Yell County Marriage License Records
Yell County is one of a small number of Arkansas counties with two county seats. The combined Circuit-County Clerk runs the office that handles each Yell County marriage license, with service in both Dardanelle and Danville. Couples who plan to wed in the county apply at either district office, and anyone who needs to pull an older marriage license record starts at the same clerk. This page lays out the clerk's addresses, the state fee, and the online search tools so you can plan a trip or a records pull.
Yell County Marriage License Overview
Yell County Clerk for Marriage License
Yell County uses a combined Circuit-County Clerk. One elected official serves both roles at the same time. That means the same office handles the Yell County marriage license, circuit court cases, deeds, and the standard county clerk filings. The county runs two district offices, one in Dardanelle on the north side of the Arkansas River, and one in Danville on the south side. Either office can issue a marriage license to a couple.
Dardanelle serves as the northern district seat. Danville serves as the southern district seat. That split goes back to the county's terrain, since the Arkansas River cuts the county in two. A couple living on either side of the river can pick whichever office is closer.
Call ahead before you come. The Association of Arkansas Counties page for Yell County is the best quick reference for the clerk's current phone and address at each district. A 2023 blog post from UA Cooperative Extension confirms Yell County's combined-clerk setup.
The Extension post above is a useful read if you are new to the area and not sure which office to call for which record. The combined clerk is the right stop for Yell County marriage license work.
Note: Dardanelle and Danville each keep their own books, so ask the clerk which district your license was recorded in before you drive over.
How To Apply for a Yell County Marriage License
Both parties must appear at either district office together. Bring a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID for each party. A state driver's license, a state ID card, a passport, or a military ID each work. If either of you has been married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the prior spouse's death certificate. A past name change must be reflected on the decree.
The marriage license fee is $60. No blood test is required, and Arkansas has no residency rule, so out-of-state couples may come to Dardanelle or Danville, pull the license, and wed anywhere in the state. The license is good for 60 days.
Applicants 18 or older get the license the same day with no wait. Applicants 17 years old need both parents present, a notarized affidavit of parental consent, and the state's 5 business day wait before pickup under Arkansas Code § 9-11-102. No one under 17 may be issued a license except in narrow court-reviewed cases at § 9-11-103. The state sets the base license fee under § 9-11-201.
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 for the fee
- Notarized parental affidavit if a party is 17
Yell County Marriage License Search
The statewide search at CIS Arkansas is the fastest online way to look up Arkansas marriage license records. Pick the county from the drop-down and search by either party's name. You can limit results by marriage date, issued date, or recorded date. It is free to use and pulls from the county's own index.
The portal above returns the names, dates, and a record ID, so you can call the right district office and ask for a certified copy by reference.
For records older than the online index, ask the clerk about the district marriage books. Older Yell County records may need to be pulled by hand at the district office where the license was first issued. Dardanelle's books and Danville's books are kept separately.
The Arkansas Counties Vital Records (Y) reference confirms that both Dardanelle and Danville serve as district seats for Yell County.
The page above also lists the state's central Division of Vital Records, which is the other place to order a state-level marriage coupon.
Yell County Marriage License Rules
Yell County follows the statewide rules at Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11. A Yell County marriage license is good anywhere in Arkansas, not just in the county. A couple can pick up the license at Dardanelle or Danville and hold the wedding in Little Rock, Fort Smith, or any other city in the state.
The signed license must be returned to the same district clerk that issued it, inside of 60 days, used or not. A $100 fine can apply if the license is not returned on time. Under § 9-11-213, a short list of officials and clergy may perform the ceremony. Ministers must record their credentials with a county clerk before they sign a Yell County marriage license. No witnesses are required at the ceremony under Arkansas law.
A covenant marriage is an option on the application, set out in Arkansas Code § 9-11-803. The couple takes premarital counseling and signs a declaration of intent filed with the clerk. The grounds to end a covenant marriage are tighter than a standard divorce, so the choice is not a light one.
Certified Copies of Yell County Marriage License
A certified copy of the Yell County marriage license comes from the clerk where the license was first pulled. Certified copies carry the raised seal that agencies need for Social Security name changes, passport updates, pension claims, and name changes. Fees at most Arkansas counties run about $5 to $6 per certified copy. Call the district office to confirm the per-copy fee and the mail steps.
The Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records holds the central state-level marriage coupon from January 1917 forward. The state copy is $10. You can walk in to the Little Rock office, mail a request, or order online via VitalChek, the state's official vendor. VitalChek adds a small processing fee on top of the state's $10.
Keep in mind the state coupon is not the full license. It confirms the event, but the full paper with signatures stays with the Yell County Clerk. For the full paper, the district office is the right stop.
Tip: Order two or three certified copies while you are at the window. Each one may be used up by a single agency, so a small stack saves a second trip.
Related Records and Resources
For court cases tied to a Yell County marriage, like a divorce filing or a name change order, try Arkansas CourtConnect. It is the state's public search portal for civil, probate, and domestic relations cases from many Arkansas courts. CourtConnect does not hold marriage license records, but cases tied to a marriage often show up here.
Family history researchers often pull Yell County marriage records through FamilySearch, which indexes older Arkansas marriage books by county and by district. The vitalrec.com Arkansas page is a useful reference for state-level fees and ordering paths.
For the rules, Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 11 is the source. The chapter sets the fee, the age rule, the 60-day life of the license, and the list of approved officiants. State-level access to the coupon sits under Arkansas Statute 20-18-305.
Nearby Counties
If the license you need isn't on file at either Yell County district, try a clerk next door. The Yell County staff can point you to the right office when the license was pulled nearby.