Find Dale County Marriage Records

Dale County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Ozark. This county in southeast Alabama has about 49,000 people. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Dale County. Alabama changed its laws in 2019. No marriage license is needed anymore. Couples sign a certificate form and file it with the court. One very important note: the Dale County Probate Court is closed every Friday. Plan your visit for Monday through Thursday only.

Dale County Probate Court

The Dale County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The office is in Ozark, the county seat. The Probate Judge runs the office and staff help with filings and searches. You can file a new marriage certificate or get copies of old records here.

Walk-ins are welcome during the office hours. No appointment is needed. Staff can answer questions about the process. They can also search for old records if you need copies. The office uses a four-day work week. This gives staff longer days but a three-day weekend.

One policy to know: Dale County staff will not help you fill out the marriage certificate form. You must complete it before you arrive. Download the form online and fill it out at home. Have it notarized before you visit. Then bring it in ready to file.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Dale County is straightforward. Alabama passed Act 2019-340 and changed the rules. There is no license needed. No ceremony is required. No officiant has to sign anything. Two people agree to marry, sign a form, and file it with the court.

Start by downloading the marriage certificate form. Go to dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/ to get it. Two versions exist. 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 completely before you visit the Probate Court.

Both parties must sign the form. You can sign on different days. The marriage date is the date of the last signature. You must sign before an Alabama notary public. The notary stamps the form. Out-of-state notaries do not work for this purpose. You need to find an Alabama notary before you arrive at the courthouse. Dale County staff will not notarize your form for you.

Bring the completed, notarized form to the Probate Court in Ozark. Remember they are closed Fridays. 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 legally married in Dale County.

Per Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1, these are the rules:

• Both people must be 18 or older
• Minors aged 16 to 17 need parental consent
• Both must have mental capacity
• Neither can be married to someone else
• The parties cannot be closely related

Alabama has no residency rule. You can live anywhere and file here. No blood test is needed. If either person was recently divorced, there may be a 60-day wait period. This allows time for appeals to be filed. Ask the clerk when you visit.

Dale County Marriage Fees

Dale County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call ahead to confirm current rates. The office accepts cash and checks. Ask about credit cards before you visit.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: approximately $77 to $78
• First certified copy: $5
• Additional certified copies: $3 each
• Notary service: not offered at this office

The state offers copies too. The Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a search and one copy. Extra copies cost $6 each. VitalChek online orders run about $30 total with fees. State records go back to August 1936. For older records, you need the Dale County Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

There are several ways to get copies of Dale County marriage records. The best way depends on how fast you need the copy and what type you want. Both the county and state can help.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Ozark. Remember they are closed Fridays. 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. You can also check the county website for online searching options.

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 a search and one copy. You can also order online at VitalChek. That site adds a service fee. State mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek ships faster.

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

Historical Marriage Records

Dale County was formed in 1824. Marriage records go back to the early years of the county. Old records contain different facts than new ones. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

Records from before 1888 show basic facts. They have names of the bride and groom. Bondsmen who vouched for the couple are listed. The officiant who led the ceremony appears. License bond amounts and marriage dates are noted. These old records are handwritten. The ink may be faded. The script can be hard to read.

After 1910, records got more detailed. They began to include parent names. Physical descriptions were added. Age, job, and number of prior marriages were noted. These details help people doing family research in Dale County.

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

State Records Alternative

The Alabama Department of Public Health is another way to get marriage records. The state keeps records from August 1936 to today. This works well if you cannot get to Ozark. 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 mail a request or order online. Mail goes to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Call (334) 206-5418 with questions. VitalChek adds about $15 in service fees but ships faster. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days.

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.

Fort Novosel and Military Families

Dale County is home to Fort Novosel, formerly Fort Rucker. This is the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. Many military families live in the area. If you are stationed at Fort Novosel, you can file your marriage certificate in Dale County.

Military members and their spouses use the same process as civilians. Get the form online. Have it notarized. File it at the Probate Court in Ozark. Remember the office is closed Fridays. This can be tricky for those with busy training schedules. Plan ahead.

Fort Novosel has its own legal assistance office on base. They can help with questions about marriage law. They may also have notary services available. Check with the legal office if you need help.

Cities in Dale County

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

Ozark is the county seat and the largest city. It has about 14,000 people. Other towns include Daleville, Level Plains, Midland City, Napier Field, Newton, and Pinckard. Daleville sits right next to Fort Novosel and has a lot of military families. All these places use the Probate Court on Court Square for marriage filings.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dale County. You can file a marriage certificate in any Alabama county. If you live near a county line, a neighboring county might work better for you. Check your address to see which county you are in.