How to get a Marriage License
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Craighead County Marriage License Requirements
Marriage License Fee: $60.00. Acceptable forms of payment are credit/debit cards or cash.

Craighead County Courthouse
511 South Main Street
Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401
Ph: (870) 933-4520
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. / M – F (except for Court Approved Holidays)

Marriage Application Requirement Arkansas:
To complete the application for a marriage license, a couple must:
  • Both parties 18 or older must present a valid government issued identification. showing their correct name and date of birth.
  • If your name has changed through a divorce and your driver’s license does not reflect this change, you will need to bring a certified copy of your divorce decree.
  • Application fee is $60.00 (Sixty Dollars). Acceptable forms of payment are credit/debit cards or cash. When using a credit/ debit card a fee of $1.00 plus 3% will be included.
  • Applicants are responsible and must return the marriage license to the County Clerk’s office to be recorded whether used or unused, within SIXTY (60) days from the date of issuance.

Marriage ID Requirement Arkansas:
Both parties must be 18 years or older and have one of the following:
  • State issued I.D.
  • Valid Drivers License
  • Indian Card
  • Passport, Visa (not expired)
  • Military I.D.
  • Original Birth Certificate translated into English

Marriage Waiting Period Requirement Arkansas:
  • There is no waiting period required in Arkansas.
  • Marriage license may be issued immediately if the applicants are both age 18 or over.
  • Males and females age 17 who are obtaining a marriage license with parental consent must fulfill a waiting period of 5 business days.
Marriage Residency Requirement Arkansas:
You do not have to be a resident of Arkansas. Marriage license can be used anywhere in Arkansas.

Marriage License Fees Arkansas:
Arkansas marriage license fee is $60.00 (Sixty Dollars). Acceptable forms of payment are credit/debit cards or cash.

Covenant Marriages Arkansas:
Act 1486 of 2001 created an option for couples in Arkansas to choose a Covenant Marriage. A man and a woman may contract a Covenant Marriage by declaring their intent to do so on their Application for Marriage license and executing a Declaration of Intent to contract a Covenant Marriage. The Application for a marriage license and the Declaration of Intent shall be filed with the official who issues the marriage license.  The Declaration of Intent shall contain the following:
  • A Recitation signed by both parties.
  • An Affidavit by the parties that they have received authorized counseling emphasizing the nature, purposes and responsibilities of marriage.
  • An Attestation, signed by the counselor and attached to or included in the parties’ Affidavit, confirming that the parties received authorized counseling.
    • The signature of both parties witnessed by a notary.
  • The Recitation, Affidavit, and Attestation shall be filed at the time the Covenant Marriage License is issued.
“Authorized counseling” means marital counseling provided by:  A Priest, Minister, Rabbi, Clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, Clergy Member of any Religious Sect, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Associate Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Psychologist or a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.

Proxy Marriages Arkansas:
No. Arkansas does not allow proxy marriages.

Cousin Marriages Arkansas:
No. Arkansas does not allow cousin marriages.

Common Law Marriages Arkansas:
No. Arkansas does not allow common law marriages.

Marriage Blood Test Arkansas:
No blood or medical tests required to get married in Arkansas.


Marriage Age Requirements Arkansas:
  • Males and females 17 years of age §9-11-102
  • Must have parental consent requires a mandatory 5-day waiting period.
  • “Parental Consent” is defined as the consent of:
    • Both parents of the person under 18 years of age who wishes to enter into a contract for marriage;
    • The custodial parent of the person under 18 years of age if the parents are divorced and one parent has been awarded custody exclusive of the non-custodial parent;
    • The custodial parent when the non-custodial parent has surrendered custody through abandonment or desertion;
    • Paternity has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction and the court has awarded custody to the man adjudged to be the father of the under-aged party;
    • A court-appointed guardian of the person under 18 years of age
  • If one or both parties are under the minium age prescribed in §9-11-102 and the female is PREGNANT
    • In those instances where one or both of the parties wishing to marry are under the minimum age and the female IS PREGNANT, both parties may appear before a judge of the circuit court of the district where the application for marriage license is being made. The circuit court judge, after considering all evidence supplied by the parties, may issue an order directing the clerk to issue a marriage license to the party or parties under 18 years of age and wishing to marry. In those cases where the female has given birth to a child of the parties the parties may petition the circuit court for consent to marry. The circuit court judge, after considering all of the evidence, may issue an order directing the clerk to issue a marriage license to the parties.

Marriage Officiants Arkansas:
  • Justices of the Peace in Arkansas (and any former Justice of the Peace who served at least 2 terms since 1977) may solemnize marriages and must complete the information required in the Certificate of Marriage on the Marriage License.
  • Minister’s performing marriages in the State of Arkansas must have had their credentials (Ordination Certificate or Minister’s License) recorded in any county in Arkansas.
  • Ministers must complete the information required in the Certificate of Marriage on the Marriage License.
  • The minister is not responsible for returning the license after the marriage ceremony.
  • The applicants are responsible and must return the marriage license to the County Clerk’s office to be recorded within SIXTY (60) DAYS from the date of issuance.

Marriage Witnesses Arkansas:
No witnesses are required for marriages in the State of Arkansas.
Expiration Date of Marriage License Arkansas:
  • The marriage license is valid for sixty (60) days.
  • The license may be used anywhere in the state of Arkansas, but must be returned to the County Clerk’s office where you first applied and purchased.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage License

Can be obtained in the County Clerk’s office for a $5.00 fee.

Division of Vital Records
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Ph: 501.661.2726
Fx: 501.663.2832