Perry County Marriage License Lookup
The Perry County Clerk's office in Perryville is the one spot that issues a Perry County marriage license. The office sits in the historic courthouse at 310 West Main Street. Staff process applications, collect the fee, and keep the full file of marriage license records on hand. This page walks through the address, hours, fee, and online tools so you can plan the trip or a records search with less back and forth. Every couple that plans to wed in the county starts here.
Perry County Marriage License Overview
Perry County Clerk Marriage License Office
The Perry County Clerk's marriage license page lists the steps for an application. The office is at 310 West Main Street, Perryville, AR 72126. Mailing address: P.O. Box 358, Perryville, AR 72126. Phone 501-889-5126. The clerk's office sits in the historic courthouse, and court itself is held in the newer court building nearby. The Perry County Circuit Court page notes this split between the old clerk's office and the new court building.
The Perry County Clerk is the official who issues a marriage license and takes the signed return once the ceremony is done. The clerk also records DBA certificates, handles voter registration, and keeps a copy of county court orders on file. One visit to this office covers most of the paper filings a couple might need at the start of married life.
The page shown above lists the application steps and the text alert service Perry County runs, which can be handy if you want office hour updates by text.
For a quick background check on the office and its phone tree, the Perry County Marriage License Office listing has the physical and mailing addresses side by side.
That page is useful if you want to mail in a copy request without first getting a full voicemail tree.
How To Apply for a Perry County Marriage License
Both parties must appear at the clerk's office together. No appointment is needed. Bring a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID for each person. A state driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID are the common forms. If the photo ID doesn't show a name change from a past divorce, bring a certified copy of the decree showing the name was restored. Under state law, both parties also give a Social Security number for the state record.
The fee is $60, set by state law. Cash is the safest bet at small county offices. A phone call first to 501-889-5126 can confirm whether Perry County takes cards. The clerk prints the license on the spot once the paperwork is signed and the fee is paid. No waiting period applies for adults. No blood test. The Perry County marriage license is good for 60 days from the issue date.
Applicants who are 17 must bring both parents, plus a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. The clerk imposes the state's 5 business day wait in that case. Parents who are divorced bring the latest custody order. The clerk cannot issue a license to anyone under 17 in most cases. A narrow pregnancy exception at § 9-11-103 sends the case to a circuit judge first. Out-of-state couples don't face extra rules since Arkansas has no residency requirement.
What to bring:
- Photo ID for each party
- Social Security numbers
- Divorce decree or prior spouse's death certificate
- Cash for the $60 fee
- Notarized parental affidavit if 17
Perry County Marriage License Rules
The Perry County Clerk follows statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is good anywhere in Arkansas, so a couple can pull the paper in Perryville and have the ceremony in Little Rock, Hot Springs, or any other town in the state. The signed license must come back to the Perry County clerk, used or not, inside 60 days. A missed return can bring a $100 fine under state law.
Under § 9-11-213, a short list of people may perform the wedding. That covers the Governor, any judge of a court of record, former Supreme Court justices, justices of the peace, ordained ministers or priests, mayors, and a few others. Ministers must register credentials with a county clerk before signing. The Perry County clerk keeps the local minister file. A quick phone call to the office is enough to confirm a pastor's status.
For a plain-English review of state marriage rules, many couples read the Craighead County marriage how-to guide, which covers the same statewide steps that apply in Perry County. The guide is useful even though it's hosted by a different clerk.
Note: Perry County's clerk's office is in the historic courthouse, but court itself sits in the newer court building, so don't confuse the two on arrival.
Certified Copies of Perry County Marriage Licenses
A certified copy from the Perry County Clerk is around $5 per copy. That's the common fee across small Arkansas counties. Certified copies have the raised seal and are the version you'll need for a Social Security name change, a passport update, a pension claim, or an immigration file.
Walk-in copies are usually ready the same day. Mail requests work when a drive to Perryville isn't practical. Send a letter with the full legal names of both parties, the date of marriage if known, a daytime phone number, the copy fee by check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call 501-889-5126 first to confirm the current fee.
For a state-level copy, the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records holds a marriage coupon from 1917 forward for $10 per copy. You can order online through VitalChek, the state's official online vendor, or by mail to the Little Rock office. The state-level copy is useful when you aren't sure which county issued the license. Search Perry County first if you know the couple lived there at the time.
Perry County Marriage License Search
Perry County is not currently on the CIS Arkansas marriage license search portal, so there isn't a free online name index for the county's records at this time. A name search has to go through the clerk's office by phone or in person. Have the full legal names and a year or two of year range ready when you call. Staff can check the index and confirm whether a record is on file before you pay for a copy.
For court cases tied to a Perry County marriage, like a divorce filing or a name change order, try Arkansas CourtConnect. The tool shows civil, probate, and domestic relations case info for participating circuit courts. Perry County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit along with Van Buren and Faulkner counties.
For genealogy work, the FamilySearch Perry County wiki lists the record series the clerk holds and points to imaged volumes. Many early Perry County marriage license records are indexed free through FamilySearch.
Tip: Before calling the clerk, write down the year of the marriage and both full legal names, including any maiden names, to help speed up the search.
Perry County Cities and Area
Perryville is the county seat and home of the clerk's office. Other towns in Perry County include Bigelow, Adona, Casa, Houston, Fourche, and Perry. None of those towns has a separate marriage license office. Every couple in the county applies at the Perryville clerk, no matter which town they live in. A Perry County marriage license is good anywhere in Arkansas, so the ceremony can happen in another county if a venue calls the couple that way.
The county sits on the Fourche La Fave River and covers about 557 square miles. Traffic at the clerk's office tends to be light outside of peak wedding season, so walk-ins move fast most days. For the clerk's official listing and phone line, the Association of Arkansas Counties directory has Perry County's contact info.
Nearby Counties
If the Perry County clerk doesn't have the license, try one of the counties next door. A nearby clerk can often pull the record right away.