Access Lee County Marriage Records

Lee County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Opelika. This east Alabama county has over 174,000 residents. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Lee County. You can file a new marriage certificate or get copies of existing records at the same office. Lee County is home to Auburn University and is one of the fastest-growing areas in Alabama. Marriage records here go back to 1867.

Lee County Probate Court

The Lee 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 main office is in downtown Opelika on South 9th 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. Lee County is a busy county with a large university population, so plan your visit accordingly.

Lee County also has a satellite office in Auburn. This can be more convenient for Auburn residents. The satellite office handles some Probate Court services. Call ahead to make sure they can help with your specific need. The main office in Opelika handles all marriage filings.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Lee 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 Lee 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. Opelika and Auburn have many notaries at banks, law offices, and shipping stores.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Opelika. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $87.00 recording fee. The clerk will record the form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married in Lee County. Many Auburn University students and staff use this office each year.

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

Lee County Marriage Fees

Lee 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 Lee County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: $87.00
• Certified copies: contact office for current price
• Additional certified copies: contact office
• 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 Lee County records, you must use the Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Lee 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 Opelika. 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 need.

Lee County has limited online record access. For most requests, you need to visit in person or send a mail request. The staff is helpful and used to working with people from all over the country. Many former Auburn students request records from Lee County.

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

Lee County has marriage records going back to 1867. The county was formed in 1866, and records start from the next year. 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 Lee County.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes of some Lee 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 Lee County Probate Court in Opelika. 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 Lee County

Lee County has several cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Lee County Probate Court in Opelika. The main cities are Opelika and Auburn.

Other cities in Lee County include Opelika, Smiths Station, Phenix City (partially), Salem, Beauregard, and Loachapoka. Auburn is home to Auburn University and has over 83,000 residents. All Lee County residents use the Probate Court in Opelika for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lee 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.