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Alabama Marriage Records.

Alabama Marriage Records Search

State-Level Resources

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) remains the principal state-level entity tasked with preserving and distributing marriage records in Alabama. The Center for Health Statistics, part of ADPH, oversees the crucial records system, encompassing marriage certificates.

ADPH started archiving marriage certificates in August 1936 for unions within Alabama. For marriages before August 1936, you must reach out to the probate office in the county where the marriage license got issued. As per Alabama law, marriage certificates are open records and can be requested by anyone providing adequate details for a record search and paying the correct fee.

To secure a marriage certificate from ADPH, you may choose various methods:

Online Ordering: Via the VitalChek service, you may order certificates with a major credit or debit card. Additional expenses occur for this option, including speedy delivery.
By Mail: Download the Mail-In Application and send it with the necessary payment to:
Alabama Vital Records P.O. Box 5625 Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625
In Person: Visit any county health department within Alabama to get a certified copy of an Alabama marriage certificate. Most copies are issued while you wait.

The fee to hunt for a marriage certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy. Each extra copy ordered simultaneously costs $6.00. Payments are non-refundable, with added charges for quicker service.

County-Level Resources

Baldwin County Probate Office

The Baldwin County Probate Office in Bay Minette handles the recording of marriage certificates. Since August 29, 2019, Alabama no longer needs a marriage license application, and probate courts stop issuing marriage licenses. Instead, couples must complete and file a marriage certificate form.

To submit a marriage certificate in Baldwin County:

Get the Alabama Marriage Certificate form from the Alabama Department of Public Health site.
Fill and notarize the form.
Hand in the form and fee ($75.00) to the Bay Minette Probate Office within 30 calendar days of the most recent notarized signature.

For added details, check the Baldwin County Probate Office Marriage License page.

Tuscaloosa County Probate Office

The Tuscaloosa County Probate Office follows nearly identical steps for recording marriage certificates. Couples should complete the Alabama Certificate of Marriage form (ADPH-HS50) and deliver it to the Probate Office for recording within 30 days of the latest date signed by either spouse.

The price for recording in Tuscaloosa County is $75.00, payable by cash or Visa/Mastercard. To learn more, go to the Tuscaloosa County Marriage Certificate page.

Houston County Probate Office

Houston County’s Probate Office deals with recording marriage certificates and issuing certified copies. The recording fee for a marriage certificate is $80. Certified copies may be picked up in person or sent by mail for $3.00 per copy.

To find more, visit the Houston County Marriage Certificates page.

Legal Requirements and Statutes

Alabama’s marriage rules are mainly dictated by Title 30, Chapter 1 of the Code of Alabama. Key laws cover:

Section 30-1-9.1: Rules for Marriage; Legitimacy
Section 30-1-5: Least age for entering marriage
Section 30-1-7: Who can officiate marriages

As these laws suggest, the minimal age for marriage in Alabama is 16 years old. Individuals younger than 18 need parental or guardian approval. The marriage stands valid once the fully completed, signed, and notarized Alabama Marriage Certificate form is registered by an Alabama probate court within 30 days of the last date either spouse signs.

How to Request Marriage Records

By Mail

To request marriage records by mail, here’s how:

Give the full names of both spouses before their first marriage.
State the date of marriage and county where the license was granted.
Provide your name, signature, mailing address, and contact number.
Send the request along with the right fee to the Alabama Vital Records office.

In-Person Requests

You can visit any county health department in Alabama to request a marriage certificate. Bring valid ID and have the fee ready. Often, same-day service is possible for in-person requests.

Online Requests

The VitalChek service allows for online ordering of marriage certificates. More fees may apply for this convenience, though it enables faster processing and delivery options.

Tips for Successful Searches

When searching for Alabama marriage records, here’s what helps:

Gather as much info as possible before starting your search, like full names, marriage date, and the county where the marriage occurred.
Watch for name variations or possible spelling issues in older records.
If you struggle to find a post-1936 record, try contacting the county probate office directly.
For genealogy research, check online archives or visit local libraries and historical groups.

What are Alabama Marriage Records?

Alabama marriage records serve as formal documents that offer lawful proof of marriages that happened within the state. These records are kept by the Alabama Department of Public Health and county probate courts. They function as essential legal and historical artifacts, providing glimpses into family lineages and serving as evidence of marital status for many legal or administrative needs.

Marriage records in Alabama generally include two key parts: marriage licenses and marriage certificates. It is vital to recognize that since August 29, 2019, major updates were introduced to Alabama’s marriage regulations through Act No. 2019-340. This law did away with the marriage license system and brought forth a new method grounded in marriage certificates.

Now, under existing law, couples who wish to marry in Alabama must finish and hand in a standardized marriage certificate form, which the probate court then records. This switch simplified the marriage procedure and removed the necessity for a distinct license request and official ceremony.

Types of Alabama Marriage Records

Marriage Certificates

The Alabama Marriage Certificate now acts as the primary document used to register and validate marriages in the state. According to Section 30-1-9.1 of the Code of Alabama, this document functions both as a marriage application and as the definitive record of the marriage itself.

The marriage certificate requires specific details, such as:

Complete legal names of both participants
Notarized statements from each person affirming they’re eligible to marry
Both individuals’ signatures

Once correctly filled out and logged by a probate court, this certificate confirms the lawful validity of the marriage. While couples may still opt for a ceremony, it is no longer a mandatory step for their marriage to be legally acknowledged in Alabama.

Historical Marriage Licenses

For marriages before August 29, 2019, marriage licenses remain vital and valuable historical records. These licenses were issued by county probate courts and required couples to apply in person before their marriage took place.

Information Found in Alabama Marriage Records

Alabama marriage records house an abundance of details about the married pair and the conditions of their union. Common elements include:

Full names of the spouses (including maiden names if relevant)
Date and place of the marriage
Ages of the spouses at the time they wed
Residences of both spouses
Parents’ names (sometimes)
Information on the officiant (for pre-2019 marriages)

This data serves numerous purposes, from tracing family roots to providing legal confirmation of marital status. The rich nature of these records makes them important tools for both personal and official endeavors.

Legal Aspects of Alabama Marriage Records

Public Access Laws

Alabama’s public records laws, particularly Section 36-12-40 of the Code of Alabama, regulate access to marriage records. This law, often called the Open Records Act, grants citizens the right to examine and copy public writings of the state, including marriage records.

The Alabama Department of Public Health confirms that marriage certificates are unrestricted, meaning anyone may request them without needing to show any specific connection to the people mentioned in the record. This policy of openness supports transparency and enables various legitimate uses for these records.

Recent Changes in Marriage Laws

The introduction of Act No. 2019-340 marked substantial modifications to Alabama’s marriage laws. Critical provisions of this act include:

Ending the need for marriage licenses
Establishing a uniform marriage certificate form
Eliminating the requirement for an official marriage ceremony
Setting up new rules for recording marriages

These shifts aimed to simplify the marriage process while preserving the legal strength of marriage records. The law also clarified that a marriage becomes effective when both parties have signed the certificate, provided it’s filed within 30 days.

Importance and Uses of Marriage Records

Alabama marriage records fulfill several crucial roles:

Legal Proof of Marriage: They deliver official confirmation of a marriage, essential for various legal and administrative processes.
Genealogical Research: Marriage records are key sources for those researching their family backgrounds.
Historical Documentation: These records add to the broader historical account of Alabama and its residents.
Administrative Purposes: Government bodies and private institutions often need marriage records for processes like name changes, benefit applications, and estate administration.

The varied utility of marriage records highlights their importance in both personal and public contexts.

Marriage Record Procedures in Alabama

Recording Process

Under current Alabama rules, the steps for creating a marriage record involve:

Couples obtain and complete the standardized Alabama Marriage Certificate form.
Both partners sign the form and have their signatures notarized.
The finished form is submitted to any Alabama probate court for recording within 30 days of the final signature.
The probate court files the certificate and sends a copy to the Alabama Center for Health Statistics.

This streamlined system ensures that all marriages are properly documented and recognized by the state.

Amendments and Corrections

Errors on marriage certificates can be fixed via an amendment procedure. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, amendments must start through the probate court that initially filed the marriage certificate. This often involves submitting an “Amendment to Alabama Marriage Certificate and Decree of Correction” form to the proper probate court.

The amendment procedure maintains the accuracy of marriage records while keeping their standing as legal documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back do Alabama marriage records go? The Alabama Center for Health Statistics has records starting August 1936. Earlier ones are kept at county probate offices.
What information do I need to request a marriage record? You’ll need both spouses’ full names, the marriage date, and the county where the license was given.
What’s the cost to get a marriage certificate in Alabama? The price is $15.00 for the first copy, with $6.00 for each extra copy ordered together.
Can I request a certified marriage certificate online? Yes, certified copies may be ordered online via the VitalChek service, though extra charges apply.
How long does it take to receive a marriage record after asking for it? Mail requests take around 7-10 days to process. Online orders through VitalChek can be expedited for an added fee.
Are Alabama marriage records public? Yes, marriage records in Alabama are public and accessible to anyone who supplies sufficient details and pays the required fees.
What’s the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate? Since August 29, 2019, Alabama stopped issuing marriage licenses. Now, the marriage certificate serves as both the application and the official marriage record.
Can I request a marriage record for someone else? Yes, marriage records in Alabama are open, and anyone may request them.
What if I can’t find the marriage record I’m looking for? If you’re unable to find a record after 1936, try contacting the county probate office directly. For earlier records, check with local historical societies or genealogy resources.
How do I correct an error on my Alabama marriage certificate? Mistakes on a marriage certificate must be amended through the Alabama county probate court that issued the marriage license or recorded the marriage certificate. Reach out to the correct probate office for detailed steps on the correction process.