Houston County Marriage Records

Houston County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Dothan. This is one of Alabama's youngest counties, formed in 1903. Houston County has over 107,000 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for the county. Alabama changed its marriage system in 2019 with Act 2019-340. You no longer need a marriage license or a ceremony. Just file a signed form with the court and you are married. Houston County keeps records for anyone who needs copies.

Houston County Probate Court

The Houston County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge oversees this office. Staff can help you file a new marriage certificate or get copies of old records. The office is in the county seat of Dothan on North Oates Street.

Houston County is closed on Fridays. This is a key fact to note. The office runs on a four-day work week. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 AM to 5:30 PM. Do not show up on Friday. The doors will be locked. Plan your visit for earlier in the week.

Dothan is the largest city in southeast Alabama. The Probate Court serves a big population. Wait times can be longer than in smaller counties. Call ahead if you want to check on wait times or ask about services. The office accepts walk-ins during open hours.

Houston County has free online record search. You can look up marriage records from your home. The county also offers online ordering for some records. Visit their website to see what is available. This can save you a trip to Dothan.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Houston County is simple. Alabama no longer uses marriage licenses. You do not need a ceremony or an officiant. Marriage is now a contract. Two people sign a form and file it with the Probate Court. That is all it takes to be legally married.

First, get the marriage certificate form. You can download it from the state website at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. There are two forms. One is for adults age 18 and over. One is for minors age 16 to 17 who have parental consent. Pick the right form for your case. Fill it out with both names, dates of birth, and other facts.

Next, both parties sign the form. You can sign on the same day or on different days. The marriage date is the date of the last signature. You must sign in front of an Alabama notary public. Out-of-state notaries will not work. The Houston County Probate Court has notaries on staff. There may be a small fee for notary service.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Dothan. Remember the office is closed on Fridays. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $80 recording fee. The clerk will record the form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married in Houston County.

Houston County has a 60-day waiting period after a divorce. If you were recently divorced, you must wait 60 days before you can remarry in Houston County. This applies even if the divorce was in another state. Ask the clerk if you have questions about this rule.

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
• If divorced, wait 60 days before remarrying

Houston County Marriage Fees

Houston County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The fees are set by state law and county policy. The office accepts cash, check, and credit cards. Call ahead to confirm payment methods.

These are the main fees at the Houston County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: $80.00
• Certified copies: $3.00 each
• Notary service: Additional fee may apply

Houston County's recording fee of $80 is in the higher range for Alabama counties. This fee pays for the clerk to process and file your marriage certificate. Certified copies are $3 each, which is a low rate compared to many counties.

If you need a certified copy from the state instead, the Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a search plus one certified copy. Each extra copy costs $6. You can order online through VitalChek at about $30 total. The state has records from August 1936 to today. Houston County was only formed in 1903, so most records are also at the state level.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Houston County marriage records in several ways. The method you pick depends on how fast you need the copy and whether you need a certified or plain copy. Houston County offers good online options.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Dothan. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Staff can search the records and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day. Remember the office is closed on Fridays. You can also call ahead and ask about mail requests.

Houston County has free online record search. Visit the county website to search for marriage records. You can view indexes and find records before you visit. The county also offers online ordering for some records. This is a big help since the office is only open four days a week.

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 which adds a service fee. The state has records from 1936 to today. Mail requests take 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 your request.

Historical Marriage Records

Houston County has marriage records going back to 1903. This is when the county was formed. Houston County is one of Alabama's youngest counties. It was created from parts of Dale, Geneva, and Henry counties. Old records contain different information than modern ones.

Records from before World War I show basic facts. These include names of the bride and groom. They list bondsmen who vouched for the couple. They name the officiant who led the ceremony. They show the license bond amount and marriage date. These old records can help with family history research.

Starting in 1910, records got more detailed. They began to include names of parents. Physical descriptions of both parties appeared. Age, occupation, and number of prior marriages were added. These details help researchers trace family trees in Houston County.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of some Houston County records. FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes online. These can help you find a record before you request a copy from the Probate Court. Since Houston County was formed in 1903, all records also fall within the state's 1936 cutoff for many years.

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 Houston County Probate Court or if you are not sure which county the 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 in 3 to 5 business days but cost about $30 total.

The state option is good if you need a copy and cannot visit Dothan during the Monday through Thursday hours. VitalChek offers rush delivery for an extra fee. This can get your certified copy to you within days. The state office is open Monday through Friday, unlike Houston County.

Cities in Houston County

Houston County has several cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Houston County Probate Court in Dothan. Residents from anywhere in the county use this one office.

Other cities and towns in Houston County include Ashford, Columbia, Cowarts, Kinsey, Madrid, Taylor, and Webb. All residents file marriage certificates at the Houston County Probate Court in Dothan. Remember the office is closed on Fridays.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Houston 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, but many people prefer to use their home county.