Coosa County Marriage Records

Coosa County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Rockford. This small rural county sits in east-central Alabama. The Coosa County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings. Staff can help you file a new form or get copies of old records. Coosa County has about 10,400 residents and keeps marriage records going back to its founding in 1832.

Coosa County Probate Court

The Coosa 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 located on US Highway 231 in Rockford.

Coosa County is one of Alabama's smallest counties by population. The Probate Court serves the entire county from one office. Services are in person, by phone, or by email. Online records access is limited. The office is open on weekdays. Call or email ahead if you plan to visit.

The Coosa County Probate Court staff are helpful and know the local community well. They can guide you through the marriage filing process. They can explain which forms you need. They have notary services on site to help with your paperwork.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Coosa County is simple. Alabama changed its marriage laws 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 how you get married in Coosa County.

First, get the marriage certificate form. Go to dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/ to download it. There are two forms. One is for adults age 18 and over. One is for minors age 16 to 17 with parental consent. Pick the right form for your case. Fill it out with both names and birth dates. Include your county and state of residence.

Next, both people 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 Coosa County Probate Court has notaries on staff who can help you.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Rockford. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $72 recording fee. The clerk records your form and gives you a receipt. You are now legally married in Coosa 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

Coosa County Marriage Fees

Coosa County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The fees are set by state law and local policy. Coosa County has one of the lower recording fees in the state at $72. Call ahead to confirm current rates since fees can change.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: $72.00
• 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 Coosa County records, use the local Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Coosa 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 give you marriage record copies.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Rockford. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Staff will search the records and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day. You can also call or email the office about mail requests. The email is coosacountyprobate@outlook.com.

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

Coosa County has marriage records going back to 1832. That is when the county was formed. Old records are stored at the Probate Court in Rockford. 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 hard to read.

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

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has some Coosa 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 is your main source for Coosa County marriage records.

One of Alabama's Smallest Counties

Coosa County is one of the least populated counties in Alabama. Only about 10,400 people live here. Rockford is the county seat but has just a few hundred residents. The county is mostly rural with farms and forests. Lake Mitchell and Lake Jordan touch parts of the county.

Despite its small size, Coosa County offers full county services. The Probate Court handles marriage records like any other county. The process is the same statewide. You fill out the same forms. You follow the same steps. The only difference is the local recording fee.

Many people like small county offices. Lines are short or nonexistent. Staff have time to help. You get personal service. The Coosa County Probate Court offers that small-town feel. They can answer your questions and guide you through the process.

Email contact is a nice perk. Not all small counties offer this. If you have questions before your visit, you can email the office. They can tell you what to bring and what to expect. This makes the process smoother when you arrive.

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 Coosa 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 Coosa County Probate Court. They have original documents going back to 1832.

Cities in Coosa County

Coosa County has several small communities. All of them file marriage certificates at the Coosa County Probate Court in Rockford. There are no major cities in Coosa County that have their own pages on this site.

Towns in Coosa County include Rockford, Goodwater, Kellyton, and Weogufka. Goodwater is the largest town with about 1,500 people. All marriage filings go through the Rockford office no matter where you live in the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Coosa 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.