Access Nevada County Marriage License

The Nevada County Clerk in Prescott issues every Nevada County marriage license and keeps the records on file. Couples from anywhere in the county, and from out of state, can apply in Prescott and hold the ceremony anywhere in Arkansas. This page breaks down the clerk's $60 fee, the ID rules, the return window, and the search options, so you can plan a clean visit to the clerk or track down an older Nevada County marriage license record without wasted drives.

Nevada County Clerk for Marriage License

The Nevada County Clerk's office is in Prescott, Arkansas. The clerk issues marriage licenses, runs elections, and handles voter registration and DBA filings. Nevada County has a combined Sheriff-Tax Collector office, but the county clerk is still a separate elected post that handles marriage licenses on its own.

The clerk keeps marriage records for the county going back to 1871. Older books sit at the Prescott office. The clerk can pull a record by name or by the date of marriage, and the staff can issue a certified copy for a small fee. Call before you drive out, since small counties sometimes shift hours for training days or holidays.

The FamilySearch Nevada County wiki has a short summary of the clerk's role and a list of the records the office keeps on file.

The archives.com Nevada County page shown above names the clerk as the record keeper for marriages, which matches the state's standard setup for Nevada County marriage license records.

How to Apply for a Nevada County Marriage License

Both parties must appear at the clerk's office in Prescott together to apply. 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, set by Arkansas Code § 9-11-201. Call the clerk in advance to confirm the payment methods the office accepts. Most Arkansas counties take cash and cards, with a small added card fee. Personal checks are not accepted. The license is issued on the spot for adults. There is 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. The clerk keeps a copy on file with the marriage license record. For a 17-year-old applicant, both parents must be present with 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.

Bring this to the clerk:

• Photo ID for each party
• Social Security number
• $60 fee
• Divorce decree or death certificate if you were married before
• Parental consent and notary if a party is 17

Nevada County Marriage License Rules

Nevada 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 clerk that issued it, used or not. A late return can bring a $100 fine under state rules.

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 before they sign a Nevada County marriage license. A minister registered in any Arkansas county can sign the license once it's issued.

Covenant marriage is the second type of marriage in the state. Under Arkansas Code § 9-11-803, a couple who pick a covenant marriage 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 Nevada County Marriage Licenses

A certified copy of a Nevada County marriage license costs around $5 at the county clerk. The copy carries the clerk's raised seal and is what you'll need for a Social Security name change, a passport update, a pension claim, or an immigration file. A plain photocopy has no legal weight.

Pick the copy up in person at the clerk in Prescott. Mail requests are accepted. Write a short letter with both parties' names, the date of the marriage if known, a phone number, a money order for the copy fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the clerk first to confirm the current 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, phone, or online through VitalChek, the state's official online vendor.

For a quick reference on Nevada County records, see the N-O county list at vitalrec.

The vitalrec N-O page shown above points to the county clerk as the record keeper for marriages, which matches what the state's central index shows for Nevada County.

Nevada County Marriage License Search

Nevada County is not listed in the CIS Arkansas statewide portal, so the clerk's office in Prescott is the main stop for a Nevada County marriage license search. Call the clerk and ask about a record by name or date. In-person look-ups at the office are usually free. A certified copy carries the $5 fee.

Court cases can be pulled through the Arkansas CourtConnect case search. Nevada County is in the 8th South Judicial District. Use CourtConnect to trace divorce cases, name changes, and probate files tied to an older marriage license record.

For family history work, FamilySearch indexes older Arkansas marriage records and may point to the right book and page for Nevada County. The county clerk's older marriage books go back to 1871. Very early records pre-date the state's 1917 central index, so the clerk's books are the only source for 1800s files.

The combined Sheriff-Tax Collector post in Nevada County is covered in the state's extension report.

The UAEX report shown above gives the broader picture on which Arkansas counties use combined offices, which is useful context when you're calling different counties for marriage license records.

Secondary Sources and Related Records

The Association of Arkansas Counties county directory is the fastest way to find contact info for any county clerk in the state. The vitalrec Arkansas vital records page is a good second reference.

For a plain-language overview of Arkansas marriage law and the forms to bring to a clerk, the Arkansas Genealogy vital records guide is a useful read. It covers which records live at the county level and which sit at the state level.

If a divorce followed the marriage, the Arkansas Judiciary website has court rules and forms that work across every county in the state. The Circuit Clerk in Nevada County files the actual divorce case, and CourtConnect shows the public docket.

Nearby Counties

If a license wasn't pulled in Nevada County, try a neighbor. Couples in southwest Arkansas often apply in the next county over, based on the wedding site.