Chambers County Marriage Records Search

Chambers County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in LaFayette or Lanett. This east Alabama county has about 35,000 residents and borders Georgia. The Chambers County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings. Since Alabama's 2019 marriage law change, couples complete a form, get it notarized, and file it with the Probate Court. No license or ceremony is needed. The county has two offices in different time zones, which is unique in Alabama.

Chambers County Probate Court

The Chambers County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. Two offices serve residents. The main office is in LaFayette. A second office is in Lanett on the Georgia border. You can file your marriage certificate at either location. Both offices handle the same services.

Here is something unique about Chambers County. The two offices are in different time zones. LaFayette is in Central Time. Lanett is in Eastern Time. Keep this in mind when planning your visit. Call ahead to check hours and make sure the office will be open when you arrive.

The main courthouse is in downtown LaFayette. This is the county seat and has the primary Probate Court office. The Lanett office serves the eastern part of the county. It is convenient for people who live near the state line. Both offices are closed on weekends and state holidays.

Important: Two Time Zones

Chambers County is split between two time zones. This is rare in Alabama. The LaFayette office runs on Central Time. The Lanett office runs on Eastern Time. There is a one-hour difference between the two offices.

If you plan to visit, check which time zone you will be in. A trip planned for 4:00 PM Central Time would arrive at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The Lanett office would already be closed. Call ahead to confirm hours and avoid a wasted trip. Staff can tell you exactly when each office opens and closes.

Most of Chambers County follows Eastern Time. The LaFayette area, where the main courthouse sits, follows Central Time. This can be confusing for visitors. Your phone may switch time zones as you drive through the county. Use the posted hours for each office as your guide.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Chambers County is straightforward. Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. No license is needed. No ceremony is required. Marriage is a contract. Two people sign a form and file it. That makes the marriage legal.

First, get the form. Download it from the state website at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. There are two versions. One is for adults 18 and over. One is for minors 16 to 17 with parental consent. Pick the right form. Fill it out with names, dates of birth, and other required info.

Both parties must sign the form. You can sign on the same day or on different days. The marriage date is the date of the last signature. Sign in front of an Alabama notary public. Out-of-state notaries will not work. The Chambers County Probate Court may have notary services. Call to check or bring your own notary.

Take the signed form to either Probate Court office. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. Call to check the current amount. The clerk records your form and gives you a receipt. You are now legally married in Chambers County.

Under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1, these requirements apply:

• Both parties must be 18 or older
• Persons 16 or 17 need parental consent
• Both must have mental capacity
• Neither can be married to someone else
• The parties cannot be close blood relatives

Chambers County Marriage Fees

Chambers County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call the Probate Court to confirm current rates. Fees can change, so checking ahead is smart. The office accepts cash and checks. Ask about credit card options when you call.

Most Alabama counties charge between $70 and $90 to record a marriage certificate. Chambers County fees are in the typical range. Certified copies usually cost $3 per page. The Probate Court staff can tell you exact amounts.

If you want a copy from the state, the Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a search and one copy. Extra copies cost $6 each. VitalChek online orders run about $30 total. The state has records from August 1936 to today. For older records, contact the Chambers County Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

Getting copies of Chambers County marriage records is easy. You can get them from the county or from the state. The Probate Court has the original documents. The state has copies from 1936 forward.

For county copies, visit either Probate Court office. The LaFayette office and Lanett office both handle copy requests. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Staff will search and make copies. In-person requests are often done the same day. You can also call about mail requests.

For state copies, contact the Alabama Center for Health Statistics. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Include $15 for the search and copy. You can also order online at vitalchek.com for faster service. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek ships in 3 to 5 days.

Under Code of Alabama Section 22-9A-21, marriage records are public. Anyone can request a copy. You do not need to be related. You do not need a reason. Marriage records in Alabama are open to all.

Historical Marriage Records

Chambers County was formed in 1832. Marriage records go back to the county's earliest years. The Probate Court stores these old records. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

Records from before 1888 have basic information. They show names of the bride and groom. They list bondsmen who vouched for the couple. They name the officiant who led the ceremony. They show the bond amount and marriage date. Old records are handwritten and may be hard to read.

Starting in 1910, records got more detailed. They began to include parents' names. Physical descriptions were added. Age, occupation, and number of past marriages appeared. These details are useful for family history research.

For genealogy research, check online indexes first. FamilySearch and Ancestry have marriage indexes. Find the record, then contact the Probate Court for the actual document. The Alabama Department of Archives and History may have microfilm copies of old Chambers County records too.

State Records Alternative

You can also get marriage records from the Alabama Department of Public Health. The state has records from August 1936 to today. This is helpful if you cannot visit Chambers County or are not sure which county holds a record.

State copies cost $15 for a search and one certified copy. Extra copies are $6 each. Request by mail at P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. You can also use VitalChek online. Call (334) 206-5418 with questions. Mail requests take 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek orders ship faster but cost about $30 total.

For records before 1936, contact the Chambers County Probate Court. The state does not have older records. The county has records from the 1830s. Staff at either Probate Court office can help with historical searches.

Cities in Chambers County

Chambers County has several cities and towns. All file marriage certificates at the Chambers County Probate Court. You can use either the LaFayette or Lanett office. Major communities include LaFayette, Lanett, Valley, and Five Points. None of these cities have populations over 50,000, so they do not have separate pages on this site. All residents use the county Probate Court for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chambers County. If you live near a county line, check which county you are in. You can file your marriage certificate in any Alabama county. Georgia residents must file in an Alabama county to use Alabama's marriage system.

Chambers County also borders Troup County and Harris County in Georgia. Georgia uses a different marriage system. If you live in Georgia and want to use Alabama's simple process, file in Chambers County or another Alabama county.