Are Alabama Marriage Records Public?
Yes, Alabama marriage records are generally considered public records. This means they are available to anyone who can provide sufficient information to facilitate a marriage record search. Alabama marriage records are documents containing information pertaining to marriage proceedings within state limits. A marriage record typically features information regarding the individuals involved as well as the license issuance and marriage dates. There are different types of marriage records provided by the state. Where and how to obtain these records varies depending on the type of record requested.
How to Find Alabama Marriage Records
The Alabama Center for Health Statistics maintains the records of marriages held in the state from December 1936 to date. Marriage records generated before December 1936 are available from Alabama Probate Courts in counties where the respective marriage licenses were issued. Per state law, these records are categorized as Alabama public records and can be provided to almost anyone. However, only Alabama public marriage records are provided to members of the public. Certified copies bearing a raised seal are accessible to persons who satisfy the state's eligibility requirements.
| Marriage Record Search | County Health Department | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Autauga Health Department | 219 North Court Street Prattville, Alabama 36067 | Department Phone: (334) 361-3743 Fax: (334) 361-3718 |
| Baldwin County Health Department | 22251 Palmer Street P.O. Drawer 369 Robertsdale, Alabama 36567 | Department Phone: (251) 947-3618 Fax: (251) 947-3557 |
| Barbour County Health Department | P.O. Box 238 634 School Street Eufaula, Alabama 36027 | Department Phone: (334) 687-4808 Fax: (334) 687-6470 |
| Bibb County Health Department | 281 Alexander Ave, Centreville, AL 35042, United States | Department Phone: (205) 926-9702 Fax: (205) 926-6536 |
| Blount County Health Department | 1001 Lincoln Avenue Oneonta, Alabama 35121 | Department Phone: (205) 274-2120 Fax: (205) 274-2210 |
| Bullock County Health Department | 674 Hicks Industrial Boulevard Union Springs, Alabama 36089 | Department Phone: (334) 738-3030 Fax: (334) 738-3008 |
| Butler County Health Department | 350 Airport Road Greenville, Alabama 36037 | Department Phone: (334) 382-3154 Fax: (334) 382-3530 |
| Calhoun Health Department | 3400 McClellan Boulevard Anniston, Alabama 36201 | Department Phone: (256) 237-7523 Fax: (256) 238-0851 |
| Chambers County Health Department | 5 North Medical Park Drive Valley, Alabama 36854 | Department Phone: (334) 756-0758 Fax: (334) 756-0765 |
| Cherokee County Health Department | 833 Cedar Bluff Road Centre, Alabama 35960 | Department Phone: (256) 927-3132 Fax: (256) 927-2809 |
| Chilton County Health Department | 301 Health Center Drive Clanton, Alabama 35045 | Department Phone: (205) 755-1287 Fax: (205) 755-2027 |
| Choctaw County Health Department | 1001 South Mulberry Avenue Butler, Alabama 36904 | Department Phone: (205) 459-4026 Fax: (205) 459-4027 |
| Clarke County Health Department | 22600 Highway 84 East Grove Hill, Alabama 36451 Mailing Address P.O. Box 477 Grove Hill, Alabama 36451 | Department Phone: (251) 275-3772 Fax: (251) 275-8066 |
| Clay County Health Department | 86892 Highway 9 Lineville, Alabama 36266 | Department Phone: (256) 396-6421 Fax: (256) 396-9172 |
| Cleburne County Health Department | 90 Brockford Road Heflin, Alabama 36264-1605 | Department Phone: (256) 463-2296 Fax: (256) 463-2772 |
| Coffee County Health Department | Health Department/Environmental Services 2841 Neal Metcalf Road Enterprise, Alabama 36330 | Department Phone: (334) 347-9574 Fax: (334) 347-7104 |
| Colbert County Health Department | 1000 S. Jackson Highway Sheffield, Alabama 35660 | Department Phone: (256) 383-1231 Fax: (256) 383-8843 |
| Conecuh County Health Department | 102 Wild Avenue Evergreen, Alabama 36401 | Department Phone: (251) 578-1952 Fax: (251) 578-5566 |
| Coosa Health Department | 9518 U.S. Highway 231 Rockford, Alabama 35136 | Department Phone: (256) 377-1068 Fax: (256) 377-1067 |
| Covington County Health Department | 23989 Alabama Highway 55 Andalusia, Alabama 36420 | Department Phone: (334) 222-1175 Fax: (334) 222-1560 |
| Crenshaw County Health Department | 15 Hospital Drive Luverne, Alabama 36049 | Department Phone: (334) 335-2471 Fax: (334) 335-3795 |
| Cullman County Health Department | 601 Logan Avenue, S.W. Cullman, Alabama 35055 | Department Phone: (256) 734-1030 Fax: (256) 737-9646 |
| Dale County Health Department | 532 W. Roy Parker Road Ozark, Alabama 36360 | Department Phone: (334) 774-5146 Fax: (334) 774-2333 |
| Dallas County Health Department | 100 Samuel O. Moseley Drive Selma, Alabama 36701 | Department Phone: (334) 874-2550 Fax: (334) 875-7960 |
| DeKalb County Health Department | 2401 Calvin Drive, Southwest Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Department Phone: (256) 845-1931 Fax: (256) 845-2967 |
| Elmore County Health Department | 6501 U.S. Highway 231 Wetumpka, Alabama 36092 | Department Phone: (334) 567-1186 Fax: (334) 567-1186 |
| Escambia County Health Department | 8600 Highway 31 North Atmore, Alabama 36502 | Department Phone: (251) 368-9188 Fax: (251) 368-9189 |
| Etowah County Health Department | 709 East Broad Street Gadsden, Alabama 35903 | Department Phone: (256) 547-6311 Fax: (256) 549-1579 |
| Fayette Health Department | 215 1st Avenue NW Fayette, Alabama 35555 | Department Phone: (205) 932-5260 Fax: (205) 932-3532 |
| Franklin County Health Department | Franklin County Health Department 801 Highway 48 Russellville, Alabama 35654 Mailing Address Franklin County Health Department P.O. Box 100 Russellville, Alabama 35653 | Department Phone: (256) 332-2700 Fax: (256) 332-1563 |
| Geneva County Health Department | 300 County Road 41 Hartford, Alabama 36344 | Department Phone: (334) 684-2256 Fax: (334) 684-3970 |
| Greene County Health Department | 412 Morrow Avenue Eutaw, Alabama 35462-1109 | Department Phone: (205) 372-9361 Fax: (205) 372-9283 |
| Hale County Health Department | 670 Hall Street Greensboro, Alabama 36744 | Department Phone: (334) 624-3018 Fax: (334) 624-4721 |
| Henry County Health Department | P.O. Box 86 505 Kirkland Street Abbeville, Alabama 36310 | Department Phone: (334) 585-2660 Fax: (334) 585-3036 |
| Houston County Health Department | 1781 East Cottonwood Road Dothan, Alabama 36301 | (334) 678-2800 (334) 678-2817 |
| Jackson County Health Department | 204 Liberty Lane Scottsboro, Alabama 35769-4133 | Department Phone: (256) 259-4161 Fax: ( 256) 259-1330 |
| Jefferson County Health Department | 1400 Sixth Avenue South Birmingham, Alabama 35233 | Department Phone: (205) 933-9110 |
| Lamar County Health Department | 300 Springfield Road Vernon, Alabama 35592 | Department Phone: (205) 695-9195 Fax: (205) 695-9214 |
| Lauderdale County Health Department | 4112 Chisholm Road Florence, Alabama 35630 Mailing Address P.O. Box 3569 Florence, Alabama 35630 | Department Phone: (256) 764-7453 Fax: (256) 764-4185 |
| Lawrence County Health Department | 13299 Alabama Highway 157 Moulton, Alabama 35650 Mailing address: 13299 Alabama Highway 157 Moulton, Alabama 35650 | Department Phone: (256) 974-1141 Fax: (256) 974-5587 |
| Lee County Health Department | 1801 Corporate Drive Opelika, Alabama 36801 | Department Phone: (334) 745-5765 Fax: (334) 745-9830 |
| Limestone County Health Department | 20371 Clyde Mabry Drive Athens, Alabama 35611 | Department Phone: (256) 232-3200 Fax: (256) 232-6632 |
| Lowndes County Health Department | 507 East Tuskeena Street Hayneville, Alabama 36040 | Department Phone: (334) 548-2564 Fax: (334) 548-2566 |
| Macon County Health Department | 812 Hospital Road Tuskegee, Alabama 36083 | Department Phone: (334) 727-1800 Fax: (334) 727-7100 |
| Madison County Health Department | 301 Max Luther Drive NW Huntsville, Alabama 35811 Mailing address: P.O. Box 17708 Huntsville, Alabama 35810 | Department Phone: (256) 539-3711 Fax: (256) 536-2084 |
| Marengo County Health Department | 303 Industrial Drive Linden, Alabama 36748 | Department Phone: (334) 295-4205 Fax: (334) 295-0124 |
| Marion County Health Department | 2448 Military Street South Hamilton, Alabama 35570 | Department Phone: (205) 921-3118 Fax: (205) 921-7954 |
| Marshall County Health Department | 150 Judy Smith Drive Guntersville, Alabama 35976 | Main: (256) 582-3174 Fax: (256) 582-3548 |
| Mobile County Health Department | Mobile County Health Department 251 North Bayou St. Mobile, Alabama 36603 | Department Phone: (251) 690-8158 |
| Monroe County Health Department | 416 Agriculture Drive Monroeville, Alabama 36460 | Department Phone: (251) 575-3108 Fax: (251) 575-7935 |
| Montgomery County Health Department | 3060 Mobile Highway Montgomery, Alabama 36108 | Department Phone: (334) 293-6400 Fax: (334) 293-6410 |
| Morgan County Health Department | 3821 Hwy. 31 South Decatur, Alabama 35603 | Department Phone: (256) 353-7021 Fax: (256) 353-7901 |
| Perry County Health Department | 1748 South Washington St. Marion, Alabama 36756 | Department Phone: (334) 683-6153 Fax: (334) 683-4509 |
| Pickens County Health Department | 80 William E. Hill Drive Carrollton, Alabama 35447 | Department Phone: (205) 367-8157 Fax: (205) 367-8376 |
| Pike County Health Department | 900 South Franklin Drive Troy, Alabama 36081 | Department Phone: (334) 566-2860 Fax: (334) 566-8534 |
| Randolph County Health Department | 320 Main Street Roanoke, Alabama 36274 | Department Phone: (334) 863-8981 Fax: (334) 863-8975 |
| Russell County Health Department | 1850 Crawford Road Phenix City, Alabama 36867 | Department Phone: (334) 297-0251 Fax: (334) 291-5478 |
| Shelby County Health Department | 2000 County Services Drive P.O. Box 846 Pelham, Alabama 35124 | Department Phone: (205) 664-2470 Fax: (205) 664-4148 |
| St. Clair County Health Department | 1175 23rd Street North Pell City, Alabama 35125 | Department Phone: (205) 338-3357 Fax: (205) 338-4863 |
| Sumter County Health Department | 1121 North Washington Street Livingston, Alabama 35470 | Department Phone: (205) 652-7972 Fax: (205) 652-4331 |
| Talladega County Health Department | Physical Address: 1004 South Street E Talladega, Alabama 35160 Mailing Address: Talladega Health Department P.O. Box 455 Talladega, Alabama 35161 | Department Phone: (256) 362-2593 Fax: (256) 362-0529 |
| Tallapoosa County Health Department | 2078 Sportsplex Boulevard Alexander City, Alabama 35010 | Department Phone: (256) 329-0531 Fax: (256) 329-1798 |
| Tuscaloosa County Health Department | 2350 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405 | Department Phone: (205) 562-6900 Fax: (205) 562-6903 |
| Walker County Health Department | 705 20th Avenue East Jasper, Alabama 35501 | Department Phone: (205) 221-9775 Fax: (205) 221-8810 |
| Washington County Health Department | 14900 St. Stephens Avenue Chatom, Alabama 36518 | Department Phone: (251) 847-2245 Fax: (251) 847-3480 |
| Wilcox County | 107 Union Street Camden, Alabama 36726 | Department Phone: (334) 682-4515 Fax: (334) 682-4796 |
| Winston County | 110 Legion Road Double Springs, Alabama 35553 Mailing Address: 110 Legion Road Double Springs, Alabama 35553 | Department Phone: (205) 489-2101 Fax: (205) 489-2634 |
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in Alabama
Residents can find out if someone is married in Alabama by acessing vital or personal records maintained in the county. Since Alabama marriage law considers marriage records to be public records, requestors can query the relevant custodian to find Alabama marriage licenses or Alabama marriage certificates issued to the individuals. Queries may be directed to the Alabama Department of Public Health or the county clerk in the judicial district where they are resident.
How to Check Marriage Status Online
To check marriage status online, residents may visit the website of the local county clerk or search the online court dockets maintained by the county court clerk. Both custodians maintain an online database of documents that members of the public may search to find proof of an individual's marital status. The documents of interest, in this case, include the marriage license, marriage dissolution records, marriage certificates, divorce decree, or related divorce record information. The following information may be used to search for a marriage record of interest:
- The names of the subjects of the record
- The place and date the marriage license was issued
- The subject's birth date
- The place and date of the marriage
- The marriage license number
What is Considered a Marriage Record in Alabama?
Alabama marriage records are official documents proving that couples are legally married in the state. The two types of marriage records recognized in Alabama are marriage licenses and marriage certificates. Although these records serve different purposes, they share similar features and provide the following information:
- Full names of the parties involved in the unions recorded
- Where and when the recorded marriages occurred
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce certificates in Alabama and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. However, because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and dissolution of marriage records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
How to Look Up Public Marriage Records for Free
While requestors will likely be unable to find public marriage records for free, they may be able to view these records at minimal cost. To do so, the inquirer may visit the county courthouse in the county where the marriage license was issued and use the self-service computers available (if applicable to the county). The databases can be searched using relevant search queries and personal information pertaining to the individual of interest. However, if the requestor requires a copy of the marriage record, they will be required to pay a fee to cover the cost of copies; fees may be paid in cash or via money order payable to the custodian.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in Alabama?
Marriage certificates in Alabama are documents issued to couples after conducting marriage ceremonies. Marriage certificates can be certified or uncertified. The availability of both types varies. Certified copies of marriage certificates are primarily available to couples named on these records. Other eligible persons include the couples’ first-degree relatives and designated legal representatives. Certified copies are not available to third parties because they can be used to establish identity when applying for legal name changes, family insurance, dual citizenship, joint taxation, and loan applications.
How Do I Get a Marriage Certificate Form in Alabama?
Prospective couples can obtain marriage certificate forms in five simple steps:
- Print and carefully complete the Marriage Certificate Form provided on the Alabama Center for Health Statistics website
- Provide a government-issued photo ID as proof of identification
- Present the form and valid ID to a Notary Public for authentication
- Within 30 days of notarization, visit the probate court located in the county of choice and submit the completed form
- Pay applicable filing/recording fees
Minors between 16 and 17 years must submit a completed affidavit of consent forms alongside their marriage certificate forms. Additional requirements that some county probate courts may request include consenting parents’ IDs and proof of residency.
Provided IDs must be government-issued. They include but are not limited to a valid driver’s license, passport, original birth certificate, national ID card, and any state-issued photo ID, which provides satisfactory evidence that applicants’ names and faces match their IDs.
Essentially, the fee schedule for recording marriage certificate forms varies among counties. For instance, Jefferson County Probate Court charges $84.50, while Mobile County charges $70 for the same purpose. However, in most counties, the applicable fees do not exceed $100.
Family Court records can include marriage records and divorce records. These records contain the personal information of those involved, and their maintenance is critical should anyone involved wish to make changes. Because of this, both marriage and divorce records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records and may not be available through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How Do I Obtain a Copy of My Marriage Certificate in Alabama?
Order marriage certificates from the Alabama Center for Vital Statistics by physically visiting the office or sending a mail.
In Person:
Visit the Office of the Alabama Center for Vital Statistics with important information about the record in question. Also, bring along the appropriate fees and required documents. The applicable search/copying fee is $15 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same certificate ordered at the same time. Pay the total fee with a check or money order made payable to the “State Board of Health”. Deliver these to the requested room located at:
Alabama Department of Public Health
Center for Health Statistics
The RSA Tower
201 Monroe Street, Suite 1150
Montgomery, AL 36104
By Mail
To make a marriage certificate request by mail, download, print, and complete the Marriage Section of the Vital Records Application Form provided on the Alabama Center for Vital Statistics webpage. This form is also available in Spanish. Send the completed form along with appropriate fees, government-issued ID, and a self-addressed envelope to
Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
The first copy of a marriage certificate is $15, and each additional copy costs $6. The fee must be paid by check or money order made out to the “State Board of Health”.
What is Considered a Marriage License in Alabama?
Marriage licenses in the State of Alabama are written authorizations that permit intending couples to marry formally. In the past, a marriage license must be obtained before a marriage ceremony is performed and a certificate is officially issued. However, this is no longer the case in Alabama. In August 2019, marriage licenses were abolished and replaced with marriage certificate forms. As such, a license is no longer required for a marriage to be legally authorized in the state.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Alabama
Parties can apply for a name change after marriage in Alabama with an official Alabama marriage certificate. After obtaining the marriage certificate, the applicant must inform the Social Security Administration (SSA) if they intend to change their name after marriage. This process is essential as it makes the name change official. The requirements for applying for a name change with the SSA include:
- Completing a form SS-5 application
- Providing proof of name change, that is a certified copy of the couple's marriage certificate.
- Submitting proof of identity
It can take up to three weeks for the SSA to process an application for a name change. Driver's license, state-issued identification, and other documents will also need to be updated. Parties changing their name after marriage should visit a local probate office, licensing office, or Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Driver License Office to do this. The necessary documents include a completed application for a duplicate license form, proof of social security name change, and proof of identity.
Alabama Public Marriage Licenses
Formal marriage licenses are the widely known traditional documents issued to eligible applicants by the state’s Probate Courts. These documents give prospective couples the right to perform marriage ceremonies. Given that marriage licenses are no longer valid in the State of Alabama, intending couples must procure marriage certificate forms for the same purpose. While these forms are issued at the state level by the Alabama Department of Public Health, they must be completed in the presence of a public notary and then submitted to the Probate Court located in the county of choice. To be legally authorized to obtain a marriage certificate form, both parties must be 18 years or older, not related by blood, and not in any current marriage. Minors between 16 and 17 years are eligible after receiving parental consent.
Alabama Common Law Marriage Licenses
Usually, a marriage license is not a prerequisite for a common-law marriage to be legally recognized. A common law marriage in the state of Alabama is a marriage entered by cohabitants without a marriage license, ceremony, or solemnization. However, effective as of January 2017, common-law marriages were abolished and no longer considered valid in Alabama. Persons already in common law marriages before this date are exempt and still considered married by law.
Are Prenups Public Record in Alabama?
No. Prenups are considered private agreements signed by two intending parties ready for marriage. Hence, the agreement is not available to the public. However, in selected cases, these records may be subpoenaed from the office of the county clerk if it is relevant in a legal matter.
