Arkansas Vital Records

Birth Records

Birth Records Available: Birth records maintained by the Division of 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 the Division of Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.

Restrictions: Arkansas Statute 20-18-305 does not allow public release of birth records, which are less than 100 years old. The law does permit release to specific persons who are related to the registrant and to his/her designated representatives, to academic research groups, and to persons who can demonstrate a right to the record.

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 you choose to order online through Vital Records, a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 non-refundable identity verification fee will be charged in addition to the cost of any expedited shipping options you select. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a search fee. The processing fee for online orders is also non-refundable. However, you will receive a refund of any amount you paid apart from these fees. Please do not send cash in the mail.

Information Required:

• The full name of the person on the birth certificate
• The date of birth
• The city or town and county of birth
• The father’s full name
• The mother’s full name, to include her maiden name
• The requester’s relationship to the person named on the certificate
• The requester’s reason for requesting the certificate
• A check or money order payable to Arkansas Department of Health

Arkansas Birth Certificate Request Form

Send To: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to

In Arkansas? The Division of Vital Records is open Monday though Friday, 8:00 A.M until 4:30 P.M. The building is closed on state holidays and weekends. Customers who are in the Division by 3:00 P.M. and who have all of the search information that is needed to quickly find a record should receive their certificates on the same day. Those who do not have all of the search information or who arrive between 3:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. may pick up the certificate the following day or may request that it be mailed. (Please call before visiting to insure office will be open.)

4815 W. Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-386 Phone: 501-661-2174

Questions: The Division of Vital Records produces three types of birth copies: an actual copy of the original certificate, a certification copy, and a wallet size plastic birth card. The certification copy and plastic birth card can not be produced for some birth years.

Death Records

Records Available: Death records maintained by the Division of Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. The Division 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.

Restrictions: Arkansas Statute 20-18-305 does not allow public release of death records, which are less than 50 years old. The law does permit release to specific persons who are related to the registrant and to his/her designated representatives, to academic research groups, and to persons who can demonstrate a right to the record.

Cost: The cost of a death record is $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy of the same record that is ordered at the same time. If you choose to order online through Vital Records, a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 non-refundable identity verification fee will be charged in addition to the cost of any expedited shipping options you select. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a search fee. The processing fee for online orders is also non-refundable. However, you will receive a refund of any amount you paid apart from these fees. Please do not send cash in the mail.

Information Required:

• The full name of the deceased.
• The date of death
• The county or city of death
• The name of the funeral home (optional)
• The requester’s relationship to the deceased
• The requester’s reason for requesting the death certificate
• Please note if this was a stillborn infant
• A check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health

Arkansas Death Certificate Request Form

Send To: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

Questions: The Division of Vital Records issues a certified copy of the original death certificate in paper form.

In Arkansas? The Division of Vital Records is open Monday though Friday, 8:00 A.M until 4:30 P.M. The building is closed on state holidays and weekends. Customers who are in the Division by 3:00 P.M. and who have all of the search information that is needed to quickly find a record should receive their certificates on the same day. Those who do not have all of the search information or who arrive between 3:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. may pick up the certificate the following day or may request that it be mailed. (Please call before visiting to insure office will be open.)

4815 W. Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-386 Phone: 501-661-2174

Marriage records

Records Available: Marriage records maintained in the Division of Vital Records begin with January 1917. The Division of Vital Records does not have any marriage records prior to 1917.

Restrictions: Arkansas Vital Records Statute 20-18-305 does not allow the Division of Vital Records to release marriage and divorce coupons to the general public. (The County Clerks office where the event was recorded may operate under different rules.) The Vital Records Statute does permit the Division to release to specific persons who are related to the registrant and to their designated representatives, to academic research groups, and to persons who can demonstrate a right to the record.

Cost: The cost of a marriage record is $10.00 per copy. If you choose to order online through Vital Records, a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 non-refundable identity verification fee will be charged in addition to the cost of any expedited shipping options you select. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a search fee. The processing fee for online orders is also non-refundable. However, you will receive a refund of any amount you paid apart from these fees.Please do not send cash in the mail.

Information Required: Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the marriage certificate:

• The full name of the groom
• The full name of the bride, to include her maiden name
• The marriage date
• The county in which the license was issued
• The requester’s relationship to the parties named on the marriage certificate
• The requester’s reason for requesting the certificate
• A check or money order payable to Arkansas Department of Health

Arkansas Marriage Coupon Request Form

Send To: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

Questions: The Division of Vital Records does not have either the actual marriage license or divorce decree. Customers who want a copy of the actual license or decree must contact the County Clerk or Circuit Clerk office where the record was recorded. The Division of Vital Records issues a certified copy of the coupon of marriage or divorce in paper form.

In Arkansas? The Division of Vital Records is open Monday though Friday, 8:00 A.M until 4:30 P.M. The building is closed on state holidays and weekends. Customers who are in the Division by 3:00 P.M. and who have all of the search information that is needed to quickly find a record should receive their certificates on the same day. Those who do not have all of the search information or who arrive between 3:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. may pick up the certificate the following day or may request that it be mailed. (Please call before visiting to insure office will be open.)

4815 W. Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-386 Phone: 501-661-2174

Divorce Records

Records Available: Divorce records maintained in the Division of Vital Records begin with January 1923. The Division of Vital Records does not have any divorce records prior to 1923.

Restrictions: Arkansas Vital Records Statute 20-18-305 does not allow the Division of Vital Records to release marriage and divorce coupons to the general public. (The County Clerks office where the event was recorded may operate under different rules.) The Vital Records Statute does permit the Division to release to specific persons who are related to the registrant and to their designated representatives, to academic research groups, and to persons who can demonstrate a right to the record.

Cost: The cost of a divorce record is $10.00 per copy.  If you choose to order online through Vital Records, a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 non-refundable identity verification fee will be charged, in addition to the cost of any expedited shipping options you select. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a search fee. The processing fee for online orders is also non-refundable. However, you will receive a refund of any amount you paid apart from these fees. Please do not send cash in the mail.

Information Required: Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the divorce certificate:

• The full name of the husband
• The full name of the wife, to include her maiden name
• The date of divorce or dismissal
• The county in which the divorce was granted or dismissed
• The requester’s relationship to the parties named on the divorce certificate
• The requester’s reason for requesting the certificate
• A check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health

Arkansas Divorce Coupon Request Form

Send To:

Questions: The Division of Vital Records does not have either the actual marriage license or divorce decree. Customers who want a copy of the actual license or decree must contact the County Clerk or Circuit Clerk office where the record was recorded. The Division of Vital Records issues a certified copy of the coupon of marriage or divorce in paper form.

In Arkansas? The Division of Vital Records is open Monday though Friday, 8:00 A.M until 4:30 P.M. The building is closed on state holidays and weekends. Customers who are in the Division by 3:00 P.M. and who have all of the search information that is needed to quickly find a record should receive their certificates on the same day. Those who do not have all of the search information or who arrive between 3:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. may pick up the certificate the following day or may request that it be mailed. (Please call before visiting to insure office will be open.)

4815 W. Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-386 Phone: 501-661-2174

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• Arkansas Databases
  • Arkansas Census, 1819-70
  • Arkansas Census, 1840
  • U.S. General Land Office Records
  • Arkansas Marriages to 1850
  • Arkansas Marriages, 1851-1900
  • Arkansas State Database
  • Eastern Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoir
  • Little Rock, Arkansas City Directories, 1893-98
  • Newton County, Arkansas Census, 1900
  • Northeast Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memo
  • Northwestern Arkansas History
  • Polk County, AR Marriages, 1901-05
  • Polk County, AR Marriages, 1906-1910
  • Western Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoir