To meet Arkansas marriage license requirements, both applicants must appear together in person at any county clerk’s office in the state with a valid government-issued photo ID, pay a $60 fee, and complete the ceremony within 60 days. There is no residency rule, no waiting period for adults, and no blood test.
Who Can Apply
You must be at least 18 to marry in Arkansas without additional steps. A 17-year-old can still get a license, but both parents (or the legal guardian) must appear at the clerk’s office and provide a notarized statement of consent.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-102 – Minimum Age, Parental Consent If the parents are divorced, the custodial parent can consent alone by bringing the most recent custody order.2Pulaski County Circuit Clerk. Marriage License Requirements A five-business-day waiting period applies before a 17-year-old’s license can be picked up. No one under 17 can marry in Arkansas under any circumstances.
There is no residency requirement, so out-of-state couples follow the same process and pay the same fees as Arkansas residents.3Craighead County Arkansas Clerk’s Office. How to Get a Marriage License Arkansas does not require a blood test or medical exam, and there is no waiting period after a divorce before you can apply for a new license.4Carroll County Arkansas. Marriage Licenses
What to Bring
Both applicants need a current, government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. If both of you are 21 or older, photo ID alone is enough. Applicants between 18 and 20 should also bring a certified birth certificate, because some counties require it to verify age.5Clark County Arkansas. Marriage License Info
You will need to provide your Social Security number on the application. Non-U.S. citizens without one should bring official immigration documentation, such as a visa or permanent resident card. If your current legal name does not match your photo ID because of a prior marriage, adoption, or court-ordered name change, bring the paperwork (divorce decree, adoption order, or name-change order) so the clerk can reconcile the difference.
If either of you has been married before, be ready to state when and how that marriage ended. The clerk usually takes you at your word, but if anything seems unclear they can ask for a divorce decree or annulment order. Divorces finalized in Arkansas can often be verified through the county court that granted them; a divorce from another state or country may require a certified copy of the final judgment.
Where and How to Apply
Applications are filed in person at a county clerk’s office. Arkansas does not accept online, mail-in, or proxy applications, and a power of attorney cannot stand in for either applicant.6Benton County, Arkansas. Marriage License Information and Requirements Both of you must be there together.
You can apply at any county in the state regardless of where you live or where the ceremony will happen. The application asks for each person’s full legal name, date of birth, current address, and previous marital history. The clerk reviews it for completeness and can refuse to process it if anything is missing or inconsistent.
Fees and Certified Copies
The marriage license fee is $60 in most Arkansas counties, due at application and non-refundable.7Garland County, AR. Marriage Licenses Some offices accept only cash, so confirm accepted payment methods with the specific clerk before your visit.
After the marriage is recorded, certified copies run $5 to $6 each depending on the county.5Clark County Arkansas. Marriage License Info You will want at least one certified copy to change your name with the Social Security Administration, your bank, and other institutions. Requests can be made in person or by mail from the county clerk that issued the license.7Garland County, AR. Marriage Licenses
The 60-Day Window
Once the clerk approves the application, adults can pick up the license and use it the same day.4Carroll County Arkansas. Marriage Licenses The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. If you do not hold the ceremony within that window, the license expires and you will need to start over with a new application and another $60 fee.7Garland County, AR. Marriage Licenses
The license can be used anywhere in Arkansas, but it must be returned for recording to the same county clerk’s office that issued it.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Arkansas law limits who can legally solemnize a marriage. Authorized officiants include the Governor, any judge or justice of the peace, and ordained ministers or priests of any denomination.8Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-213 – Persons Who May Solemnize Marriages A ceremony performed by someone who is not authorized can create problems with the marriage’s legal validity, so it is worth verifying beforehand.
Ministers and priests must register their ordination credentials with a county clerk’s office before officiating. Registration takes a copy of the ordination certificate or license and a small filing fee, typically $5.9Garland County, AR. Minister Credentials The minister only needs to register in one Arkansas county, and it doesn’t need to be the county where the ceremony takes place. If you’re having a friend or family member ordained online to officiate, make sure they complete this step well before the wedding.
Returning the License After the Wedding
The officiant signs the marriage license after the ceremony and returns it to you. An officiant who fails to sign and return the license commits a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500.10Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-217 – Failure to Sign and Return License at Time of Marriage, Penalty The completed license then goes back to the issuing county clerk for official recording.
You can return the signed license in person or by mail. If mailing, include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can send the recorded license back to you.7Garland County, AR. Marriage Licenses There is no extra fee for recording. The license must be returned within 60 days of issuance whether used or unused, and some counties assess a $100 bond against applicants who fail to return it on time.4Carroll County Arkansas. Marriage Licenses Until the license is recorded, you cannot get certified copies and the marriage will not appear in official county records.
When a Clerk Will Deny the Application
A clerk will refuse to issue a license if either applicant is already married, if the couple falls within the prohibited degrees of kinship, or if the applicants can’t meet the age and identification rules. Arkansas declares marriages between the following relatives incestuous and void: parents and children (extending to grandparents and grandchildren at any remove), siblings of half or whole blood, uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, and first cousins.11Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-106 – Incestuous Marriages
Attempting to marry while a previous marriage is still legally active constitutes bigamy, a Class A misdemeanor in Arkansas, and any new marriage entered under those circumstances would itself be void.12Justia Law. Arkansas Code 5-26-201 – Bigamy Clerks can also deny an application if they suspect fraud or coercion, particularly with a minor, and submitting forged documents or misrepresenting your marital status can trigger separate criminal charges.
Covenant Marriage as an Alternative
Arkansas is one of only three states that offer covenant marriage, a legally distinct form with stricter entry requirements and narrower grounds for divorce. Couples who want a covenant marriage declare that intent on the license application and sign a separate declaration of intent.13Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-803 – Covenant Marriage Both parties must first complete premarital counseling from an authorized counselor and file proof of that counseling with the standard application.
The practical difference shows up later. A standard Arkansas marriage allows a no-fault divorce after 18 months of living apart, while a covenant marriage limits divorce to specific grounds (adultery, felony conviction, physical or sexual abuse of a spouse or child, or two years of separation without reconciliation), and the spouse filing must obtain additional counseling first.14Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-808 – Divorce or Separation It is entirely optional, and couples considering it should understand the long-term legal implications before checking that box.