Find Lee County Birth Records

Lee County birth records are available through the county health unit in Marianna and through the Arkansas Department of Health's Division of Vital Records in Little Rock. This page covers how to request a certified birth certificate, the fees you will pay, who is allowed to request a copy, and what resources exist for researching older historical birth records in Lee County.

Where to Get Lee County Birth Records

The Lee County Health Unit is the local office for certified birth certificate requests. It is located at 57 Main Street, Marianna, AR 72360. Phone: (870) 295-2171. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Same-day service is available if you arrive before 3:00 PM. Walk-in requests are typically completed while you wait.

Lee County has two county seats: Marianna for the Southern District and Aubrey for the Northern District. The health unit operates out of Marianna. If you need birth records and are coming from the northern part of the county, plan to visit Marianna or consider using the mail or online options instead.

The state ADH office is available for all requests. The Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records is at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2174. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, same-day for walk-ins who arrive by 3:00 PM. Since 2018, all 75 Arkansas county health units can issue certificates for any Arkansas birth, giving residents flexibility about which location to visit.

How to Request a Lee County Birth Certificate

Walk-in service is the fastest option. Go to the Lee County Health Unit at 57 Main Street in Marianna, show your ID, fill out the request form, and pay the fee. You will leave with the certificate as long as you arrive by 3:00 PM.

Mail requests are processed by the state ADH. Send to: Division of Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Include a completed request form, a legible copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Do not send cash. Processing for mail orders generally takes two to four weeks.

Online ordering is handled through VitalChek, the state's authorized third-party ordering service. Select Arkansas, complete the form, verify your identity, and pay by credit or debit card. VitalChek charges a service fee in addition to the standard $12 state fee, plus any delivery charges. Mailed copies arrive in about one to two weeks. For the fastest turnaround, the health unit walk-in option is still your best choice.

What You Need to Apply

Prepare these items before you go to the health unit or send a mail request. Having everything in order on the first visit prevents delays.

• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Full name as it appears on the birth record
• Date of birth (month, day, and year)
• Place of birth (county, city, or hospital in Arkansas)
• Both parents' full names as listed on the certificate
• Your relationship to the person named on the record
• Payment: $12 for the first copy, $10 for each additional copy at the same time

If you are requesting for someone other than yourself, be prepared to show proof of your relationship. Acceptable relationships include parent, legal guardian (with documentation), spouse, adult child, or attorney of record. Call the Lee County Health Unit at (870) 295-2171 if you have questions before your visit.

Birth Certificate Fees in Lee County

Arkansas sets uniform fees for certified birth certificates across all counties. The first copy costs $12. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $10. These fees apply at the Lee County Health Unit, the state ADH office, and via VitalChek. There are no additional local charges.

The $12 fee includes a non-refundable search charge. If the record cannot be located, the fee is not returned. Order all needed copies at once to save money. VitalChek orders carry an additional service charge and shipping fee on top of the state rate. Ordering in person or by mail is usually cheaper if you have those options available.

Who Can Access Lee County Birth Records

Access to certified birth certificates in Arkansas is governed by Arkansas Code 20-18-305. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to protect individual privacy. Not everyone is eligible to request a certified copy.

Qualified requestors for restricted Lee County birth records include the subject of the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with supporting documentation, the subject's spouse or adult child, an attorney representing a qualified party, and government agencies with a legal need. Anyone outside these categories cannot get a certified copy of a restricted record. Staff are required by law to turn away requests that do not meet the criteria.

Records that are 100 years old or older are open to anyone. No proof of relationship is needed for those documents. As of 2026, Lee County birth records from 1914 through 1926 fall into the public access window. The window expands by one year each January. Researchers, genealogists, and anyone with a general interest in family history can freely request these older records.

Note: Only certified copies serve as valid proof of birth for legal purposes, including passport applications, school enrollment, and Social Security registration.

Historical Lee County Birth Records

Arkansas required statewide birth registration starting February 1, 1914. No state vital records exist for births before that date. Lee County was created in 1873, so there is a period between the county's founding and 1914 when no official birth records were kept at the state level. For births in that window, and for any earlier era, alternate sources are needed.

The CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records guide for Arkansas outlines the scope of what the state holds and points to alternate resources for pre-1914 research. It is a useful reference for anyone starting a search for older Lee County birth records.

The CDC guide confirms the 1914 start date for Arkansas vital records and identifies the Division of Vital Records as the custodian for all certified birth certificate requests from that year forward.

For genealogical research on Lee County families, the FamilySearch Lee County, Arkansas Genealogy page provides free access to digitized records and lists what collections are available for this county. Census records, church documents, and other materials can help trace families from before 1914. The Lee County Clerk maintains marriage records from 1873, which can anchor timelines when birth records are not available.

Lee County Clerk Records

The Lee County Clerk does not issue birth certificates. Those come from the county health unit or the state ADH. However, the Clerk's office holds a range of other records that can be useful for legal and genealogical purposes.

Marriage records in Lee County date back to 1873, the year the county was created. These span more than 150 years and can serve as critical documents for family research when birth records are unavailable or incomplete. The Clerk also maintains probate court records, quorum court proceedings, and voter registration files. Probate documents sometimes reveal birth-related information in cases where ages, relationships, and family members are documented as part of estate or guardianship proceedings.

Lee County was carved from Phillips, Monroe, Crittenden, and St. Francis counties on April 17, 1873. Records before that date for the geographic area now covered by Lee County would be found in those parent counties. For general county information, the Association of Arkansas Counties page for Lee County lists basic county details. Contact the Lee County Courthouse in Marianna for current clerk office hours and services.

Nearby Counties

Lee County is in eastern Arkansas and borders several other counties with local health units for birth certificate requests.