How to Get Arkansas Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Arkansas — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Arkansas Department of Health. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Clerk.

What this page covers: Arkansas vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Arkansas Department of Health. For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Arkansas Vital Records - Arkansas.gov
Parent agency
Vital Statistics - Arkansas Department of Health
Records back to
Arkansas Birth Records Online
Online ordering
Order Birth Records - Arkansas Department of Health
Marriage license issued by
Marriage License > Arkansas Pulaski County Circuit Clerk
Local intake
Where to Write for Vital Records - Arkansas
Population
3,088,354
Households
1,207,902
Median Income
$56,335
Median Home Value
$162,300
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Arkansas vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.healthy.arkansas.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Arkansas Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Arkansas — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request an Arkansas vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Arkansas Vital Records

2026
Arkansas vital records portal active
The official Arkansas portal at www.healthy.arkansas.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Arkansas state records.
2026
Arkansas access in 2026
For 2026, Arkansas continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.healthy.arkansas.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Arkansas's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.

The 4-Step Arkansas Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Arkansas, start with the Arkansas health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Arkansas typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Arkansas records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Arkansas Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Arkansas birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Arkansas) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Arkansas marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Arkansas death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Arkansas counties: Arkansas · Ashley · Baxter · Benton · Boone

Vital Records Databases

10 official Arkansas vital records sources.

Vital Records

Order Death Records - Arkansas Department of Health
Official Free
Walk-In: You may order a certified copy of the death record by coming into the Arkansas Department of Health’s vital records office. The office is located at 4815 West Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72205 , across the street from War Memorial ...
🌐 healthy.arkansas.gov
Order Divorce Records - Arkansas Department of Health
Official Free
By Mail: You may order a certified copy of the divorce record by mailing in a completed application (available here or from your local health unit, a check or money order made out to Arkansas Department of Health (no cash or temporary checks), and a copy or copies of acceptable ID to:
🌐 healthy.arkansas.gov
County Records > Arkansas Pulaski County Circuit Clerk
Official Free
To perform a wedding ceremony in Arkansas, you must register your credentials in a County Clerk’s office within Arkansas. To record credentials, you must provide a copy of your Minister Certification or Minister License Record of Ordination and a $5 filing fee. Payments can be made in person by credit card, money order, cash, or check. Please include your full name, driver’s license number, and phone number on all personal checks and money orders. Please visit the Marriage License page of our website on how to apply for a marriage license.
🌐 pulaskiclerkar.gov
Archives | Washington County, AR
Official Free
Search Land Records 1834 - 1991 Search Marriage Records 1845 - 1941 View Historic Place Names · Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents. They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. Download Acrobat Reader Download Windows Media Player Download Word Viewer Download ...
🌐 washingtoncountyar.gov
Obituaries Published May 1 | | ashleycountyledger.com
Official Free
Alecia Denise Davis, age 39, of Crossett, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, at University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock. She was a member of First Baptist Church and an elementary school teacher at Union County school district and Ashley County school district.
🌐 ashleycountyledger.com
Guide to Arkansas Genealogy Research
Official Free
Nevada County, Arkansas Cemeteries · World Wide Cemetery Index - Arkansas · The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) collection includes tombstone inscriptions from Arkansas cemeteries. Another important collection is Cemetery Records of Arkansas, Vols.
🌐 argenweb.net
News Flash • New: GPS Walk-to-Grave at Oak Hill Cemetery
Official Free
The City of Siloam Springs is pleased to announce a new online feature at Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitors can now access burial records and use GPS walk-to-grave directions directly from their smartphones .
🌐 siloamsprings.com
Cemeteries | Fort Smith, AR
Official Free
Submit a Records Request Report An Issue CityView Portal Jobs ... Oak Cemetery is recognized as a National Historic Landmark based on more than 152 years of documented history. The thirty-acre facility is the only publicly owned cemetery in the city of Fort Smith and is maintained ...
🌐 fortsmithar.gov

Arkansas Counties

75 Arkansas counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Pulaski Benton Washington Faulkner Saline Sebastian Craighead Garland White Arkansas Ashley Baxter Boone Bradley

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Arkansas are issued by the Official Arkansas Vital Records at www.healthy.arkansas.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Arkansas death certificates are issued by the Official Arkansas Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.healthy.arkansas.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Arkansas marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Arkansas Vital Records (www.healthy.arkansas.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Arkansas vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Arkansas Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.healthy.arkansas.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Arkansas Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.healthy.arkansas.gov.