Cullman County Marriage Records

Cullman County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in the city of Cullman. With almost 90,000 people, this is one of the faster-growing counties in north Alabama. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Cullman County residents. Alabama does not require a marriage license anymore. Since 2019, couples sign a certificate form and file it at the Probate Court. The court also keeps copies of older marriage records and can provide certified copies.

Cullman County Probate Court

The Cullman County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge runs this office. Staff help people file new marriage certificates and find old records. The main office is in downtown Cullman. It sits on 2nd Avenue near the county courthouse.

Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. You do not need an appointment for most things. The staff can answer questions about the filing process. They can also help you search for old records if you need copies. Cullman County is busy, so there may be a short wait at peak times. Call ahead to check.

Cullman County has grown fast in recent years. More people means more marriages. The Probate Court handles hundreds of filings each year. The office has online tools for some services like tag renewals, but marriage filings must be done in person.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Cullman County is simple. Alabama passed Act 2019-340 and changed the whole system. No license is needed now. No ceremony is required. No officiant has to be present. Marriage is a contract. Two people agree to marry, sign a form, and file it.

First, get the marriage certificate form. You can download it at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. There are two versions. One is for adults 18 and over. One is for minors aged 16 to 17 with parental consent. Pick the right one. Fill it out with both names, dates of birth, and other required facts.

Both parties must 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 public. Only Alabama notaries work for this. The Cullman County Probate Court has notaries who can help. There may be a small fee for notary service.

Take the signed form to the Probate Court in Cullman. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. The clerk records the form and gives you a receipt. You are now married under Alabama law. The process takes just a few minutes at the counter.

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

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

There is no residency rule. You can live anywhere and still file in Cullman County. No blood test is needed. If you or your partner got divorced recently, there may be a 60-day wait. This allows time for any appeals. Ask the clerk about this when you file.

Cullman County Marriage Fees

Cullman County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call the Probate Court to confirm current rates before you visit. Fees can change from time to time. The office accepts cash, checks, and most credit cards.

Here are the typical fees at the Cullman County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: approximately $71 to $74
• Certified copy: $3 per page
• Additional certified copies: $3 per page each
• Notary service: varies

If you want a certified copy from the state, the Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a search plus one copy. Extra copies are $6 each. Online orders through VitalChek cost about $30 total with fees. State records go back to August 1936. For older records, you must use the Cullman County Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

There are several ways to get copies of Cullman County marriage records. The best method depends on how fast you need the copy and what kind of copy you want. Both the county and the state offer this service.

For county copies, go to the Probate Court in Cullman. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Give the clerk the year if you know it. Staff will search and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day. Cullman County has some online record access for property searches. Visit the county website to see what is available.

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 for faster service. The state has records from August 1936 to today. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek ships in 3 to 5 days but costs more.

Under Code of Alabama Section 22-9A-21, marriage records are public. Anyone can request a copy. You do not have to be on the record. You do not need a reason for the request. This makes research and legal needs easy to handle.

Historical Marriage Records

Cullman County was created in 1877. Marriage records date back to the county's early days. German settlers founded the area and the county is named for Colonel John G. Cullman. Old records hold different facts than modern ones. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

Records from before 1888 are basic. They list names of the bride and groom. They name bondsmen who vouched for the couple. They show the officiant and the license bond. These records are often handwritten. The script can be hard to read. Older German names may have different spellings.

After 1910, records got more complete. They added parent names. Physical descriptions were noted. Age, job, and prior marriages were included. These details help with family history work in Cullman County.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm copies of some Cullman County records. FamilySearch and Ancestry have online indexes. These can help you find a record before you pay for a copy from the Probate Court.

State Records Alternative

The Alabama Department of Public Health offers another way to get marriage records. The state keeps records from August 1936 to the present day. This option works well if you cannot get to the Cullman County Probate Court. It also helps when you are not sure which county the marriage was filed in.

State copies cost $15 for a search and one copy. Extra copies are $6 each. You can request by mail or online. Mail goes to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Call (334) 206-5418 with questions. VitalChek orders add about $15 in fees but ship faster. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days.

For records needed outside the country, you may need an apostille. The Alabama Secretary of State does this for $5 per document. Visit sos.alabama.gov for more information on that process.

Cities in Cullman County

Cullman County has many towns and communities. All of them file marriage certificates at the Cullman County Probate Court. There are no cities in the county large enough to have their own page on this site.

The city of Cullman is the county seat and the largest town. It has over 16,000 people. Other towns include Good Hope, Hanceville, Holly Pond, Fairview, Dodge City, and Garden City. Hanceville is home to Cullman Area Technical College. All these places use the Probate Court on 2nd Avenue SW for marriage filings. The central location makes it easy to reach from anywhere in the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cullman County. You can file a marriage certificate in any Alabama county. If you live close to a county line, a neighboring county might be more convenient. Check your address to confirm which county you are in.