HB1902

House Bill 1902 amends Arkansas law regarding the handling of marriage certificates and related bonds. The bill clarifies the conditions under which a marriage license bond is considered null and void, specifically ensuring it is voided if the license is duly executed, signed by an authorized person, and returned to the county clerk within 60 days. Furthermore, it establishes a new, streamlined procedure for obtaining a replacement marriage certificate if the original has been lost, burned, or destroyed. This process involves submitting a notarized affidavit to the county clerk by the parties involved, a surviving spouse, or heirs of the estate. The bill sets a filing fee of $10.00 for this replacement service and explicitly states that the replacement certificate will relate back to the date of the original solemnization. Finally, the bill repeals redundant and outdated sections of existing law related to the restoration of marriage records, effectively consolidating these procedures under a more modern and accessible framework.