Search Birmingham Marriage Records

Birmingham marriage records are kept at the Jefferson County Probate Court. Birmingham is the county seat and the largest city in Jefferson County with about 196,000 residents. All marriage certificates for Birmingham couples are filed at the Probate Court in downtown Birmingham. The Probate Judge office handles new filings and gives out certified copies of past records.

How Marriage Works in Birmingham

Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. The state got rid of marriage licenses. Now couples use a signed form instead. This applies to all of Birmingham and Jefferson County. You do not need a ceremony. You do not need an officiant. Marriage in Birmingham is now a contract between two people.

Under Code of Alabama § 30-1-9.1, here is what Birmingham couples must do to get married:

• Get the Marriage Certificate form from the state or county
• Fill out all the required fields with both names and info
• Sign the form in front of an Alabama notary public
• File the signed form at the Jefferson County Probate Court
• Submit within 30 days of the last signature

The marriage becomes legal when it is filed. Not when you sign it. Not when you have a ceremony. The filing date is your wedding date in the eyes of the law. This is a big change from the old system. Birmingham couples no longer wait for a license to be approved. You complete your own form and file it.

You can still have a wedding ceremony if you want. Many Birmingham couples do. But it is optional. The law does not require it. You can have a church wedding, a backyard party, or no event at all. The legal part happens when you file the form at the Probate Court in Birmingham.

Where to File in Birmingham

Birmingham residents file marriage certificates at the Jefferson County Probate Court. The main office is at the Jefferson County Courthouse in downtown Birmingham. This is where you bring your signed and notarized form. Staff will review it and record it in the county system. You pay the fee and get your certified copy on the spot.

The courthouse is near city hall in downtown Birmingham. Metered parking is on the street. Garages are nearby for longer visits. MAX Transit buses run to the area. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring valid photo ID. Leave large bags at home if you can.

Jefferson County has a second Probate Court office in Bessemer. That office serves the west side of the county. Birmingham is on the east side, so most Birmingham residents use the main downtown office. But you can file at either one. The Bessemer address is 1801 3rd Avenue, Bessemer, AL 35020. The phone there is (205) 481-4110.

Get Your Marriage Form

The first step is getting the Marriage Certificate form. Alabama has an online portal at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage where you can fill it out. This is the official state site. It guides you through each field. You can print the form when done.

You can also get blank forms from the Jefferson County Probate Court in Birmingham. Some people prefer to pick up the form in person. Staff can answer questions when you are there. Either way works. The form asks for:

• Full legal names of both people
• Date of birth for each person
• County and state of residence
• Social Security numbers (not shown on the public record)
• Affidavit that you meet all legal requirements

Both people must sign the form. An Alabama notary must witness those signatures. Out-of-state notaries are not allowed. The notary puts their seal and info on the form. Then you take it to the Probate Court in Birmingham to file.

Requirements for Marriage in Birmingham

Alabama has some rules about who can get married. These apply to all of Birmingham and the rest of the state. Under Code of Alabama § 30-1-4, both people must be at least 18 years old. If you are 16 or 17, you need written consent from a parent or guardian. No one under 16 can marry in Alabama.

Other rules for Birmingham marriages:

• You cannot marry a close blood relative
• You cannot already be married to someone else
• You must enter the marriage freely
• You must have the mental capacity to agree

There is no residency rule. You do not have to live in Birmingham. You do not have to live in Alabama. Anyone can file here. Many out-of-state couples come to Alabama to get married because there is no waiting period. You can complete the whole process in one day in Birmingham.

There is one exception. If you just got divorced, you must wait 60 days before you can marry again. This rule is in Code of Alabama § 30-1-5. The court checks this when you file. Other than that, there are no waiting periods for marriage in Birmingham.

Common law marriage was ended in Alabama. As of January 1, 2017, the state no longer recognizes new common law marriages. You must file the official form to be legally married in Birmingham.

Birmingham Marriage Fees

The fee to file a marriage certificate in Birmingham is $84.50. This is the Jefferson County recording fee. It includes one certified copy. You pay this when you file your form at the Probate Court. Cash, check, and cards are accepted.

Other fees at the Jefferson County Probate Court:

• Recording fee (with one certified copy): $84.50
• Extra certified copies: $2.00 per page
• Notary service (if needed): varies

The Probate Court does not help you fill out the form. They record it after you complete it. You need to bring your own notary or use a notary service before you arrive. Many banks, UPS stores, and law offices in Birmingham offer notary service for a small fee.

State certified copies cost more if you order from the Alabama Department of Public Health. The state fee is $15 for one copy and $6 for each extra. VitalChek adds a service fee of about $15 on top. For most Birmingham couples, getting copies from the Probate Court is cheaper and faster.

How to Search Marriage Records

Jefferson County has an online records search called Landmark Web. This lets you look up marriage records from Birmingham without going to the courthouse. You can search by name or date. The system has records going back many years. Some older records have been scanned and are viewable online.

To search Birmingham marriage records, you can:

• Use Landmark Web at the Jefferson County Probate Court site
• Call the Probate Court at (205) 325-5300
• Visit the courthouse in person to search files
• Order a state search through ADPH for $15

Marriage records in Alabama are public. Under Code of Alabama § 22-9A-21, anyone can request a copy. You do not have to be related to the people on the record. You do not need to give a reason. This is different from birth and death records, which have restrictions.

If you need an older record from before 1936, the county is your only option. The state did not start keeping marriage records until August 1936. Jefferson County has records from 1818. The Archives Department can help with historical research in Birmingham.

Get Copies of Marriage Records

There are two main ways to get a copy of a Birmingham marriage record. You can go to the Jefferson County Probate Court in person. Or you can order from the state health department. The county is faster for recent records. The state works better for records from other counties or if you live out of state.

At the Jefferson County Probate Court:

• Visit 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Room 400
• Ask for the record by name and date
• Pay $2.00 per page for certified copies
• Get copies the same day in most cases

From the Alabama Department of Public Health:

• Order online at VitalChek
• Mail a request with Form HS-14
• Pay $15 for the first copy, $6 for extras
• Allow 4-6 weeks for mail orders

The state mailing address is: Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. You can also call (334) 206-5418 with questions. State records cover August 1936 to the present. VitalChek phone orders are at 1-888-279-9888.

Legal Help in Birmingham

Most people do not need a lawyer to get married in Birmingham. The process is simple. But if you have questions about name changes, prenuptial agreements, or other legal matters, help is available. Several groups in Birmingham offer free or low-cost legal services.

Legal Services Alabama has its main office in Birmingham. They help with family law matters for people with low income. Call (205) 328-3540 to ask about their services. The toll-free number is (866) 456-4995. Their website at legalservicesalabama.org has more info.

The Birmingham Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. The first meeting costs up to $50 for 30 minutes. Call (205) 251-8006 to get a referral. The Alabama State Bar has a statewide line at 1-800-392-5660.

Alabama Probate Judges Association has an interactive map at alpja.org. This shows all 67 county probate courts. You can find contact info for any county from there. This is helpful if you live in Birmingham but want to file in a different county.

Historical Marriage Records

Jefferson County has marriage records going back to 1818. These early records look different from modern ones. They often list the names of the bride and groom, the bondsmen, the officiant, and the license bond amount. Starting around 1910, records added more details like parents' names, ages, occupations, and physical descriptions.

For historical research in Birmingham:

• Contact the Jefferson County Probate Court for records 1818 to present
• Visit the Alabama Department of Archives and History for microfilm
• Check FamilySearch.org for free digitized indexes
• Use Ancestry.com for Alabama marriage collections

The Alabama Department of Archives is at 624 Washington Avenue in Montgomery. They have microfilm copies of many county marriage records, including Jefferson County. This is a good resource for genealogy research on Birmingham families. Some records have been digitized and are searchable online through various family history sites.

Jefferson County Marriage Records

Birmingham is in Jefferson County, and all marriage filings go through the Jefferson County Probate Court. The county handles marriage records for over 35 cities and towns, with Birmingham being the largest. For more on the county probate office, full fee lists, nearby cities, and related resources, visit the Jefferson County marriage records page.

View Jefferson County Marriage Records