, a money order for the copy fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call 870-747-3632 first to confirm the current process.

For a state-level copy of the marriage coupon, the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records holds a central index from 1917 forward. The state fee is $10 per copy. Order by walk-in, mail, or online through VitalChek. VitalChek charges a processing fee on top of the state fee.

Monroe County Marriage License Search

Monroe County is not in the CIS Arkansas statewide portal at this time. The best way to run a Monroe County marriage license search is to call the combined clerk's office at 870-747-3632. Staff can search by either party's name or by a date range. In-person visits at the Clarendon office are another option, and a quick look-up at the window is free.

Court cases can be pulled through the Arkansas CourtConnect case search. Monroe County is part of the 17th Judicial District. Use CourtConnect to trace civil, probate, and domestic relations cases tied to an older marriage record.

For family history work, FamilySearch has a microfilmed Monroe County marriage index covering 1850 to 1951. The index is a good place to start when you know the decade but not the exact year. Older records pre-dating the state's 1917 index live only at the clerk in Clarendon.

The reference page above lists the clerk's address and phone line, which is a quick double-check before you call for a marriage license record.

Secondary Sources and Related Records

The Association of Arkansas Counties directory is the easiest way to find a phone number for another county clerk if a license was pulled outside Monroe County. The vitalrec Arkansas overview is another useful reference for county and state level vital records.

For birth and death records tied to a marriage file, the Arkansas Vital Records certificates page is the primary state agency. You'll often need a birth certificate from the same office when you're piecing together a full family record.

The arkansasgenealogy.com guide explains which records live at the county level and which sit at the state level, and which records from the 1800s are only on microfilm. It's a good first read for anyone new to Arkansas marriage license research.

Nearby Counties

If a license wasn't pulled in Monroe County, try a neighbor. Couples in the Delta often apply in the next county over, based on the wedding site or the officiant's home county.