To become ordained in Arkansas and officiate weddings, you need to do two separate things: get ordained through a religious organization, then record those ordination credentials with an Arkansas county clerk before you perform any ceremony. Ordination alone gives you religious standing. It’s the county clerk recording, required by Arkansas Code § 9-11-214, that gives you legal authority to solemnize a marriage in the state.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-214 – Recordation of Credentials of Clerical Character Performing a ceremony without that recording is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of at least $100.
Step One: Get Ordained
Arkansas does not set educational, theological, or age prerequisites for ordination itself. Any requirements come from the organization that ordains you. Traditional denominations often expect seminary study, mentorship, and supervised ministry, and that path can take three to seven years. Online ordination organizations, including groups like the Universal Life Church and American Marriage Ministries, ordain applicants through a short online form. Most ask only that you be at least 18, give your legal name, and affirm a desire to serve. The process usually takes minutes and is free.
The statute authorizes “any regularly ordained minister or priest of any religious sect or denomination” to solemnize marriages.2Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-213 – Persons Who May Solemnize Marriages Arkansas law does not define “regularly ordained,” and no published Arkansas appellate decision has ruled on whether online ordination satisfies that standard. In practice, county clerks routinely accept credentials from online ordination bodies. If you are going the online route, order your physical credentials and record them with a county clerk well ahead of any scheduled wedding so you are not scrambling at the last minute.
Once ordained, request a physical ordination certificate or minister’s license from your organization. A raised seal or notarized signature carries more weight at the clerk’s counter than a plain printout. Ask for a letter of good standing at the same time; some counties want one.
Step Two: Record Your Credentials With a County Clerk
This is the step people skip, and it’s the one that actually matters. Section 9-11-214 states that no minister may solemnize a marriage until credentials have been recorded with “the county clerk of some county in this state” and the clerk has issued a certificate confirming the recording.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-214 – Recordation of Credentials of Clerical Character
Recording in one Arkansas county covers you statewide. The statute says “some county,” not “each county.” You do this once, then you can officiate weddings anywhere in Arkansas.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-214 – Recordation of Credentials of Clerical Character
What to Bring
Requirements vary a bit by county, but plan on:
- Your ordination certificate or minister’s license, ideally in physical form with a raised seal or notarized signature.
- A signed, dated, and notarized letter of good standing from an officer of your ordaining organization if the county requests one. Benton County lists this among its requirements.3Benton County Arkansas. Benton County Marriage License Information and Requirements
- A short application form where the county uses one. Garland County has a downloadable form for filers by mail.4Garland County, AR. Minister Credentials
- The filing fee. Garland County and Miller County each charge $5. Other counties may charge slightly different amounts, and some accept only cash or money orders.4Garland County, AR. Minister Credentials
Call the specific county clerk’s office before you show up to confirm the fee, accepted payment methods, and whether a letter of good standing is required. Pulaski County, which covers Little Rock, confirms credentials must be recorded before you perform any ceremony.5Arkansas Pulaski County Circuit Clerk. Marriage License
Keep the certificate the clerk gives you. You will need to note the county and date of recording on every marriage certificate you sign.
Step Three: Perform the Ceremony
Arkansas gives ministers wide latitude in how they conduct the ceremony itself. Under § 9-11-215, when a minister solemnizes a marriage, it “shall be according to the forms and customs of the church or society to which he or she belongs.”6Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-215 – Marriage Ceremony Write your own vows, follow a traditional liturgy, or adapt the structure to the couple’s wishes. There is no state-mandated script.
Before the ceremony, confirm the couple has a valid Arkansas marriage license from a county clerk. Getting the license is the couple’s job, not yours, but verify it’s in hand. Without a license, no ceremony you perform will be legally registered.
Step Four: Sign and Return the License
Your obligations don’t end when you pronounce the couple married. Arkansas Code § 9-11-217 requires you to sign and return the marriage license to the parties at the time of the marriage.7Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-217 – Failure to Sign and Return License On the marriage certificate itself, you must include a statement identifying the county where and the date when your ministerial credentials were recorded.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-214 – Recordation of Credentials of Clerical Character
Failing to sign and return the license is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500. Filing a false return is a separate misdemeanor with a minimum $100 fine.7Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-217 – Failure to Sign and Return License Beyond the fine, sloppy paperwork can leave the couple with real problems proving their marriage, affecting insurance benefits, property rights, and more.
Penalties for Skipping the Credential Step
Arkansas attaches criminal penalties to three separate slip-ups:
- Performing a ceremony without recorded credentials is a misdemeanor under § 9-11-214(c), with a fine of at least $100.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-214 – Recordation of Credentials of Clerical Character
- Solemnizing a marriage contrary to law is a misdemeanor under § 9-11-216, with a fine of $100 to $500.8Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-216 – Solemnization Contrary to Law
- Failing to sign and return the license is a misdemeanor under § 9-11-217, with a fine of $100 to $500.7Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-217 – Failure to Sign and Return License
An improperly solemnized marriage can also create legal uncertainty about whether the marriage is valid at all, forcing the couple through extra steps to confirm their status. Record your credentials before you officiate anything.
Keeping Your Authority Valid
Arkansas does not require you to re-register, pay renewal fees, or file periodic updates once your credentials are on record with a county clerk. Your legal authority continues as long as your underlying ordination remains valid.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 9-11-214 – Recordation of Credentials of Clerical Character
Whether your ordination stays valid depends on your ordaining organization. Most online ordination bodies treat ordination as permanent. Traditional denominations may tie your standing to ongoing requirements like doctrinal agreement, continuing education, or good standing in the congregation. If your ordaining organization revokes your credentials, your Arkansas authority ends with them.
Keep your original ordination certificate, any letter of good standing, and the clerk’s recording certificate together in a safe place. You’ll need the recording county and date every time you complete a marriage certificate, and a clerk may ask to see the underlying credentials at any point.