Introduction to Arkansas Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Arkansas Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure.

Arkansas Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health for individuals married in the state of Arkansas since 1917.

Arkansas Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Arkansas state law, Arkansas Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Arkansas Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Arkansas Marriage Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Arkansas Marriage Certificate 
• Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Arkansas Marriage Certificate 
• Sister/Brother of Person Named on the Arkansas Marriage Certificate 
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Arkansas Marriage Certificate

Arkansas Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain an Arkansas Marriage Certificate, 50 years or later from the date of the Marriage for genealogy or other reasons.

Arkansas Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Arkansas Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Arkansas Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Arkansas Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Arkansas Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Arkansas Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 4-6 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Arkansas Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Arkansas Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Arkansas Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Arkansas Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Arkansas Marriage certificate
• Your name
• Your signature
• Your relationship to the person whose Arkansas Marriage certificate you are requesting
• Address where the Arkansas Marriage certificate is to be mailed
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

 

Vital Records Section-Slot 44

Date 4815 West Markham Street

Little Rock, AR 72205

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Arkansas: You may go to any county health department in the State of Arkansas to obtain a certified copy of an Arkansas Marriage certificate. Most Arkansas Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Arkansas Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for an Arkansas Marriage certificate is $10.00, which includes one certified copy of the Arkansas Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Arkansas Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $8.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Arkansas Department of Health." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.