Colbert County Marriage Records

Colbert County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Tuscumbia. This county sits in the northwest corner of Alabama along the Tennessee River. The Colbert County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings. Staff can help you file a new form or get copies of old records. Colbert County has about 55,000 residents and keeps marriage records going back many years.

Colbert County Probate Court

The Colbert County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge oversees this office. Staff help people file new marriage certificates. They also provide copies of existing records. The office is in Tuscumbia, the county seat.

Colbert County has some online services. You can renew vehicle tags online. Business license services are also available online. For marriage records, you will need to visit in person or call the office. The Probate Court is open on weekdays. Call ahead to check on wait times or ask questions about the filing process.

The staff at the Colbert County Probate Court are helpful. They can walk you through the marriage filing steps. They can explain what forms you need. They can tell you about fees and payment options. The office serves all of Colbert County.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Colbert County is simple. Alabama changed its marriage system in 2019. The state passed Act 2019-340. This law ended marriage licenses. Now you use a marriage certificate form. No wedding is needed. No officiant is required. Two people sign a form and file it. That is all it takes to get married in Colbert County.

First, get the marriage certificate form. Go to dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/ to download it. There are two versions. One is for adults age 18 and over. One is for minors age 16 to 17 who have parental consent. Choose the form that fits your case. Fill it out with both names and birth dates. Add your county and state.

Next, both people sign the form. You can sign on the same day or on different days. The date of the last signature is your marriage date. You must sign in front of an Alabama notary. Only Alabama notaries count. Out-of-state notaries will not work. The Colbert County Probate Court has notaries on staff. They can witness your signatures if you need help.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Tuscumbia. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $70 recording fee. The clerk will record your form. You get a receipt. You are now legally married in Colbert County.

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

Colbert County Marriage Fees

Colbert County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The fees are set by state law and county policy. Colbert County has one of the lower recording fees in the state at $70. This is good news for couples looking to save money. Call ahead to confirm rates since fees can change.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: $70.00
• Certified copy: $3.00 per page
• Additional certified copies: $3.00 per page

If you need a certified copy from the state, the Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for 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 Colbert County records, use the local Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Colbert County marriage records in several ways. The method depends on how fast you need the copy. It also depends on whether you need a certified or plain copy. Both the county and state can provide marriage record copies.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Tuscumbia. Bring your ID. Give them the names of both spouses. Staff will search the records and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day. You can also call ahead to ask about mail requests. The office can tell you what they need from you.

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 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 request a copy. You do not need to be related to the people on the record. You do not need to state a reason for the request.

Historical Marriage Records

Colbert County has marriage records going back to its founding in 1867. The county was created after the Civil War. Old records are stored at the Probate Court. What you find depends on when the marriage took place. Records from different eras have different details.

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

Starting around 1910, records got more detailed. They began to list parent names. Physical descriptions of both parties appeared. Age, occupation, and number of prior marriages were added. These details help with family history research in Colbert County.

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

The Shoals Area

Colbert County is part of The Shoals region in northwest Alabama. This area includes four cities: Tuscumbia, Florence, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals. Together they form a metro area of about 150,000 people. The region sits along the Tennessee River.

Tuscumbia is the Colbert County seat. It is where you file marriage certificates for this county. Florence is across the river in Lauderdale County. If you live in Florence, you would use the Lauderdale County Probate Court. Sheffield and Muscle Shoals are also in Colbert County. Residents there use the Tuscumbia office.

The Shoals area is known for its music history. FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios recorded many hit songs. Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia. The area draws visitors and new residents. All of them file marriage certificates at the Colbert County Probate Court in Tuscumbia.

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 Colbert 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 faster but cost about $30 total.

For marriages before August 1936, the state does not have records. You must use the Colbert County Probate Court for those older filings. The Probate Court keeps the original documents.

Cities in Colbert County

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

Cities and towns in Colbert County include Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, Cherokee, Leighton, and Littleville. Muscle Shoals is the largest city with over 14,000 people. Tuscumbia has about 8,500 residents. All marriage filings for the county go through the Tuscumbia office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Colbert 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 for convenience.