Arkansas Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

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See Also Researching in Vital Records - Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.......

Statewide registration of births and deaths in Arkansas did not begin until February 1914. Compliance was not complete for approximately three decades. The Division of Vital Records, Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, has records from that date. Some local vital records for Little Rock and Fort Smith are maintained by the Arkansas History Commission (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies). When requesting copies, include a statement of purpose and relationship. Delayed birth certificates are also available.

Statewide registration of marriage did not begin until 1917, but, once counties were organized, most of them began recording marriages. The Division of Vital Records maintains marriage records only since 1917. Earlier records must be obtained from the respective county clerk where the license was issued, which is frequently the county of the bride's residence. Many early marriage records include names of bride and groom, ages, and residence. Later records contain more information.

Search Arkansas Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Full certified copies of divorce records may be obtained from the circuit or chancery clerk in the respective county in which the divorce was granted. Records of divorces granted beginning in 1923 are also available from the Division of Vital Records.

Arkansas Vital Records, 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205, Please allow up to approximately 4-6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: Birth records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Vital Records does have a limited number of birth records prior to 1914. The birth records dated prior to 1914 were filed with Arkansas Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.
    • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered of the same record at the same time. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $12.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881. The Arkansas History Commission has a death index of deaths occurring in Arkansas from 1914 through 1949. This is only an alphabetical listing of deaths occurring in Arkansas. The History Commission does not have copies of the death records.
    • Cost: The cost of a certified death certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time for the same certificate. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1917. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any marriage records prior to 1917.
    Divorce records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1923. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any divorce records prior to 1923. Records of marriage & divorce proceedings are available from the Arkansas County clerk of Probate Court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates .
    • Cost: Arkansas Vital Records maintains a file of marriage and divorce coupons. These coupons are acceptable with organizations that require a certified record. The cost of a marriage or divorce coupon is $10.00 for each copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee.
  • Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office. If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are 8:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. The office is located at 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205.
  • Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Records, PO Box 8184, Little Rock AR 72203-8184. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Processing Time takes 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

Links For Birth Records

Links For Marriage Records

  • Arkansas Marriage Record Books at Amazon.com
  • Order Marriage Certificates or Divorce Records Online
  • Arkansas Marriages, 1779-1992: This database contains marriage information from selected areas of Arkansas for over 300,000 individuals from 1779-1992. A complete list of which counties are included in this index is provided below. Please note that not all counties are included. Information that may be found in this database for each individual includes their name, spouse's name, and marriage date and location. Marriage records are great sources for genealogists because they document an individual in a particular place and time as well as provide details about that person's marriage.
  • Arkansas Marriages, 1820-1949: This database contains marriage information from selected areas of Arkansas from 1820-1949. A complete list of which counties are included in this index is provided below. Please note that not all counties are included. Information that may be found in this database for each individual includes their name, spouse's name, and marriage date and location. Marriage records are great sources for genealogists because they document an individual in a particular place and time as well as provide details about that person's marriage.
  • Arkansas Marriages to 1850: This database of Arkansas marriages to 1850 contains over 18,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
  • Arkansas Marriages, 1851-1900: Arkansas, which became the 25th state in 1836, was home to hundreds of thousands of residents throughout the 19th century. This database of Arkansas marriage records between 1851 and 1900 includes records from Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Carroll, Clark, Clay, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Dallas, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Logan, Lonoke, Marion, Montgomery, Nevada, Phillips, Pike, Polk, Prairie, Randolph, St. Francis, Scott, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone Yell, Union, Washington, and White Counties.
  • Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939: This database is an index to individuals who were married in the state of Arkansas from 1933-1939. Information that may be found in this database for each entry includes groom's full name, bride's full name, their marriage date, license date, county of marriage, marriage certificate number, and the volume number in which the certificate is located. Marriage records are great sources for genealogists because they document an individual in a particular place and time as well as provide details about that person's marriage. Please note that this index is not complete and may contain inaccuracies.
  • Arkansas Divorce Index, 1923-1939: This database is an index to divorces that were filed in Arkansas from 1923-27 and 1934-39. Information that may be found in this database includes plaintiff's name, defendant's name, date of divorce, county of divorce, and reference information for locating the divorce certificate, including a volume number, docket number, and certificate number (the certificate number will only be listed for the 1934-39 divorces).
  • Search U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
  • Search County Marriage Records
  • Search County Divorce Records

Links For Death Records

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