Find Lauderdale County Marriage Records

Lauderdale County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Florence. This northwest Alabama county has about 93,600 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Lauderdale County. You can file a new marriage certificate or get copies of existing records at the same office. Lauderdale County has kept excellent records with most documents preserved over the years. However, Marriage Books B and E are missing from the archives.

Lauderdale County Probate Court

The Lauderdale 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 downtown Florence on South Court Street.

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 what to bring. The staff is used to helping people from all over Lauderdale County and the Shoals area.

Lauderdale County never had a major courthouse fire. This means most historical records survived. However, Marriage Books B and E are missing. If you need a record that would be in those books, you may need to try the state records or other sources. The court has property records searchable online, but marriage records require a visit or mail request.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale 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. Florence has many notaries at banks, law offices, and shipping stores. The Probate Court may also have notary service.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Florence. 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 Lauderdale 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

Lauderdale County Marriage Fees

Lauderdale County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call the Probate Court to confirm current rates since fees can change. The office accepts various payment methods.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: contact office for current fee
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus $3.00 certification fee
• Plain copies: $1.00 per page
• 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 Lauderdale County records, you must use the Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Lauderdale 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 Florence. 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.

Remember that Marriage Books B and E are missing from Lauderdale County. If you need a record from those books, try the state records or check FamilySearch. The state may have a copy if the marriage was after August 1936.

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

Lauderdale County has excellent historical records. The county never had a courthouse fire, so most documents survived. Records go back to the early days of the county. This makes it a good place for genealogy research. However, Marriage Books B and E are missing for unknown reasons.

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 Lauderdale County.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes of some Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County Probate Court in Florence. 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 Lauderdale County

Lauderdale County has several cities and towns in the Shoals area. All of them file marriage certificates at the Lauderdale County Probate Court in Florence. The main city is Florence, which is also the county seat and part of the Quad Cities.

Cities in Lauderdale County include Florence, Rogersville, Killen, Lexington, St. Florian, Anderson, and Waterloo. There are no cities with over 50,000 people in Lauderdale County. All residents use the Probate Court in Florence for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lauderdale 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.