Marriage records in Washington County, Arkansas, are available through several channels. WashingtonARCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, the County Clerk's office maintains an archive of marriage licenses and certificates — you can contact them in person, by mail, or use the county's online marriage document search.
Washington Marriage Records Search
In the state of Arkansas, the County Clerk is responsible for issuing marriage licenses and storing returned marriage certificates. In Washington County, this function is performed by the County Clerk's office in Fayetteville.
The collection of marriage records includes:
- Issued marriage licenses
- Registered marriage certificates, returned by the officiant after the ceremony
- Archival records, some of which are digitized and available through the Marriage Document Search on the county's website
For searching older land and other archival documents, the county also operates the Chronicle Document Search, which contains records from 1834. Marriage records in Arkansas are public documents.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Washington
The fees for copies of marriage records are set by the County Clerk in accordance with Arkansas law. Below are typical fees — check with the clerk's office for current amounts before ordering.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $10.00 |
| Additional copy (in the same order) | $10.00 |
| Uncertified / informational copy | Check with the clerk's office |
If you need a certified copy at the state level, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) issues marriage certificates for events registered after 1917. The ADH fee is typically $12.00 for the first search and copy. The processing time for mail requests in the county is 5 to 10 business days; in-person requests are usually processed the same day.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Washington
There are three main ways to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate.
Online
The Washington County archival online index of marriage records allows you to search by last name and view basic information. To order a certified copy at the state level, use the Arkansas Department of Health's portal — VitalChek, which accepts online payments. Note: an additional service fee is charged for third-party services.
In Person
Visit the County Clerk's office at:
Bring with you:
- A valid photo ID
- Payment — cash, money order, or check (confirm acceptable forms of payment in advance)
The copy is usually issued immediately.
By Mail
Send a request to the clerk's office address. Include in the envelope:
- A written request specifying the full names of the spouses and the approximate date of marriage
- A copy of your photo ID
- A money order or check for the appropriate amount, made payable to Washington County Clerk
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
Processing of mail requests may take up to two weeks. If you are looking for court records related to marriage or divorce, try the Arkansas Judiciary case search or the Search ARCourts portal for access to public case materials. For current information on marriage records, also visit WashingtonARCourt.us.