Arkansas Marriage Laws | § 9-11-102 | Minimum Age — Parental Consent — Definition. Marriage Laws

Arkansas Code Annotated 9-11-102

Minimum age — Parental consent — Definition.

(a) Every male who has arrived at the full age of seventeen (17) years and every female who has arrived at the full age of seventeen (17) years shall be capable in law of contracting marriage. (b) (1) (A) However, males and females under the age of eighteen (18) years shall furnish the clerk, before the marriage license can be issued, satisfactory evidence of the consent of the parent or parents or guardian to the marriage. (B) As used in subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section, “satisfactory evidence” means a verified affidavit signed in the presence of a notary that states that the parent or parents or guardian of the minor consents to the marriage. (2) (A) The consent of both parents of each contracting party shall be necessary before the marriage license can be issued by the clerk unless the parents have been divorced and custody of the child has been awarded to one (1) of the parents exclusive of the other, or unless the custody of the child has been surrendered by one (1) of the parents through abandonment or desertion, in which cases the consent of the parent who has custody of the child shall be sufficient. (B) The consent of the parent may be voided by the order of a circuit court on a showing by clear and convincing evidence that: (i) The parent is not fit to make decisions concerning the child; and (ii) The marriage is not in the child's best interest. (c) There shall be a waiting period of five (5) business days for any marriage license issued under subdivision (b)(2) of this section. (d) If a child has a pending case in the circuit court, a parent who files consent under subsection (b) of this section shall immediately notify the circuit court, all parties, and attorneys to the pending case.

(Rev. Stat., ch. 94, § 2; C. & M. Dig., § 7037; Pope's Dig., § 9017; Acts 1941, No. 32, § 1; 1961, No. 497, § 1; 1963, No. 72, § 1; 1964 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 5, § 1; 1971, No. 145, § 1; 1973, No. 79, § 1; 1981, No. 371, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 55-102; Acts 2007, No. 441, § 1; 2008 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 3, § 1; 2009, No. 956, § 4; 2019, No. 849, § 1.)

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More Arkansas Marriage Laws

§ 9-11-213 Persons who may solemnize marriages.
§ 9-11-101 Marriage a civil contract — Consent of parties.
§ 9-11-103 Minimum age — Exception.
§ 9-11-104 Minimum age — Lack of parental consent or misrepresentation of age — Annulment.
§ 9-11-106 Incestuous marriages — Penalties for entering into or solemnizing.
§ 9-11-107 Validity of foreign marriages.
§ 9-11-108 Presumption of spouse's death — Validity of subsequent marriage.
§ 9-11-109 Validity of same-sex marriages.
§ 9-11-202 Form of license.
§ 9-11-204 Issuance of license unlawfully — Penalty.
§ 9-11-206 Clerk's fees.
§ 9-11-207 Applicants for marriage licenses to be sober.
§ 9-11-208 License not issued to persons of the same sex.
§ 9-11-215 Marriage ceremony.
§ 9-11-210 Bond of applicant.
§ 9-11-212 Application without other's consent — Penalties — Damages.
§ 9-11-214 Recordation of credentials of clerical character.
§ 9-11-217 Failure to sign and return license at time of marriage — Penalty.
§ 9-11-218 Return of executed license to clerk — Effect on bond.
§ 9-11-219 False return or record — Penalty.
§ 9-11-221 Certified copies of record as evidence.
§ 9-11-301 Execution of contract.
§ 9-11-302 Acknowledgment or proof.
§ 9-11-801 Title.
§ 9-11-304 Effect of unrecorded contract.
§ 9-11-305 Contract or copy as evidence — Conclusiveness.
§ 9-11-701 Persons acting for clerk.
§ 9-11-702 Marriages performed by mayors.
§ 9-11-703 Recordation of credentials of clerical character — Applicability of § 9-11-214.
§ 9-11-704 Marriages solemnized out of county.
§ 9-11-706 Marriage before entry of divorce decree.
§ 9-11-705 Marriages solemnized by municipal court judges.
§ 9-11-803 Covenant marriage.
§ 9-11-805 Form of affidavit.
§ 9-11-806 Other applicable rules.
§ 9-11-809 Suit against spouse — Separation.
§ 9-11-810 Effects of separation.
§ 9-11-811 Informational pamphlet.
§ 9-11-211 Military personnel — Waiver of certain license requirements — Proceedings.
§ 9-11-201 Licenses required.
§ 9-11-216 Solemnization contrary to law — Penalty.
§ 9-11-203 Issuance by clerks.
§ 9-11-102 Minimum age — Parental consent — Definition.
§ 9-11-802 Definitions.
§ 9-11-105 Marriage of underage parties voidable.
§ 9-11-209 Proof of age — Parental consent.
§ 9-11-807 Applicability to already married couples.
§ 9-11-205 Notice of intention to wed — Noncompliance, penalties, and effect.
§ 9-11-220 Duty of clerk on return of license — Issuance of certificate.
§ 9-11-303 Recordation — Effect.
§ 9-11-804 Content of declaration of intent.
§ 9-11-808 Divorce or separation.