Lamar County Marriage Records

Lamar County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Vernon. This rural northwest Alabama county has about 14,000 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Lamar County. You can file a new marriage certificate or get copies of existing records at the same office. Lamar County sits on the Mississippi border in the western part of the state.

Lamar County Probate Court

The Lamar 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 on Highway 17 in Vernon.

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. Staff can tell you what to bring when you visit. As a small county, wait times are often short. The courthouse is moving to a new location so check the address before you go.

Lamar County has some marriage records available online for recent years. For older records, you need to visit in person or request by mail. The staff is helpful and used to working with people doing family research. Give them as much detail as you can about what you need.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Lamar 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 Lamar 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 Vernon and other towns who can help. Some banks and law offices offer notary service.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Vernon. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. Call ahead to confirm the current amount. The clerk will record the form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married in Lamar County. The process is fast and easy.

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

Lamar County Marriage Fees

Lamar County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call the Probate Court to confirm current rates since fees can change. The fee is in line with other small Alabama counties. Ask about payment methods when you call.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: contact office for current fee
• 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 Lamar County records, you must use the Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Lamar 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 Vernon. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Staff can search the records and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day in this small county. You can also call ahead and ask about mail requests. Give the office as much detail as you can.

Lamar County has some records searchable online for recent years. This can help you confirm that a record exists before you request a copy. The online system may not have all details, so you still need to contact the office for a full certified copy.

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

Lamar County has marriage records going back many years. The county was formed in 1867 from parts of Fayette and Marion counties. What you find depends on when the marriage took place. Older records may have different information than newer ones.

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 Lamar County.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes of some Lamar 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.

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 Lamar County Probate Court in Vernon. 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 Lamar County

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

Cities in Lamar County include Vernon, Sulligent, Kennedy, Millport, and Detroit. There are no cities with over 50,000 people in Lamar County. All residents use the Probate Court in Vernon for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lamar 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.