Pulaski County Marriage License Records
Pulaski County is the busiest marriage license office in Arkansas. The Circuit and County Clerk in Little Rock issues and records every Pulaski County marriage license. Couples who plan to wed in the county come here to apply, and anyone who needs to pull an old marriage license record for Pulaski County, Arkansas starts here as well. This page lays out the clerk's address, hours, fee, and online tools so you can plan the trip or the search with less back and forth.
Pulaski County Marriage License Overview
Pulaski County Clerk for Marriage License Records
The Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk runs the marriage license office. Terri Hollingsworth holds the elected post. The office sits at 401 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201. Phone the clerk at 501-340-8500. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office does not take appointments, so plan on a walk-in visit.
Pulaski County is unusual in Arkansas because the same elected official serves as both the Circuit Clerk and the County Clerk. That means one stop for the marriage license, court cases, real estate records, voter registration, and minister credentials. The Circuit Clerk also supports seventeen Circuit Court judges and records county court documents on behalf of the county.
The Marriage License page on the clerk's site lists the full steps and the fee.
The page also lets you pay online for certified copies, which is handy when you already have the case details but can't get to the office.
How To Apply for a Pulaski 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. A state driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all work. If your photo ID doesn't reflect a name change from a prior divorce, bring a certified copy of that divorce decree showing the name was restored.
The marriage license fee is $60, payable by cash or credit card. Applicants 18 or older sign the application and the clerk issues the license on the spot. There is no wait for adults and no blood test.
Applicants 17 years old need both parents present. The parents sign a notarized affidavit of consent under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. Pulaski County imposes the state's mandatory 5 business day wait before the license can be picked up. If the parents are divorced, the custodial parent must bring the latest custody order. No one under 17 may get a license except in narrow court-reviewed cases under § 9-11-103.
What to bring to apply:
- Valid photo ID for each party
- Social Security number for each party
- Divorce decree or spouse's death certificate if you were married before
- $60 in cash or a debit/credit card
- Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17
The Circuit Clerk's main page links to all departments and provides the online payment portal.
From the main page, pick the Marriage License Department tab to jump straight to fees, ID rules, and the return of the signed license.
Pulaski County Marriage License Rules
Pulaski County follows the statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. The license is good anywhere in Arkansas, not just inside the county, so you can use a Pulaski County license for a wedding in Fayetteville, Hot Springs, or any other part of the state. The license must be returned to the same clerk that issued it, used or not, inside 60 days.
Under § 9-11-213, a list of officials and clergy may perform the ceremony. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk before they can sign an Arkansas marriage license. The Pulaski County Clerk keeps a searchable minister registry. A notarized affidavit of consent is required for 17-year-olds under § 9-11-102.
The Pulaski County Court records page explains how marriage and divorce records are handled and what the county court does with related filings.
The page notes that marriage records in Arkansas are public records, so anyone may ask the clerk to look up a license and request a copy.
Note: Justice of the Peace members for Pulaski County are listed on the clerk's site and are often able to officiate marriages for a fee if the couple needs an on-site officiant.
Certified Copies of Pulaski County Marriage Licenses
A certified copy of a Pulaski County marriage license is $5.00. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are what you'll need for Social Security name changes, passport updates, pension claims, and immigration paperwork. The clerk issues copies in person at the office or by mail through the US Postal Service. The clerk cannot email a certified copy because the raised seal needs to be on the paper.
Pay online for certified copies via the Circuit Clerk's portal at pulaskiclerkar.gov. Mail requests take longer than walk-in pick-up. Include a written request with the names of both parties, the date of the marriage if known, a phone number, and a check or money order for the copy fee. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return.
For a state-level copy of the marriage coupon, the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records handles the central index from 1917 forward. The cost is $10. You can also order through the state's online partner VitalChek.
Pulaski County Marriage License Search
Pulaski County provides an online marriage license search through the clerk's website. You can search by either party's name. The tool pulls the date the license was issued, the date of the marriage, and the recorded date. It's free to use.
The statewide search portal at CIS Arkansas does not currently list Pulaski County, so the clerk's own site is the primary way to look up an online record.
For related court cases tied to a Pulaski County marriage, like a divorce filing or a name change, try Arkansas CourtConnect. It shows case party names, filing dates, and docket entries for participating courts in the county.
The Departments page at the clerk's office also lists DBA search, real estate records search, and voter registration lookups, which can help if you're piecing together a larger records request that touches on more than just the marriage license.
Pulaski County Marriage License Parking and Access
The clerk's office at 401 West Markham Street sits a few blocks from the River Market and the Arkansas State Capitol. Paid parking is available along the street and in nearby garages. A short walk from either spot puts you at the front door. The clerk's hours run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, longer than most rural county offices.
The Pulaski County clerk handles far more marriage license volume than a small county clerk. Wait times can stretch during lunch and on Fridays. An early morning arrival keeps the visit short. Both parties still have to be at the counter together under § 9-11-201. The clerk will not process the application if one party is not there.
Couples from Jacksonville, Sherwood, and Maumelle sometimes ask about a satellite office. The Pulaski County marriage license is only issued at the main 401 West Markham address. A single stop handles the license, the minister credential filing if needed, and a certified copy after the ceremony. Online payment through the clerk's portal helps when a couple cannot make a second trip for a copy.
Cities in Pulaski County
Several cities in Pulaski County share this same clerk for marriage licenses. Little Rock is the county seat, and the clerk's office sits a few blocks from the Arkansas State Capitol. North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Maumelle, and Sherwood residents all apply at the same Pulaski County office. A couple from any of those cities can pick up the license at 401 West Markham and then hold the ceremony anywhere inside Arkansas.
Nearby Counties
If your marriage license isn't on file in Pulaski County, try one of the counties next door. The clerk staff can point you to the right office if the license was pulled nearby.