Auburn Marriage Records
Auburn marriage records are filed at the Lee County Probate Court in Opelika. Auburn is the largest city in Lee County with about 83,000 residents. Home to Auburn University, the city has a large student population that often needs marriage services. The Probate Judge in Opelika keeps all marriage files and gives out certified copies of marriage certificates for Auburn residents.
Auburn Quick Facts
Where to File Marriage Certificates in Auburn
Auburn couples file their marriage certificates at the Lee County Probate Court. The main office is in Opelika at the Lee County Courthouse. That is about 10 miles from Auburn. Lee County also runs a satellite office in Auburn at Tiger Town for some services. Call ahead to check if marriage filing is offered at the Auburn location. Most marriage filings happen at the main Opelika courthouse.
| Office | Lee County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 215 South 9th Street Opelika, AL 36801 |
| Phone | (334) 737-3670 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | leeco.us/government/probate_judge |
The courthouse is in downtown Opelika near the railroad tracks. Street parking is free around the courthouse square. The drive from Auburn takes about 15 minutes on US Highway 29. Auburn University students make up about 40% of the city population. Many need marriage services during their time in Auburn. The Probate Court serves them all.
How to Get Married in Auburn
Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. The state no longer issues marriage licenses. There is no ceremony required. You do not need an officiant to marry. Marriage in Auburn is now a simple contract between two people. This makes it easy for Auburn couples to get married on their own terms.
Under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1, couples complete a Marriage Certificate Form. Both parties sign the form. An Alabama notary public watches them sign and adds a notary seal. The form then goes to the Lee County Probate Court for recording. Your marriage becomes legal when the court files the form. No judge, minister, or other person needs to perform a ceremony for Auburn residents.
To get married in Auburn, you need to:
- Download the Marriage Certificate Form from the state website
- Fill out all required fields with your information
- Sign the form in front of an Alabama notary
- File the form at the Lee County Probate Court within 30 days
- Pay the $87 recording fee
You must use an Alabama notary. An out-of-state notary will not work. Auburn has many notary services near the university and in town. Banks, UPS stores, and some law offices offer notary services. The Probate Court staff cannot notarize your form. You must have it notarized before you arrive to file your marriage certificate in Auburn.
Auburn Marriage Requirements
Alabama has few requirements to marry. There is no residency rule. You do not have to live in Auburn or even in Alabama to get married here. There is no blood test. There is no waiting period unless you were recently divorced. Auburn couples can marry the same day they file their form if they have it ready.
You must be 18 or older to marry without consent. Under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-4, people aged 16 or 17 can marry with written consent from a parent or guardian. The consent must be notarized. No one under 16 can marry in Alabama.
You cannot marry if you are already married. You cannot marry a close blood relative. If you were divorced in the past 60 days, you must wait before you can remarry in Auburn. This rule under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-10 applies to both parties. You need to bring a valid photo ID when you file. A driver's license or passport works. Both people do not have to be present at filing if the form is complete and notarized.
Common law marriage is no longer valid in Alabama. The state abolished it on January 1, 2017 under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-20. If you started a common law marriage before that date, it may still be recognized. New common law marriages do not exist in Auburn or anywhere in Alabama.
Auburn Marriage Fees
The Lee County Probate Court charges $87 to record a marriage certificate. This is the main fee for Auburn couples. The fee covers recording and one certified copy. You pay at the time you file. Cash, check, and cards are accepted at most probate courts. Call ahead at (334) 737-3670 to confirm payment options.
Other fees you may need to pay:
- Marriage certificate recording: $87.00
- Additional certified copies: $3.00 each
- Notary service (varies): $5.00 to $15.00
If you need extra certified copies later, you can get them from Lee County or from the state. The Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a certified copy. They have records from August 1936 to the present. You can order by mail or through VitalChek online. The state adds records about two to four weeks after the county files them.
How to Get Auburn Marriage Records
You can get copies of marriage records from Auburn in two ways. You can go to the Lee County Probate Court in Opelika. Or you can request them from the state. Both give you certified copies that are valid for legal use. The county option is faster if you need copies right away. The state option works well for mail orders.
Marriage records in Alabama are public records. Under Code of Alabama Section 22-9A-21, anyone can request a marriage certificate. You do not need to be the spouse. You do not need to show a reason. Auburn marriage records are open to the public without restrictions.
To get copies from the county:
- Visit the Lee County Probate Court in Opelika
- Provide names of both spouses and approximate date
- Pay $3.00 per certified copy
- Walk-in requests are often ready the same day
To get copies from the state, contact the Alabama Center for Health Statistics. Mail your request to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103. Include full names, marriage date, and a check for $15. You can also order online through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek adds a service fee. Call VitalChek at 1-888-279-9888 to order by phone. State records go back to August 1936 for Auburn marriages.
Historical Marriage Records in Auburn
Lee County was formed in 1866. Marriage records start from 1867. Earlier records for this area were kept by Macon, Chambers, Tallapoosa, and Russell counties. The Lee County Probate Court holds all county marriage records from 1867 to the present. Some early records may be incomplete due to damage or loss over the years.
Historical records contain different information than modern ones. Early records list the bride and groom names, the marriage date, and the officiant. Later records from 1910 onward add more details. These include parents' names, ages, birthplaces, and occupations. Pre-2019 records show the license issue date and ceremony date. Post-2019 records show the filing date as the marriage date.
For genealogy research on Auburn marriages, you have several options. The Lee County Probate Court can search its records. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of many county records. FamilySearch has some Lee County marriage records online for free. Ancestry has digitized Alabama marriage records. The Auburn University libraries also hold local history materials that may help with your search.
Auburn University Students and Marriage
Auburn University has about 31,500 students. Many choose to marry while living in Auburn. The new marriage system makes this easy. No ceremony is needed. Students can complete the form, get it notarized on campus or nearby, and file it in Opelika. The process can take as little as one day.
Auburn students from other states can marry in Alabama. There is no residency requirement. Out-of-state students just need to find an Alabama notary. The university area has several notary services. Once the form is filed at the Lee County Probate Court, the marriage is legal in all 50 states.
International students can also marry in Auburn. They need valid identification like a passport. The same rules apply. No visa status affects your right to marry in Alabama. The marriage certificate from Lee County is valid for immigration purposes. You can get certified copies with apostille certification from the Alabama Secretary of State if you need them for use in another country.
Legal Help in Auburn
Most Auburn couples do not need a lawyer to get married. The process is simple. But some people have questions about prenuptial agreements, name changes, or other legal matters. Several resources can help with marriage-related legal questions in Auburn.
Legal Services Alabama serves Lee County residents who qualify based on income. They handle family law matters and can answer marriage questions. Call (334) 737-3670 to ask about services in Auburn. The Lee County Bar Association can refer you to a family law attorney if you need one. Auburn University has a legal clinic that may help students with basic questions.
For name changes after marriage, you do not need a lawyer. You can update your name with the Social Security Administration, DMV, and other agencies using your marriage certificate. The Social Security office nearest to Auburn is in Opelika. Bring your certified marriage certificate and current ID. Name changes are free at Social Security. The DMV charges a fee for a new license with your married name.
Lee County Marriage Records
Auburn is in Lee County. All marriage filings go through the Lee County Probate Court in Opelika. The county serves about 174,000 residents across Auburn, Opelika, Phenix City, and smaller towns. For more on county fees, office hours, and other services, visit the Lee County marriage records page.
Nearby Cities
Auburn is part of the Auburn-Opelika metro area in east Alabama. Other major cities in the region include:
- Montgomery - about 55 miles west
- Birmingham - about 110 miles north
Each city files marriage certificates at its own county probate court. If you live near a county line, you can file in any Alabama county. Many Auburn residents near the Georgia border choose to file in Lee County for convenience.