Coffee County Marriage Records

Coffee County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court. This county has a unique setup with two county seats. Elba serves as the main county seat. Enterprise also has a courthouse. The Coffee County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings. You can file your marriage form at the Elba office. Coffee County has over 53,000 residents and keeps marriage records going back many years.

Coffee County Probate Court

The Coffee County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge runs this office. Staff can help you file a new marriage certificate. They can also get you copies of old records. Coffee County is one of only a few Alabama counties with two county seats. This gives residents more options for services.

The main Probate Court is in Elba. This is where you file marriage certificates. Enterprise also has some county services, but marriage filings go through Elba. The office is open on weekdays. Call ahead if you have questions about the process. Staff are happy to help with your marriage filing needs.

Coffee County has an online portal where you can view and print some records. Viewing is free. Printing costs $2 per page. This is a nice option if you need a quick look at a record. For certified copies, you still need to contact the Probate Court directly.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Coffee County is easy. Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. The state passed Act 2019-340. This law got rid of marriage licenses. Now you just need a marriage certificate form. No ceremony is needed. No officiant is required. Two people sign a form and file it. That makes you married in Coffee County.

Start by getting the form. Go to dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/ to download it. There are two versions. One is for adults 18 and older. One is for minors aged 16 to 17 with parental consent. Pick the right form. Fill it out with both names and dates of birth. Add your county and state of residence.

Both people must sign the form. You can sign on the same day or on different days. The marriage date is when the last person signs. You must sign in front of an Alabama notary. Only Alabama notaries work. Out-of-state notaries are not valid. The Coffee County Probate Court has notaries on staff. They can help you sign if you need it.

Take the signed form to the Elba office. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $90 recording fee. The clerk will record your form. You will get a receipt. Your marriage is now legal in Coffee County and all of Alabama.

Under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1, you must meet these rules:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old
• Persons aged 16 or 17 need parental consent
• Both parties must have mental capacity
• Neither party can be married already
• The parties cannot be related by blood

Coffee County Marriage Fees

Coffee County charges fees for recording marriage certificates. They also charge for copies. The fees are set by state law and local policy. Coffee County has one of the higher recording fees in the state. Call ahead to confirm rates since fees can change.

Here are the main fees at the Coffee County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: $90.00
• Certified copy: $3.00 per page
• Online viewing: Free
• Online printing: $2.00 per page

If you want a certified copy from the state, the Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15. This includes a search plus one copy. Extra copies cost $6 each. You can order online through VitalChek for about $30 total. The state has records from August 1936 to today. For older Coffee County records, use the local Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Coffee County marriage records in a few ways. The method you choose depends on how fast you need it. It also depends on if you need a certified or plain copy. Both the county and state can give you marriage record copies.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Elba. Bring an ID. Give them the names of both spouses. Staff will search the records. They can make copies right away. In-person requests are often same-day. Coffee County also has some records online. You can view them for free. Printing costs extra.

For state copies, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health. 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. That adds a service fee. The state has records from 1936 to today. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days.

Under Code of Alabama Section 22-9A-21, marriage records are public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to be related to the people on the record. You do not need to give a reason.

Historical Marriage Records

Coffee County has marriage records going back many decades. The county was formed in 1841. Old records are kept at the Probate Court. What you find depends on when the marriage took place. Records from different eras have different information.

Early records show basic facts. They list the bride and groom names. They show bondsmen who vouched for the couple. They name the person who led the ceremony. They give the marriage date. These old records are often handwritten. Some can be hard to read.

Records from 1910 onward got more detailed. They began to list parent names. Physical descriptions were added. Age and occupation appeared. Number of prior marriages was noted. These details help with family history research in Coffee County.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has some Coffee County records on microfilm. FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes online too. These can help you find a record before you request a copy. The Coffee County Probate Court is your main source for local records.

Two County Seats in Coffee County

Coffee County is one of only a few Alabama counties with two county seats. Elba is the main seat. Enterprise is the other. This setup came about due to the county's large size. It made services easier for residents in different parts of the county.

For marriage records, the Elba office is your main destination. This is where the Probate Court handles marriage filings. Enterprise has some county services but not marriage certificate filing. If you live closer to Enterprise, you will still need to go to Elba to file your marriage form. Call ahead to make sure you have the right office for what you need.

Enterprise is home to Fort Novosel, a major Army aviation base. The base brings many people to the area. Some of them marry in Coffee County. All of them file at the Elba Probate Court.

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 an option if you cannot visit the Coffee County Probate Court. It also helps if you are not sure which county a marriage was filed in.

State copies cost $15 for a search plus one certified copy. Extra copies are $6 each. You can request by mail or online through VitalChek. The state address is P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Call (334) 206-5418 with questions. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek orders ship in 3 to 5 business days but cost about $30 total.

For marriages before August 1936, the state does not have records. You must use the Coffee County Probate Court for those older filings. The Probate Court has the original documents. They can search their files for you.

Cities in Coffee County

Coffee County has several cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Coffee County Probate Court in Elba. There are no qualifying major cities in Coffee County that have their own pages on this site. All residents use the county Probate Court.

Cities and towns in Coffee County include Elba, Enterprise, New Brockton, Kinston, and Jack. Enterprise is the largest city with over 28,000 people. Elba has about 4,000 residents but serves as the main county seat. All marriage filings go through the Elba office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Coffee County. If you live near a county line, check your address to see which county you are in. You can file your marriage certificate in any Alabama county. Many people prefer to use their home county, but it is not required.