This bill amends existing laws regarding marriage certificates and the procedures for obtaining replacements for lost, burned, or destroyed certificates of marriage in Arkansas. It specifies that a marriage bond will be considered null and void if the marriage license is duly executed, signed by an authorized person, and returned to the county clerk within sixty days. Additionally, the bill outlines the process for requesting a new certificate of marriage, which varies depending on the living status of the parties involved. If both parties are alive, they must submit a notarized affidavit; if one is deceased or incapacitated, the surviving party can request it; and if both are deceased, the heirs may submit a request.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a fee of ten dollars for filing the affidavit and obtaining a new certificate, while also nullifying the one-hundred-dollar bond previously required. It also repeals an existing statute related to the restoration of marriage records, streamlining the process for individuals seeking to replace lost marriage certificates. The new legal language clarifies the requirements and procedures for obtaining replacement certificates, ensuring that they have full force and effect from the date of the original marriage solemnization.

Statutes affected:
HB 1902: 9-11-218, 9-11-210, 9-11-213, 14-20-111
Act 845: 9-11-218, 9-11-210, 9-11-213, 14-20-111