Search Jackson County Marriage Records

Jackson County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Scottsboro. This northeast Alabama county has about 52,800 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings in Jackson County. You can file a new marriage certificate or get copies of old records at the same office. Jackson County was one of the original counties formed when Alabama became a state in 1819. Marriage records here go back to 1851.

Jackson County Probate Court

The Jackson County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge runs this office. Staff can help you file a new marriage certificate. They can also help you get copies of old records. The office is in the county courthouse in downtown Scottsboro.

You can visit the Probate Court during business hours. Walk-ins are welcome. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. Call ahead if you have questions about wait times or special needs. The staff can tell you what to bring when you visit. They are used to helping people from all over Jackson County.

The court has different hours on Monday than other days. On Monday, the office stays open until 6:00 PM. This gives people who work during the day more time to get there. On Tuesday through Friday, hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Plan your visit based on these times.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Jackson County is simple. Alabama changed its marriage system in 2019. You no longer need a marriage license. You do not need a ceremony. Marriage is now a contract. Two people sign a form and file it with the Probate Court. That is all it takes to be married in Jackson County.

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. There are notaries in Scottsboro who can help. The Probate Court may have notary service too. Ask when you call or visit.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Scottsboro. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $78.00 recording fee. The clerk will record the form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married in Jackson County. The recording fee includes one certified copy of your marriage certificate.

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

Jackson County Marriage Fees

Jackson County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The fees are set by state law and county policy. Call ahead to confirm current rates since fees can change. The Probate Court accepts cash and checks. Ask about card payments when you call.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: $78.00
• Recording fee includes one certified copy
• Additional certified copies: contact office for price
• Notary service: varies if available

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. For older Jackson County records, you must use the Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Jackson County marriage records in several ways. The method you pick depends on how fast you need the copy. It also depends on whether you need a certified or plain copy. Both the county and state can provide marriage record copies.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Scottsboro. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Staff can search the records and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day. You can also call ahead and ask about mail requests. Give the office as much detail as you can about the marriage you are looking for.

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 the request. This makes getting copies easy for everyone.

Historical Marriage Records

Jackson County has marriage records going back to 1851. This county was one of the original Alabama counties formed in 1819. Early records may have some gaps due to age and storage conditions over the years. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

Records from before 1888 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 are often handwritten. The script can be hard to read.

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 records are useful for family history research in Jackson County. Many people use them for genealogy projects.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes of some Jackson County marriage records online. These can help you find a record before you request a copy from the Probate Court. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery also has microfilm copies of some old records from this area.

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 Jackson County Probate Court in Scottsboro. It also works 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.

If you need a certified copy for use in another country, you may need an apostille. The Alabama Secretary of State provides this service. You must first get a certified copy from either the county or state. Then send it to the Secretary of State with the apostille fee. This process adds time but is needed for international use.

Cities in Jackson County

Jackson County has several cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Jackson County Probate Court in Scottsboro. The main city is Scottsboro, which is also the county seat.

Cities in Jackson County include Scottsboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport, Hollywood, Section, and Pisgah. There are no cities with over 50,000 people in Jackson County. All residents use the Probate Court in Scottsboro for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jackson 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.