Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Arkansas. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Arkansas. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Arkansas.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Arkansas
If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!
2 Officiating a Wedding in Arkansas
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.
Select your County Clerk to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.
Select a county contact
Arkansas's Top Wedding Spot
Ozarks at Table Rock Lake or Beaver Lake, just outside historic Eureka Springs
3 License to Marry in Arkansas
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Arkansas to get an Ordination Package and to add a Letter of Good Standing to her or his order. Minister registration is required in Arkansas and you will be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerks before they will accept the marriage as having been legally solemnized. Having this proof of your ordination can also provide a great deal of peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.
4 How to get Married in Arkansas
Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Arkansas marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 60 days, and there is no mandatory waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Arkansas and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office by its date of expiry.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Arkansas, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Arkansas wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.
5 Advice for Performing Arkansas Weddings
Being asked to perform a wedding in Arkansas is a wonderful honor. When planning to officiate there, a few things that you should consider are weather, venue, and what to charge for your services. Summer outdoor weddings in Arkansas will be hot and humid, especially in July during the peak temperatures. For example, if the couple has selected one of the wedding barns in Arkansas, or a hot springs Arkansas wedding, then you should plan to dress comfortably for heat and humidity. If you are wondering how much an officiant should charge for weddings in Arkansas, there are several factors to consider, including how experienced the officiant is, how much preparation will be involved, and if travel will be required. Obviously, the more time-consuming the event will be, the higher amount of compensation you can reasonably demand.
Arkansas Marriage Code
Marriage in Arkansas is governed by Title 9 of Arkansas' Statutes. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.A.C.A. ยง 9-11-215. Marriage ceremony. (a) When marriages are solemnized by a minister of the gospel or priest, the ceremony shall be according to the forms and customs of the church or society to which he or she belongs. When solemnized by a civil officer, the form observed shall be the one the officer deems most appropriate. View the Arkansas Statutes on the official state site.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for Arkansas state:
Arkansas Marriage Laws⇓ Show the rest
Arkansas County
302 South CollegeStuttgart, Arkansas
72160
Phone: (870) 673-2056
Arkansas County website »
Ashley County
205 East Jefferson StreetHamburg, Arkansas
71646
Phone: (870) 853-2020
Ashley County website »
Baxter County
1st Floor, Baxter County Courthouse 1 East 7th Street,Mountain Home, Arkansas
Phone: (870) 425-3475
Baxter County website »
Benton County
215 East Central, Suite 217Bentonville, Arkansas
72712
Phone: (479) 271-1013
Benton County website »
Boone County
100 N Main, Suite 201Harrison, Arkansas
72601
Phone: (870) 741-8428
Boone County website »
Calhoun County
309 West Main StHampton, Arkansas
71744
Phone: (870) 798-2517
Calhoun County website »
Carroll County
210 West Church StreetBerryville, Arkansas
Phone: (479) 423-2022
Carroll County website »
Chicot County
108 Main StreetLake Village, Arkansas
71663
Phone: (870) 265-8000
Chicot County website »
Clark County
Courthouse Square, 401 Clay StArkadelphia, Arkansas
71923
Phone: (870) 246-4491
Clark County website »
Cleburne County
301 W Main St, Room 1Heber Springs, Arkansas
72543
Phone: (501) 362-8149
Cleburne County website »
Cleveland County
Cleveland County Courthouse <br> 20 Magnolia StreetRison, Arkansas
71665
Phone: (870) 325-6521
Cleveland County website »
Columbia County
1 Court Square, Suite 1Magnolia, Arkansas
71753
Phone: (870) 235-3774
Columbia County website »
Conway County
115 South Moose StreetMorrilton, Arkansas
72110
Phone: (501) 354-9621
Conway County website »
Craighead County
511 South Main Street, Room 202Jonesboro, Arkansas
72401
Phone: (870) 933-4520
Craighead County website »
Crawford County
300 Main Street, Room 7Van Buren, Arkansas
72956
Phone: (479) 474-1312
Crawford County website »
Crittenden County
100 Court StreetMarion, Arkansas
72364
Phone: (870) 739-4434
Crittenden County website »
Cross County
705 East Union, Room 8Wynne, Arkansas
72396
Phone: (870) 238-5735
Cross County website »
Desha County
608 Robert S Moore Ave.Arkansas City, Arkansas
71630
Phone: (870) 877-2323
Desha County website »
Drew County
210 South Main StreetMonticello, Arkansas
71655
Phone: (870) 460-6260
Drew County website »
Faulkner County
801 Locust StreetConway, Arkansas
72034
Phone: (501) 450-4909
Faulkner County website »
Franklin County
211 W. Commercial StreetOzark, Arkansas
72949
Phone: (479) 667-3607
Franklin County website »
Garland County
501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 103Hot Springs, Arkansas
71901
Phone: (501) 622-3610
Garland County website »
Grant County
101 West Center, Room 106Sheridan, Arkansas
Phone: (870) 942-2631
Grant County website »
Greene County
320 West Court StreetParagould, Arkansas
Phone: (870) 239-6311
Greene County website »
Hempstead County
400 South WashingtonHope, Arkansas
Phone: (870) 777-7800
Hempstead County website »
Hot Spring County
210 Locust St.Malvern, Arkansas
72104
Phone: (501) 332-2291
Hot Spring County website »
Howard County
421 North Main StreetNashville, Arkansas
71852
Phone: (870) 845-7500
Howard County website »
Independence County
192 E Main StBatesville, Arkansas
72501
Phone: (870) 793-8828
Independence County website »
Jefferson County
101 East Barraque St, Suite 101Pine Bluff, Arkansas
71601
Phone: (870) 541-5322
Jefferson County website »
Johnson County
215 W Main StClarksville, Arkansas
72830
Phone: (479) 754-3967
Johnson County website »
Lafayette County
2 Courthouse SquareLewisville, Arkansas
71845
Phone: (870) 921-4633
Lafayette County website »
Lawrence County
315 W. Main St, Room 2Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
72476
Phone: (870) 886-1111
Lawrence County website »
Lee County
15 East Chestnut St.Marianna, Arkansas
72360
Phone: (870) 295-7715
Fax: (870) 295-7783
Lee County website »
Lincoln County
300 S Drew Street, Room 101Star City, Arkansas
71667
Phone: (870) 628-5114
Lincoln County website »
Little River County
351 North 2nd StreetAshdown, Arkansas
Phone: (870) 898-7210
Little River County website »
Logan County
366 N Broadway Ave #1Booneville, Arkansas
Phone: (479) 675-2951
Logan County website »
Lonoke County
301 N Center St, Room 202Lonoke, Arkansas
72086
Phone: (501) 676-2316
Lonoke County website »
Madison County
201 West Main StreetHuntsville, Arkansas
72740
Phone: (479) 738-2747
Madison County website »
Marion County
300 E. Old Main StYellville, Arkansas
72687
Phone: (870) 449-6226
Marion County website »
Miller County
400 Laurel Street Suite 105Texarkana, Arkansas
71854
Phone: (870) 774-1501
Miller County website »
Mississippi County
200 W Walnut StBlytheville, Arkansas
72315
Phone: (870) 762-2332
Mississippi County website »
Monroe County
123 Madison StreetClarendon, Arkansas
72029
Phone: (870) 747-3632
Monroe County website »
Montgomery County
105 Highway 270 WMt Ida, Arkansas
71957
Phone: (870) 867-3521
Montgomery County website »
Nevada County
215 E 2nd St S, Room 102Prescott, Arkansas
71857
Phone: (870) 887-2710
Nevada County website »
Ouachita County
145 Jefferson St S.W.Camden, Arkansas
71711
Phone: (870) 837-2220
Ouachita County website »
Phillips County
620 Cherry Street, Suite 202Helena, Arkansas
72342
Phone: (870) 338-5505
Phillips County website »
Pike County
225 Washington St.Murfreesboro, Arkansas
71958
Phone: (870) 285-2231
Pike County website »
Poinsett County
401 Market St.Harrisburg, Arkansas
72432
Phone: (870) 578-4410
Poinsett County website »
Pope County
100 West Main StreetRussellville, Arkansas
72801
Phone: (479) 968-6064
Pope County website »
Prairie County
208 Courthouse SqDes Arc, Arkansas
72040
Phone: (870) 256-4434
Prairie County website »
Pulaski County
401 W Markham St, Ste 100Little Rock, Arkansas
72201
Phone: (501) 340-8500
Pulaski County website »
Randolph County
107 W Broadway St,Pocahontas, Arkansas
72455
Phone: (870) 892-5522
Randolph County website »
Saline County
215 North Main Street, Suite 9Benton, Arkansas
72015
Phone: (501) 303-5630
Saline County website »
Sebastian County
35 So. 6th, Room 102Fort Smith, Arkansas
Phone: (479) 782-5065
Sebastian County website »
Sevier County
115 N 3rd St, Room 102De Queen, Arkansas
71832
Phone: (870) 642-2852
Sevier County website »
Sharp County
718 Ash Flat DriveAsh Flat, Arkansas
72513
Phone: (870) 994-7361
Sharp County website »
St. Francis County
313 S. Izard, Room 2Forrest City, Arkansas
72336
Phone: (870) 261-1725
St. Francis County website »
Stone County
107 West Main Suite 100Mountain View, Arkansas
Phone: (870) 269-3271
Stone County website »
Union County
101 N. Washington Ste 102El Dorado, Arkansas
Phone: (870) 864-1910
Union County website »
Van Buren County
273 Main St Room 2Clinton, Arkansas
72031
Phone: (501) 745-4140
Van Buren County website »
Washington County
280 N. College, Suite 300Fayetteville, Arkansas
72701
Phone: (479) 444-1711
Washington County website »
Woodruff County
500 N 3rd StAugusta, Arkansas
72006
Phone: (870) 347-2391
Woodruff County website »
