Lawrence County Marriage Records Search

Lawrence County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Moulton. This north Alabama county has about 33,000 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Lawrence County. You can file a new marriage certificate or get copies of existing records at the same office. Lawrence County has records going back to 1810, making it one of the oldest record collections in the state. The County Archives also has excellent historical records for genealogy research.

Lawrence County Probate Court

The Lawrence 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 Market Street in Moulton.

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. Lawrence County is a smaller county, so wait times are often short.

Lawrence County also has a County Archives that is separate from the Probate Court. The Archives has excellent historical records going back to 1810. If you need older marriage records for genealogy research, the Archives may be able to help. The Probate Court handles current filings and recent record requests.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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. Moulton has notaries at banks and other businesses. The Probate Court may also offer notary service.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Moulton. 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 Lawrence 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

Lawrence County Marriage Fees

Lawrence County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call the Probate Court to confirm current rates since fees can change. The fees are typical for a small Alabama county.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: contact office for current fee
• Certified copies: contact office for price
• Health Department search fee: $15 (for older records)
• 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 Lawrence County records, you must use the Probate Court or County Archives.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Lawrence 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 Moulton. 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.

For historical records, check with the Lawrence County Archives. They have records going back to 1810. The Archives is a great resource for family history research. They may have records that are not at the Probate Court. Contact them for older marriage records or genealogy help.

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

Lawrence County has some of the oldest marriage records in Alabama. Records go back to 1810, before Alabama was even a state. The County Archives has done great work to preserve these old documents. This makes Lawrence County a top spot for genealogy research.

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 Lawrence County.

The Lawrence County Archives website has some indexes online. FamilySearch and Ancestry also have some Lawrence County records. These can help you find a record before you request a copy. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm too.

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 Lawrence County Probate Court in Moulton. 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 Lawrence County

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

Cities in Lawrence County include Moulton, Town Creek, Courtland, Hillsboro, and North Courtland. There are no cities with over 50,000 people in Lawrence County. All residents use the Probate Court in Moulton for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lawrence 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.