Find Marriage License in Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Clerk in Mount Ida issues every Montgomery County marriage license and keeps the marriage license records on file. Penny Black is the elected clerk. Montgomery County runs a combined Circuit-County Clerk office, which means one staff covers both the marriage license and the court records work. This page walks through the office, the $60 fee, the ID checklist, and the online search options for Montgomery County, Arkansas marriage records.

Montgomery County Clerk for Marriage License

The Montgomery County Clerk's office sits at 105 Highway 270 East, Mount Ida, Arkansas 71957. The phone line is (870) 867-3521. Clerk Penny Black handles marriage licenses, minister credentials, DBAs, voter registration, and all court filings through the combined Circuit-County Clerk office. One desk, one phone number.

Because the offices are joined, a quick phone call reaches the marriage license clerk and the court records clerk. The clerk can also search property records and pull voter registration info on the same call. When you need a Montgomery County marriage license record tied to an old divorce file, the combined office cuts out a second phone tree.

The county's own online portal gives you the short set of clerk services at a glance.

The Montgomery County online portal shown above lists the clerk, the property records search, and the contact line, which is handy when you're checking details before a visit to Mount Ida.

How to Apply for a Montgomery County Marriage License

Both parties must appear at the clerk's office in Mount Ida together. The office does not take a one-party application. 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) 867-3521 to confirm the payment methods on the day you plan to apply. Most Arkansas counties take cash and cards, with a small card fee. Personal checks are not accepted. Adults get the license the same day with no waiting period. A blood test is not required anywhere in Arkansas.

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 with 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 applicant. The narrow review at § 9-11-103 is the only path for applicants under 17.

Montgomery County Marriage License Rules

Montgomery County follows the statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. Under § 9-11-201, the clerk of the county court issues the license. The license is good anywhere in Arkansas for 60 days from the date of issue. 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 § 9-11-213, a short list of people can solemnize a wedding. The list covers judges, mayors, justices of the peace, any regularly ordained minister, and the governor. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk before they can sign a Montgomery County marriage license. A minister who is registered in any Arkansas county can sign a license pulled in Mount Ida.

Covenant marriage is the second type of marriage in Arkansas. Under Arkansas Code § 9-11-803, a couple who pick this option must take authorized premarital counseling and sign a declaration of intent. The clerk files the declaration with the marriage license record. Grounds for a divorce from a covenant marriage are narrower than a regular divorce.

Certified Copies of Montgomery County Marriage Licenses

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

Pick the copy up in person at the clerk's office. Mail requests are accepted. Include 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) 867-3521 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 holds a central index from January 1917 forward. The state fee is $10 per copy. You can walk in at the Little Rock office, mail a request, or order online through VitalChek, the state's official vendor.

Montgomery County Marriage License Search

Montgomery County is not on the list of counties in the CIS Arkansas statewide portal. The combined clerk's office in Mount Ida is the main stop for a Montgomery County marriage license search. Call (870) 867-3521 to ask about a record by name or date. In-person look-ups at the office are usually free. A certified copy still carries the $5 fee.

Court cases can be pulled through the Arkansas CourtConnect case search. Montgomery County is in the 18th East Judicial District. CourtConnect shows civil, probate, and domestic relations cases tied to an older marriage record.

For family history work, FamilySearch's Montgomery County wiki lists microfilm and index info for records back to 1848. County Clerk records are the main source for marriage license history here, and the FamilySearch index points to the right book and page.

The combined clerk rule in Arkansas is explained in a short guide from the state's cooperative extension service.

The UAEX cooperative extension article shown above explains how combined clerk offices like Montgomery County handle marriage licenses and court records under one roof.

Secondary Sources and Related Records

The Association of Arkansas Counties county directory is the fastest way to find a phone number for another county clerk if a license was pulled elsewhere. The vitalrec Arkansas vital records page is a quick reference for which office to call at the county and state level.

For birth and death records, the Arkansas Vital Records certificates page is the state agency that runs the central index. You'll often need a birth certificate when you're piecing together a full family record tied to a marriage.

The Arkansas Genealogy vital records guide is a solid reference for the split between county level and state level records. Read it first if you're new to Arkansas marriage license research.

Nearby Counties

If a license wasn't pulled in Montgomery County, try a neighbor. Couples in the Ouachita Mountains often apply in the next county over, based on where the wedding is set.