Arkansas Marriage License Requirements 2026
Everything you need to legally marry in Arkansas: $60 license fee, None for applicants 18 or older; 5 business days for underage applicants (17, with parental consent) waiting period, 60 days validity, minimum age 18, None witnesses required. Apply at the County Clerk.
Arkansas Marriage License: Quick Facts
How Much Is a Marriage License in Arkansas?
A marriage license in Arkansas costs $60. This is the standard fee charged by the County Clerk when you submit your application in person. The fee covers the license itself, recording, and one certified copy of the marriage certificate in most counties.
Payment is typically accepted in cash, card, or check, though policies vary by county. Some counties charge extra for additional certified copies, which you may need for name changes, passport applications, or insurance updates after the wedding. Call your county clerk in advance to confirm accepted payment methods and total cost with additional copies.
Compared to the national average of $60-$80, Arkansas's fee is in line with the national average.
How to Get a Marriage License in Arkansas
Gather required documents
Both partners need a valid government-issued photo ID. If you have been previously married, bring the final divorce decree or your former spouse's death certificate. Arkansas does not require proof of residency.
Visit the County Clerk
Both applicants must appear in person at the County Clerk in any Arkansas county. You can typically apply in the county where you plan to marry or the county where you live - check your specific county for any local rules.
Complete the application and pay the fee
Fill out the marriage license application and pay the $60 fee. Be ready to provide both Social Security numbers (or visa numbers for non-citizens), your parents' full names, and your places of birth.
Wait None for applicants 18 or older; 5 business days for underage applicants (17, with parental consent)
Arkansas has a mandatory None for applicants 18 or older; 5 business days for underage applicants (17, with parental consent) waiting period between application and ceremony. Plan your application visit at least a week before your ceremony to allow buffer time.
Hold the ceremony within the validity window
The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. The ceremony must be officiated and the license signed within this window. Authorized officiants in Arkansas: The Governor; any former Arkansas Supreme Court justice; judges of courts of record (including qualifying former judges); justices of the peace (including qualifying former justices of the peace); any regularly ordained minister or priest of a religious sect or denomination; qualifying former or current mayors; any official appointed for that purpose by the county quorum court; and qualifying elected or former district/municipal court judges. Officiants must register their credentials with the county clerk before performing a ceremony. Notaries public cannot officiate in Arkansas.
Return the signed license for recording
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license along with any required witnesses. The signed license must be returned to the County Clerk (often by the officiant) within the timeframe specified by Arkansas law. The county then issues your official marriage certificate.
Special Situations in Arkansas
Previously married
Bring the final divorce decree or death certificate of your former spouse. Some Arkansas counties require the decree be from within a certain number of months - check with the County Clerk.
Out-of-state couples
Arkansas has no residency requirement, making it a popular state for destination weddings. Both partners just need to appear in person at the County Clerk with valid ID.
Same-sex marriages
Same-sex marriages are fully legal in Arkansas following Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The requirements are identical to opposite-sex marriages with no additional steps.
Non-citizens
Foreign nationals can marry in Arkansas on a tourist visa with a valid passport. The marriage itself does not change immigration status. You may need certified translations of any foreign documents.
Important Arkansas Notes
Who Can Officiate in Arkansas
The Governor; any former Arkansas Supreme Court justice; judges of courts of record (including qualifying former judges); justices of the peace (including qualifying former justices of the peace); any regularly ordained minister or priest of a religious sect or denomination; qualifying former or current mayors; any official appointed for that purpose by the county quorum court; and qualifying elected or former district/municipal court judges. Officiants must register their credentials with the county clerk before performing a ceremony. Notaries public cannot officiate in Arkansas.
Good to Know
Arkansas has no witness requirement. Couples under 18 but at least 17 can marry with parental consent (notarized affidavit from both parents/guardian) plus a 5-business-day waiting period; there is no waiting period for applicants 18 or older. Arkansas raised the minimum age with parental consent from 16 to 17 via HB1708, signed into law on April 18, 2019. Arkansas does not recognize common law marriages formed within the state (though it recognizes valid common law marriages formed in other states/jurisdictions under Ark. Code Ann. 9-11-107).
Arkansas Marriage License Document Checklist
- Valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants (passport, Arkansas drivers license, state ID, military ID)
- Birth certificates if requested by the County Clerk
- Social Security numbers for both partners (visa numbers acceptable for non-citizens)
- Divorce decree or death certificate if either partner was previously married
- Marriage license fee of $60 - confirm accepted payment methods with your county
- Out-of-state couples are welcome - no residency required
- No witnesses legally required (though many couples bring them anyway)
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Marriage License Requirements in Other States
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Arkansas Marriage License FAQ
Everything you need to know about our free tools and how they help your wedding day.
A Arkansas marriage license costs $60. The fee is paid at the County Clerk when you apply. Some counties may charge slightly more for processing or a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Payment methods vary by county - call ahead to confirm whether the office accepts cash, card, or check only.
Yes. Arkansas requires a None for applicants 18 or older; 5 business days for underage applicants (17, with parental consent) waiting period between applying for and using your marriage license. Arkansas has no witness requirement. Couples under 18 but at least 17 can marry with parental consent (notarized affidavit from both parents/guardian) plus a 5-business-day waiting period; there is no waiting period for applicants 18 or older. Arkansas raised the minimum age with parental consent from 16 to 17 via HB1708, signed into law on April 18, 2019. Arkansas does not recognize common law marriages formed within the state (though it recognizes valid common law marriages formed in other states/jurisdictions under Ark. Code Ann. 9-11-107).
A Arkansas marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. The ceremony must be performed within this window or you will need to reapply and pay the fee again. Keep the dates in mind when scheduling your application visit.
Arkansas accepts valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants. Acceptable forms include a US passport, state driver's license or state ID card, US military ID, permanent resident card, or foreign passport. Both partners must present ID in person at the County Clerk.
No. Arkansas does not legally require witnesses for the marriage ceremony, though many couples choose to have them anyway. If you do invite witnesses, anyone over 18 capable of signing is typically acceptable.
No. Arkansas does not require residency to obtain a marriage license. Out-of-state couples can apply at any County Clerk as long as both partners are present and bring the required ID. This makes Arkansas a popular destination wedding state.
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