Search Crenshaw County Marriage Records

Crenshaw County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Luverne. This small county in south-central Alabama has just over 13,000 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Crenshaw County couples. Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. No license is needed. Marriage is now a contract between two people. You file the signed form at the Probate Court and the marriage is legal. The court also keeps copies of old marriage records going back many years.

Crenshaw County Probate Court

The Crenshaw County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The office sits in the county seat of Luverne. Staff can help you file a new marriage certificate. They can also find copies of old records. The Probate Judge runs this office and makes sure records are kept safe.

You can walk in during business hours. No appointment is needed for most services. The office is small but friendly. Staff know the local records well. They can help with questions about filing or searches. Call ahead if you want to make sure they are open.

Crenshaw County has one of the lowest recording fees in Alabama. At $70, it is tied with just a few other counties for the most affordable rate. This makes it a good choice if you live in the area and want to save on your marriage filing. The fee includes the recording of your certificate but not certified copies.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Crenshaw County is easy. Alabama passed Act 2019-340 in 2019. This law changed everything about getting married in the state. There is no license. There is no waiting period. You do not need a ceremony. Two people sign a form and file it. That is the whole process.

Start by getting the marriage certificate form. Go to the state website at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/ to download it. Two forms exist. One is for adults 18 and older. One is for minors aged 16 to 17 who have a parent sign off. Pick the form that fits your case. Fill it out with names, dates of birth, and other facts.

Both people must sign the form. You do not have to sign on the same day. The marriage date is when the last person signs. An Alabama notary public must watch you sign. The notary stamps the form. Out-of-state notaries do not work for this. The Crenshaw County Probate Court may have a notary on staff. Call ahead to ask.

Bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Luverne. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $70 fee. The clerk will record the form. You get a receipt. You are now married in the state of Alabama. The process takes just a few minutes once you are at the counter.

Per Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1, you must meet these rules to marry:

• Both people must be at least 18 years old
• Minors aged 16 or 17 need parental consent
• Both must have mental capacity to agree
• Neither can be married to someone else
• The two people cannot be close blood relatives

Alabama has no residency rule. You do not have to live here to file. You also do not need a blood test. If one or both people got divorced recently, there may be a 60-day wait. This gives time for any appeals. Ask the clerk if this applies to you.

Crenshaw County Marriage Fees

Crenshaw County has some of the lowest marriage fees in Alabama. The $70 recording fee is the base cost. This covers having the Probate Court record your marriage certificate. It does not include copies. Most people want at least one certified copy for their records.

Here are the common fees at the Crenshaw County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: $70
• Certified copy: $3 per page
• Additional certified copies: $3 per page each
• Notary service: varies

The office takes cash and checks. Ask about credit cards before you visit. Fees can change, so call ahead to confirm. The state also offers copies for $15 from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Add $6 for each extra copy. VitalChek online orders cost about $30 total with fees.

State records go back to August 1936. The Crenshaw County Probate Court has older records. If your marriage was before 1936, the county is your only option. Even for newer records, the county is often faster and cheaper than the state.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Crenshaw County marriage records in a few ways. The method depends on how fast you need it and what type of copy you want. Both the county and the state can help.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Luverne. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Tell the clerk the year if you know it. Staff will search and make copies. Most requests are same-day. The fee is $3 per page for a certified copy. You can also call the office and ask about mail requests. Include a check and a note with the details.

For state copies, use the Alabama Department of Public Health. Mail your request to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Include $15 for the search and one copy. You can also use VitalChek to order online. That site adds a service fee. State 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 ask for a copy. You do not have to be on the record. You do not need to give a reason. This makes it easy to get copies for family research or legal needs.

Historical Marriage Records

Crenshaw County was formed in 1866. Marriage records go back to the early days of the county. Old records hold different facts than modern ones. What you find depends on the year of the marriage.

Records from before 1888 show basic facts. They list the names of the bride and groom. They name bondsmen who backed the couple. They show the officiant who led the ceremony. The license bond amount and date are there too. These old records are often written by hand. The writing style can be hard to read.

After 1910, records got more detailed. They began to list parent names. Physical facts like height and eye color were added. Age, job, and number of past marriages appeared. These details help with family tree research in Crenshaw County.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of some Crenshaw County records. FamilySearch has free online indexes. Ancestry also has Alabama marriage data. Use these to find a record before you pay for a copy.

State Records Alternative

You can also get marriage records from the state level. The Alabama Department of Public Health keeps records from August 1936 to today. This is a good option if you cannot get to Luverne. It also helps if you are not sure which county the marriage was filed in.

State copies cost $15 for a search and one copy. Each extra copy is $6. You can order by mail or online. Mail goes to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. The phone number is (334) 206-5418. Online orders use VitalChek, which adds about $15 in fees. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek ships faster but costs more.

If you need a copy for use in another country, you may need an apostille. The Alabama Secretary of State handles this. The fee is $5 per document. Visit sos.alabama.gov for details on the process.

Cities in Crenshaw County

Crenshaw County has several small towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Crenshaw County Probate Court in Luverne. There are no large cities in the county that qualify for their own page on this site.

Towns in Crenshaw County include Luverne, Brantley, Rutledge, Glenwood, and Petrey. Luverne is the county seat and the largest town. It has about 2,800 people. Residents of all these places use the Probate Court on Glenwood Avenue for marriage filings. The small size of the county means shorter wait times at the office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Crenshaw County. You can file a marriage certificate in any Alabama county. If you live near a county line, you might find it easier to use a neighboring county. Check your address to see which county you are in.