Marriage licenses in Arkansas are granted at the county level, although they can be used to marry anywhere in the state. If you are under the age of 21, bring a state-certified copy of your birth certificate, a valid passport, or an active military identity card to the county courthouse. An official from the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services will review these documents with you and may ask for additional information regarding your marriage application. It is not necessary to receive legal approval from your parent or guardian to get married. The only requirement is that you are able to consent to marriage without coercion or undue influence. Parents or guardians must give their consent in writing before a marriage license can be issued. The written permission form can be downloaded from the Arkansas Secretary of State's website. You can find out more about getting married in Arkansas by visiting its website. They offer free online training courses about how to plan a wedding year round in any location in the state. Arkansas was one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage, doing so in May 2015. Prior to this change, there were only eight other states where same-sex marriages were legally available: California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington. Same-sex couples are allowed by law in Arkansas to adopt children. They can also foster care for up to 12 months if they cannot come up with the required fees.