Jefferson County Marriage Records

Jefferson County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Birmingham. This is Alabama's most populous county with over 674,000 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Jefferson County. Two court divisions serve the area: Birmingham and Bessemer. You can file your marriage certificate at either location. The court also issues certified copies of existing marriage records dating back to 1818.

Jefferson County Probate Court

The Jefferson 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. Jefferson County has two Probate Court locations. The Birmingham Division serves most of the county. The Bessemer Division serves the western part.

You can file your marriage certificate at either office. Both accept walk-ins during business hours. The offices are closed on weekends and state holidays. Call ahead if you want to check wait times or ask about specific services. Staff can answer questions about the filing process in Jefferson County.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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. The Jefferson County Probate Court has notaries on staff who can help. There may be a small extra fee for notary service.

Then bring the signed form to either Probate Court office in Jefferson County. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $84.50 recording fee. Cash, check, and cards are accepted. The clerk will record the form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married in Jefferson County.

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

Jefferson County Marriage Fees

Jefferson 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, checks, and credit cards.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: $84.50
• Certified copy: $2.00 per page
• Additional certified copies: $2.00 per page
• Notary service: varies

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 records, you must use the Jefferson County Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Jefferson 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. Both the county and state can provide marriage record copies.

For county copies, visit either Probate Court office in Jefferson County. 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. Jefferson County has online records through Landmark Web going back many years. Visit jeffcoprobatecourt.com to search.

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.

Historical Marriage Records

Jefferson County has marriage records going back to 1818. The county was formed in 1819 and has records from its earliest days. Old records contain different information than modern ones. 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 Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County Archives has some historical records. FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes 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 Jefferson County records.

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 Jefferson 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.

Cities in Jefferson County

Jefferson County has over 35 cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Jefferson County Probate Court. Residents can use either the Birmingham or Bessemer office, whichever is more convenient.

Other cities in Jefferson County include Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Bessemer, Trussville, Gardendale, Center Point, Hueytown, and Irondale. All file marriage certificates at the Jefferson County Probate Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jefferson 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.