§ 9-11-213 — Persons who may solemnize marriages

(a) For the purpose of being registered and perpetuating the evidence thereof, marriage shall be solemnized only by the following persons: (1) The Governor; (2) Any former justice of the Supreme Court; (3) Any judges of the courts of record within this state, including any former judge of a court of record who served at least four (4) years or more; (4) Any justice of the peace, including any former justice of the peace who served at least two (2) terms since the passage of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 55; (5) Any regularly ordained minister or priest of any religious sect or denomination; (6) The former mayor of any city of the first or second class who served at least five (5) years as mayor or the current mayor of any city or town; (7) Any official appointed for that purpose by the quorum court of the county where the marriage is to be solemnized; or (8) Any elected district court judge and any former municipal or district court judge who served at least four (4) years. (b) (1) Marriages solemnized through the traditional rite of the Religious Society of Friends, more commonly known as "Quakers", are recognized as valid to all intents and purposes the same as marriages otherwise contracted and solemnized in accordance with law. (2) The functions, duties, and liabilities of a party solemnizing marriage, as set forth in the marriage laws of this state, in the case of marriages solemnized through the traditional marriage rite of the Religious Society of Friends, shall be incumbent upon the clerk of the congregation or, in his or her absence, his or her duly designated alternate.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2021, No. 898,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Rev. Stat., ch. 94, § 10; Acts 1873, No. 2, § 1, p. 2; C. & M. Dig., § 7046; Pope's Dig., § 9026; Acts 1947, No. 231, § 1; 1977, No. 95, § 2; 1979, No. 693, § 1; 1983, No. 850, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 55-216; Acts 1987, No. 394, § 1; 1997, No. 862, § 1; 2001, No. 1068, § 1; 2003, No. 1185, § 16; 2007, No. 98, § 1