Alabama Marriage Records

Alabama marriage records are legal documents containing information on marriages that occurred within the state limits. These files typically contain the following:

• The full birth name of the subject
• The date and location of the marriage/license issuance
• The names of the bride and groom
• The names of witnesses, who may include friends and family members.
• The name of the officiating minister (as applies)
• The previous marital status of the couple.
• A state certificate number

Marriage records have historically been created by both churches and civil authorities. Both church and current records can be especially valuable for genealogical research. In either case, they are considered a part of Alabama family court records, a subset of civil court records, accessible to interested and eligible members of the public.

Alabama marriage indexes are available in different formats, such as microfilm or documents. The Alabama Center for Health Statistics also has some records on rolls of 16-mm microfilm.

Note: State and county-level custodian agencies collate and maintain marriage records. These agencies aggregate this information in different ways. Hence, the information held within the records managed by various agencies may vary.

What Types Of Marriage Records Are Available In Alabama?

All marriage records in Alabama are considered public documents. Thus, interested public members can submit requests and obtain these records under these conditions:

• That they provide valid identification.
• They can provide sufficient information about the recorded subjects.

To obtain marriage records, an application may be submitted to the appropriate office, either in person or in writing. Written requests or documentation is usually required as part of the official record request process.

Records of all marriage certificates and licenses issued in Alabama are typically held by the Clerk of the County Probate Court in each judicial district. You can find records of marriage events before and after 1936 at the Probate Court. However, the Alabama Department of Public Health, via the Center for Health Statistics, is the state-level custodian of marriage certificates issued after 1936.

In addition, the state maintains marriage indexes for all marriage events from 1939 to 1969. You can access indexes as 16-mm microfilms. However, as of 2019, the County Probate Court no longer issues marriage licenses. Instead, intending couples are required to fill out the marriage certification form and submit it to the Probate Court for recording.

What Are Marriage Certificates In Alabama?

A marriage certificate is a legal document proving the marital status of the named parties. These documents are typically accessible to the general public via custodian agencies. To access them, you may send a request to these agencies. When requesting a marriage certificate, providing the full names of both spouses can help ensure accurate results. For example, the Clerk of the County Probate Court processes in-person requests for marriage certificates. However, access to some marriage certificates may be limited to specific office locations or periods. On the other hand, you may request them via mail, online, or in person from the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Marriage Licenses in Alabama

Marriage licenses are documents issued to couples legally eligible to marry to authorize their union. Before August 2019, the County Probate Court was responsible for issuing these licenses, and couples were required to submit a marriage license application to the Probate Court as part of the official process. However, per the Alabama Act 2019-340, marriage licenses are no longer issued in Alabama, but couples are required to submit a marriage certification form to the Probate Court following the marriage.

Per Alabama state laws, you can legally marry if you meet the following conditions:

• You are 18 years old or older.
• You are 16 years old or older with a signed “Affidavit of Consent” from a parent or guardian.
• The couples is not related by adoption or blood (Alabama Section 13A-13-3)

Note: Courts typically only accept and record a notarized form. The certification form serves as a declaration of the couple's intended marriage. You must also submit the form within 30 days of signing it.

Are Alabama Marriage Records Public?

Yes. Marriage records in Alabama are fully accessible to the public. Per the Alabama Public Records Request Policy, interested members of the public may request these records from custodian agencies. The Clerk of the County Probate Court documents all marriage certificates submitted to the court. In contrast, all Alabama marriage records are under the purview of the Alabama Department of Health.

To access these records, you must pay the required search fee and submit a valid identification card. You may also provide details about the record subjects for a conclusive search result. If both spouses are deceased, you may need to provide their death certificates along with your identification and payment to obtain the marriage record.

How to Find Marriage Records in Alabama

Online or physical copies of Alabama marriage records are accessible through the state Department of Public Health. The agency provides access to records of marriage events from 1936 to the present. To access these marriage records, record seekers may follow these steps:

Step 1: List out the details to locate the marriage record.

Record seekers may increase their chance of getting the record by providing one or more of this information:

• The couple’s full name, preferably the maiden name.
• County where the event occurred.
• Date of the marriage event.

Specifying a date range (start and end date) can help narrow the search results if the exact marriage date is unknown.

Step 2: Choose your preferred method for retrieving the record.

The Department of Public Health allows requesters to obtain marriage records online, via mail, or in person.

How to Find Alabama Marriage Records via Mail

Alabama marriage record requests may be made via mail in the following steps:

1. Download and fill out the request form; these are typically provided in both English and Spanish.
2. To the completed form, attach a $15 check or money order payable to the State Board of Health. The fee covers a certified copy of the marriage record. You must add $6 to the initial amount to get an additional copy
3. Include a copy of a government-issued identification card.
4. Next, mail the documents to this address:

Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, Alabama, 36103-5625.

You can also visit any county health department to obtain certified copies of marriage certificates in Alabama. The location of these departments are specified on the state's public health website.

Alabama has yet to have a state-owned online repository for marriage records. Nevertheless, record seekers may be able to find online copies of marriage certificates on third-party search sites.

You can also contact the County Probate Court to access marriage records. The County Court only keeps records of marriage events recorded in the county. Therefore, record seekers may request a copy via mail or in person. For mail-based requests, requests must contain details of the record subject in a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Note: The search fee for marriage records is non-refundable.

How to Get a Marriage License in Alabama

A marriage license is a legal document that authorizes a marriage event. Marriage licenses differ from a marriage certificate in terms of function and the process for obtaining the document.

In August 2019, Alabama's County Probate Courts stopped issuing marriage licenses. In their stead, intending couples are expected to obtain a marriage certification form after marriage event. Here's a step-by-step guide to getting a marriage license in Alabama:

1. The intending couples must visit the Alabama Center for Health Statistics website.
2. Next, they must download the marriage certification form for adults or minors.
3. Fill out the form and append the required signatures. You must submit the document to the Probate Court within 30 days of signing it.
4. Minors (above 16 years old) may be required to include a signed consent form from their parents or guardians.
5. Notarize the document using the services of a notary public. You may find a notary public in a public library, a bank, or a pharmacy.
6. Submit the notarized documents, along with a valid identification card and the recording fee.

Note: Recording fees generally differ for different counties in Alabama. For example, the Autauga County Probate Court charges $45 to record a marriage certificate. In comparison, you'll pay $84.50 to record a marriage certificate in Jefferson County.

Who Can Obtain Marriage Records In Alabama?

Under Alabama state laws, any interested member of the public can request and obtain marriage records. Nevertheless, the requester must provide enough information when searching for the record. In most cases, the requester may provide one or more of this information:

• Requester's name and signature.
• Requester's mailing address and phone number.
• Record subjects’ full birth names.
• The timeframe when the event took place.
• The County Probate Court that issued the license (for marriages before 2019).

Can You Lookup Online Marriage Records For Free in Alabama?

Some third-party websites in Alabama provide free access to marriage records. Marriage records on the site may be categorized into:

• Indexed records without images.
• Indexed records with images.
• Marriage records images without an index.

To access marriage records on a third-party platform, you must provide the following:

• The record subject's first and last name
• The place (county) where the event occurred.
• The year the event was recorded.

Is Alabama a Common Law State for Marriage?

No. Per Alabama Code Section 30-1-20, common-law marriages are not legal after January 1, 2017. Prior to this law, couples could enter into common-law marriages if they met the following conditions:

• They are legally eligible to marry.
• They announced their relationship to their social and family circles.
• They file a joint tax return (not compulsory)
• They share a common primary residence.
• They share a joint bank account, household expenses, and chores (not compulsory)

Under the old law, couples could obtain an affidavit of common law marriage. This notarized document served as legal proof of the relationship and enabled common-law couples to have the same rights as those in a customary marriage.

Does Alabama Recognize Common Law Marriages Formed In Other States?

Yes. Per the Full Faith and Credit Clause, Alabama approves common-law marriages established in states where such unions are legal. This means couples from common-law-approving states like Kansas can enjoy the same marital rights as those in Alabama.

What Other Marriages Are Illegal In Alabama?

As of 2025, incestuous marriages and bigamy are also illegal in Alabama. On the other hand, state laws recognize marriages between cousins. It also allows minors over 16 years old to marry legally. In 2015, same sex marriages were legalized in the state, overturning the 2006 ban.