DeKalb County Marriage Records Search

DeKalb County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Fort Payne. This northeast Alabama county has over 71,000 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for DeKalb County. Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. No license is needed now. Couples sign a certificate form and file it at the Probate Court. DeKalb County has two office locations to serve residents: one in Fort Payne and one in Rainsville.

DeKalb County Probate Court

The DeKalb County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge runs this office. Staff can help you file a new marriage certificate or find copies of old records. DeKalb County has two Probate Court locations. The main office is in Fort Payne. A satellite office is in Rainsville.

You can file your marriage certificate at either office. Both locations accept walk-ins during business hours. No appointment is needed. The two offices make it easier for residents across the large county to access services. DeKalb County is in the northeast corner of Alabama. It borders Georgia to the east.

One important note: the DeKalb County Probate Judge stopped performing wedding ceremonies in 2015. This was before Alabama changed its marriage law in 2019. Under the new law, no ceremony is required anyway. You just file the signed form. Staff can answer questions about the process when you visit.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in DeKalb County is straightforward. Alabama passed Act 2019-340 and changed how people get married. No license is needed. No ceremony is required. No officiant has to sign anything. Two people agree to marry, sign a form, and file it. That is the whole process.

Start by getting the marriage certificate form. 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 who have parental consent. Pick the right form for your situation. Fill it out with names, dates of birth, and other required details.

Both people must sign the form. You do not have to sign on the same day. The marriage date is the date of the last signature. You must sign before an Alabama notary public. The notary stamps the form to confirm they witnessed the signatures. Out-of-state notaries will not work. You need an Alabama notary only.

Take the completed form to either Probate Court office. The Fort Payne and Rainsville offices both accept marriage filings. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $74 recording fee. The clerk records the form and gives you a receipt. You are now married under Alabama law.

Per 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 closely related

Alabama has no residency rule. You can live anywhere and file in DeKalb County. No blood test is needed. If either person got divorced recently, there may be a 60-day wait. Ask the clerk about this when you file.

DeKalb County Marriage Fees

DeKalb County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The $74 recording fee is set by county policy. Call ahead to confirm since fees can change. The office accepts cash and checks. Ask about credit cards.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: $74
• Certified copy: contact office for current rate
• Additional certified copies: contact office
• Notary service: varies

The state also offers copies. The Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a search and one copy. Each extra copy is $6. VitalChek online orders cost about $30 total with fees. State records go back to August 1936. For older records, use the DeKalb County Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

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

For county copies, visit either Probate Court office. 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 usually same-day. DeKalb County has online record access for some 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. 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 request a copy. You do not need to be named on the record. You do not need to give a reason.

Historical Marriage Records

DeKalb County was formed in 1836. Marriage records date back to the county's early years. Old records contain different facts than modern ones. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

Records from before 1888 show basic facts. They list names of the bride and groom. Bondsmen who backed the couple are noted. The officiant who led the ceremony appears. License bond amounts and dates are there. These old records are handwritten. Some may be hard to read.

After 1910, records became more detailed. Parent names were added. Physical descriptions were included. Age, job, and number of past marriages were noted. These extra details help with family tree research in DeKalb County.

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

State Records Alternative

You can also get marriage records from the state. The Alabama Department of Public Health keeps records from August 1936 to today. This is a good option if you cannot get to Fort Payne or Rainsville. 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. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Call (334) 206-5418 with questions. VitalChek online orders add about $15 in fees but ship faster. Standard mail takes 10 to 15 business days.

For records used outside the U.S., you may need an apostille. The Alabama Secretary of State handles this for $5 per document. Visit sos.alabama.gov for information on the authentication process.

About DeKalb County

DeKalb County sits in the northeast corner of Alabama. It is known for its natural beauty. Little River Canyon National Preserve draws visitors from across the country. DeSoto Falls is another popular spot. The Lookout Mountain region runs through the county.

Fort Payne is the county seat and the largest city. It calls itself the "Sock Capital of the World" due to its hosiery industry. The band Alabama got its start here. Tourism and outdoor recreation are growing parts of the local economy.

Many people from Georgia visit DeKalb County for recreation. Some choose to file their marriage certificates here when visiting. Alabama has no residency rule. Visitors can file in any county. The two office locations make DeKalb County convenient for many couples.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has many towns and communities. All of them file marriage certificates at the DeKalb County Probate Court. You can use either the Fort Payne or Rainsville office. There are no cities in the county large enough to have their own page on this site.

Fort Payne is the county seat with about 14,000 people. Rainsville has about 5,000. Other towns include Collinsville, Crossville, Fyffe, Henagar, Ider, Mentone, Sylvania, and Valley Head. Mentone sits atop Lookout Mountain and draws tourists. All these places use the Probate Court for marriage filings.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb 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 your needs. Check your address to confirm which county you are in.

DeKalb County also borders the state of Georgia to the east. If you live near the state line, make sure you are filing in the correct state.