Arkansas Vital Records Apostille: Which Desk Handles Yours
Arkansas has two apostille desks at the Secretary of State, and sending a record to the wrong one is the classic delay. A marriage license or divorce decree sealed by an elected county official goes to the Elections Division. A certificate issued by the Department of Health goes to Business and Commercial Services. The apostille fee is $10 per document and the office aims for 24 to 48 hours.
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First question: who sealed the record?
A retiree from Hot Springs preparing a residency file in Santiago holds three papers. A county clerk’s marriage license, a Department of Health death certificate for a spouse, and a circuit court divorce judgment. Arkansas will apostille all three, but not at the same counter. The sealing official decides the desk.
The Secretary of State’s apostille brochure explains the split, and this guide turns it into a plan for someone who is not in Arkansas. Facts that are only partly confirmed are flagged confirm with the office.
Arkansas in a few lines
- Apostille fee
- $10 per document. A certification for a non-Hague country is $5.
- Published speed
- The office aims for 24 to 48 hours and charges no expedite fee.
- Elections Division
- State Capitol, Suite 026, Little Rock. Marriage licenses and decrees bearing an elected official’s seal. No credit cards.
- Business and Commercial Services
- 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201. Health Department certificates and notarized papers. Credit cards accepted.
- Copies come from
- Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records, 4815 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, or the county clerk.
- Online
- A BCS online filing portal has an apostille module. Whether it issues e-apostilles: confirm with the office.
- Phones
- BCS 501-682-3409. Elections 501-682-5070.
Birth, marriage, death and divorce, with the desk for each
The desk assignments come from the Secretary of State’s apostille brochure. Copy fees come from the Department of Health pages for marriage, divorce and death.
| Record | Who issues the certified copy | Seal and signature | Copy fee | Which apostille desk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth. | Department of Health Vital Records or a local health unit. | The state registrar’s signature on a Health Department certificate. | $12. | Business and Commercial Services. Elections is the wrong desk for birth. |
| Marriage. | The county clerk, or Health Department Vital Records. Years held by the Department: confirm with the office. | A county copy needs the courthouse’s raised embossed seal. | $10 from the Department. County clerk copies were $5 in Greene and Sebastian. Other counties: confirm. | Elections Division for a clerk’s license. Business and Commercial Services for a Department certificate. |
| Death. | Department of Health Vital Records or a local health unit. Eligible individuals only. | The Department registrar’s signature. The pages do not mention long or short forms. | $10 for the first copy and $8 for each extra. | Business and Commercial Services. |
| Divorce. | The circuit clerk of the county for the decree. The Department also issues divorce records. | A decree needs the seal of an elected official. | Department $10. Circuit clerk fee: confirm with the clerk. | Elections Division for a sealed decree. Department-issued record: confirm with the office. |
How both Secretary of State desks take your documents
The Secretary of State sets the apostille at $10 per document and a certification at $5. The brochure targets 24 to 48 hours, with no expedite fee. Court and county copies must carry the courthouse’s raised embossed seal. The authentications guide also says a notary may not certify a photocopy of a vital or public record, which closes off the usual workaround.
The Elections Division does not take credit cards. Pay it by cash, check or money order made out to the Arkansas Secretary of State. Business and Commercial Services accepts credit cards and runs an online filing portal with an apostille module. Either office may assist, according to the brochure, but the right desk is quicker. We could not confirm whether the portal returns electronic apostilles.
Both desks sit in Little Rock. Business and Commercial Services is at 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201. Call 501-682-3409 or 888-233-0325. The Elections Division is at the State Capitol, Suite 026. Call 501-682-5070 or 800-482-1127.
Pick the box that matches the seal
A short timeline when you cannot walk into Little Rock
- 1
Find out who sealed it
Look at the record you hold or plan to order. A county clerk or circuit clerk seal points to the Elections Division. A Department of Health certificate points to Business and Commercial Services.
- 2
Check who may order
Death records go to eligible individuals only, and ID is required for mail and walk-in requests. The $10 search fee is kept if no record is found, so be sure of names and dates.
- 3
Order for U.S. delivery
Order from the Department or the clerk and have the copy sent to a U.S. address. We can receive it, check the seal and prepare the submission.
- 4
Pay the right way
If the Elections Division is your desk, we pay by check or money order. For Business and Commercial Services a card works.
- 5
Ship overseas
Express couriers usually take two to five business days to Europe and Latin America. Panama is one hour ahead of Little Rock in winter and level in summer. Santiago is a few hours ahead depending on the season.
Order first or send ours? A recent certified copy with a clear raised seal can reach us unopened for a check. Otherwise the free review sorts out the order. If Arkansas lets an authorized third party order the record, we can help once we have confirmed it.
Six Arkansas mistakes that stall a file
Sending a Health certificate to Elections
The Elections Division handles records sealed by an elected official. Health Department certificates belong to Business and Commercial Services. Birth certificates are a frequent victim.
A credit card at the Elections window
Elections accepts cash, check or money order only. A rejected card holds up the whole package.
No raised embossed seal on a county copy
The brochure says court and county copies must carry the courthouse’s raised seal. A flat photocopy of a clerk’s copy does not qualify.
A notarized photocopy of a record
A notary may not certify a photocopy of a vital or public record in Arkansas. Order the real certified copy.
The wrong county office
Marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk, though some county pages route copies to the circuit clerk. Greene County is inconsistent. Call before ordering.
A death record ordered by someone not eligible
Only eligible individuals may order, and the $10 search fee is kept if nothing is found. Check names, dates and counties twice.
Chile and Germany, two Arkansas destinations
Chile. Chile joined the apostille convention in 2016. Its migration service says every foreign-issued document must be apostilled or legalized. For retirees and rentistas it also states time limits: public-institution documents should be attached within 60 days of issue unless the document sets its own validity. Documents in English need no translation. Arkansas’s 24 to 48 hour target helps here, but the clock starts when the Health Department issues the copy, so order it late in your planning.
Germany. Germany is a Hague country too. German missions say a U.S. marriage certificate used for a residence permit needs an apostille. We have not confirmed document-age or translation rules for the Blue Card or study permits, so ask the mission. Where a translation is needed, our ATA certified translations come notarized. We are not a sworn translator and we do not arrange sworn translations, so if a destination requires one, you hire the translator and we ship your apostilled documents to that person. Any other country is on the HCCH status table, and our apostille versus legalization page covers the rest.
What we handle for Arkansas files, and the cost
Boston Apostille Service is a private document preparation and courier service in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, near Boston. We are not affiliated with the Arkansas Secretary of State, the Department of Health or any consulate. From a free review of your papers we decide the desk, pay the fee the way that desk requires and track your file in ApostilleDesk.
For reference, our Massachusetts prices per document are Economy $149.95, Express $199.95 and Rush $385.95, state fee and return postage included. They do not carry over to Arkansas. After the review we confirm the Arkansas state fee and speed and send one flat-rate quote before you pay. Courier transit costs extra. Our pricing page and process page explain more, or you can open an order now.
Arkansas apostille FAQ
How do I get an Arkansas record apostilled from abroad?
Order the certified copy from the county clerk, circuit clerk or Department of Health, have it delivered to a U.S. address, then send it to the right Secretary of State desk. We run each step and ship the finished set overseas. A free review confirms which desk applies to your seal.
How much is the Arkansas apostille fee?
The Secretary of State charges $10 per apostille and $5 per certification, with no expedite fee. The Department of Health charges separate copy fees, such as $10 for a marriage record and $10 for the first death certificate plus $8 for each extra. Our quote is flat-rate and sent before you pay.
How long does an Arkansas apostille take?
The Secretary of State publishes a target of 24 to 48 hours with no expedite fee. That runs from the moment the office has your correct documents and payment. Add the days needed to get the certified copy and the courier days overseas, and allow slack for mistakes.
Which Arkansas apostille desk do I use for a marriage certificate?
It depends on who issued it. A marriage license sealed by the county clerk goes to the Elections Division. A marriage certificate issued by the Department of Health goes to Business and Commercial Services. Either desk may assist, but the right one is faster. We confirm during the free review.
Can the Arkansas Secretary of State apostille a divorce decree?
Yes in principle. Divorce decrees or judgments bearing an elected official’s seal go to the Elections Division, according to the brochure. A divorce record issued by the Department is less clear, so confirm with the office. We can ask the desk for you in the free review.
Is there an Arkansas e-apostille?
An online filing portal exists with a notary and apostille module, but we could not confirm that the apostille itself is issued electronically. Assume paper unless the office says otherwise. Ask before you plan a deadline around it. We can confirm the current process for your file.
Do I need a translation after the apostille?
That depends on the destination. Chile needs none for English documents, according to its migration pages. Germany and other countries may ask. Check with the receiving authority. We can provide ATA certified translations, but we are not a sworn translator and we do not arrange sworn translations.
Neighbouring and related guides
Since 2007 we have handled documents for people living abroad. Call Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Eastern, at (978) 424-4629.
From a Little Rock desk to a foreign office
Share the record and the country. We pick the right Arkansas desk in a free review and quote one flat rate before you pay.