Search Clark County Birth Records

Clark County birth records are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health and can be requested at the Arkadelphia health unit or at the state vital records office in Little Rock. This page explains how to get a certified Clark County birth certificate, what documents you need, what fees to expect, and how to track down older birth records for genealogy research.

Where to Get Clark County Birth Records

The Clark County Health Unit in Arkadelphia is the local office for birth certificate requests. It sits at 605 S. 10th Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923. You can reach the office by phone at (870) 246-6256. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Arrive before 3:00 PM to receive your certificate the same day.

Since 2018, all 75 county health units in Arkansas have been connected to the statewide vital records database. The Arkadelphia office can issue any Arkansas birth certificate, not just those from Clark County. You don't need to travel to Little Rock to get a record that originated elsewhere in the state.

The state office is also an option. The ADH Division of Vital Records is at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2174. Same hours, same fees, same database. The Clark County Clerk's office website notes that birth and death certificates are kept in Little Rock at the Bureau of Vital Records, and that residents may also visit their local health department, which is the Arkadelphia location at 605 S. 10th Street.

How to Request a Clark County Birth Certificate

Clark County birth certificate requests can be made in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. In person at the Arkadelphia health unit is the quickest route. Walk in with your ID and fee, complete the short application, and you'll usually have the certificate before you leave as long as you arrive before 3:00 PM.

Online ordering goes through VitalChek, which is the official online vendor for Arkansas vital records. Set up an account, fill in the details of the record you need, upload a scan of your photo ID, and pay by credit card. VitalChek adds a convenience fee. Delivery typically takes several business days after processing. Phone orders are also available through VitalChek for those who prefer to speak with someone.

Mail requests should be sent to the ADH Division of Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Include a filled-out application form, a clear copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Mail requests can take two to four weeks depending on current volume at the state office.

Note: Clark County birth certificates are state records. The Clark County Clerk in Arkadelphia does not issue birth certificates, as the Clerk's own website confirms.

What You Need to Apply

Having the right documents ready before you go to the health unit or drop your mail request saves time and avoids a second trip. Here's what you'll need for a standard Clark County birth certificate request.

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, U.S. passport, or state ID)
• Completed birth record request application form
• Full name on the birth record, date of birth, and county or city of birth
• Full names of both parents as they appear on the certificate
• Payment of $12 for the first certified copy
• Proof of relationship if requesting on behalf of another person

The application form can be downloaded from the Arkansas Department of Health website before your visit. If you are a listed parent requesting a certificate for your minor child, no extra paperwork is needed. Legal guardians should bring certified court-issued guardianship documents. Attorneys acting for a client must provide a signed authorization from that client. Government employees requesting records for official purposes need to show agency credentials.

Clark County Birth Certificate Fees

A certified Clark County birth certificate costs $12 for the first copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $10. These fees are set statewide and apply at every Arkansas health unit.

Arkansas also charges a $12 non-refundable search fee. This means even if the state database has no matching record, you still pay $12. For this reason, it helps to confirm that a record is likely to exist before submitting your request, particularly for births before 1914 or for births that may not have been registered.

The Arkadelphia health unit accepts cash and checks. The Little Rock state office also accepts money orders. VitalChek accepts credit and debit cards. Make checks or money orders payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Fees can be confirmed by calling the Clark County Health Unit at (870) 246-6256 before your visit.

Who Can Access Clark County Birth Records

Under Arkansas Code 20-18-305, birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to authorized persons. These include the registrant (if 18 or older), parents named on the certificate, a legal guardian with proper documentation, a spouse, adult children, and attorneys acting for any of these parties. Government agencies with a lawful purpose may also request records.

People outside those categories may be able to get a non-certified informational copy, but it won't carry the raised state seal and won't be accepted for legal uses. For a passport application, school enrollment, or other official need, only a certified copy with the state seal will work.

Once a birth record is 100 years old or older, it becomes a public record. Anyone can request a Clark County birth certificate from the state's early registration period (1914 through 1925 or earlier) without showing proof of a relationship to the person named. These open records are frequently used for genealogy and family history research. The rule applies equally at every Arkansas county health unit.

Historical Clark County Birth Records

Arkansas began recording births statewide on February 1, 1914. Clark County was created in 1818, so there are nearly 100 years of births in the county that were never captured in the state system. For births before 1914, the vital records database will have nothing.

The FamilySearch Clark County genealogy page is a good starting point for pre-1914 research. The County Clerk has marriage records from 1819 and probate records from the same year. These older records sometimes include birth details, ages, and family relationships that serve as substitutes for missing birth certificates. The Clark County Library in Arkadelphia has local history and genealogy collections, including old newspapers and family documents.

Some early Arkansas birth records that were registered post-1914 have been digitized by FamilySearch and are freely searchable online. The Arkansas History Commission in Little Rock holds older state records and can assist with archival research. Census records are also a major resource for tracking births before the state system began.

The Clark County official website explains that the County Clerk's office in Arkadelphia handles marriage licenses and other county records, and that birth certificates are kept at the state Bureau of Vital Records in Little Rock.

For more on Clark County clerk services and which records each office maintains, see the Clark County Clerk page.

The Clark County Clerk page confirms that birth and death certificates are not issued locally but are available through the local health department or the state Bureau of Vital Records in Little Rock, pointing residents to both options.

Clark County Clerk and Court Records

The Clark County Clerk's office is at 401 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923, phone (870) 246-4491. The Clerk handles marriage licenses, voter registration, Quorum Court records, and DBA filings. Marriage records go back to 1819. The Clerk does not issue birth certificates; those come from the health unit.

If you need a marriage license or a copy of an old marriage record, the County Clerk at 401 Clay Street is the right place. For court records including divorce decrees, the Clark County Circuit Court handles those. The Arkansas Courts directory for Clark County has Circuit Clerk contact details, and Arkansas Court Connect provides online access to some case data.

The Circuit Clerk maintains divorce records and other court filings. Divorce decrees sometimes contain birth dates and other personal information useful in family research. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Clark County Circuit Clerk directly. Keep in mind that court records, marriage records, and birth records are held by different offices, each with its own request process and fees.

Nearby Counties

Clark County is in south-central Arkansas and borders several counties with their own health units and vital records access points.