Search Limestone County Marriage Records

Limestone County marriage records are maintained at the Probate Court in Athens. The county has over 101,000 residents and sits in north Alabama along the Tennessee border. The Limestone County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for the area. You can file new marriage certificates here or request copies of past records. The court serves Athens and surrounding communities including part of the city of Madison. Limestone County marriage records date back to the 1830s.

Limestone County Probate Court

The Limestone County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge runs this office. Staff can help you file a new marriage certificate or get copies of old records. The office is in downtown Athens at the county courthouse. It serves all of Limestone County.

You can file your marriage certificate at this office during business hours. Walk-ins are welcome. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. Call ahead if you want to check wait times. Staff can answer your questions about the filing process in Limestone County. They deal with marriage filings every day and know the steps well.

The Limestone County Archives has an excellent collection of historical records. Over 350,000 entries are searchable online. This makes it easy to research old marriages from the 1800s. Many records from 1832 to 1900 are in the Archives. This is helpful for anyone doing family history research in north Alabama.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Limestone County is easy. 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 between two people. You sign a form and file it with the Probate Court. That is all it takes to be legally married in Limestone 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 situation. Fill it out with both names, dates of birth, and other required facts.

Next, both parties must 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 for this. The Limestone County Probate Court has notaries on staff. There may be a small extra fee for notary service at the court.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Athens. You have 30 days from the last signature to file it. Pay the $79 recording fee. The clerk will record the form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married. No judge or officiant needs to say anything. The contract is what makes you married in Alabama.

Under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1, you must meet these rules to marry:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old
• Persons aged 16 or 17 need notarized parental consent
• Both parties must have mental capacity to enter a contract
• Neither party can already be married to someone else
• The parties cannot be related by blood or adoption

Limestone County Marriage Fees

Limestone County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The fees are set by state law and local policy. Call ahead to confirm current rates since fees can change over time. The Probate Court accepts cash, checks, and credit cards for payment.

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

• Marriage certificate recording: $79
• Certified copy: $3 to $5 per page
• Additional certified copies: same rate per page
• Notary service: small fee if needed

The Limestone County fee of $79 is close to the state average. Most Alabama counties charge between $70 and $90. This single fee covers the recording of your marriage certificate. You will get a receipt as proof of filing. If you want a certified copy right away, ask the clerk and pay the extra copy fee.

If you need a certified copy from the state, 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 with the service fee. The state has records from August 1936 to today. For older Limestone County records, you must use the county Probate Court or Archives.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Limestone 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 people who need them.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Athens. Bring a photo ID and know the names of both spouses. Staff can search the records and make copies for you. In-person requests are often done the same day. You can also call ahead and ask about mail requests if you cannot visit in person.

The Limestone County Archives is a great resource for old records. They have over 350,000 searchable entries online. This includes marriage records from 1832 to 1900. You can search first to find what you need, then request a copy. The Archives can help with records that are hard to find elsewhere in Limestone 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 one copy. You can order online at vitalchek.com which adds a service fee of about $15. The state has records from 1936 to today. Mail requests take 10 to 15 business days to process.

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 give a reason for your request. This makes it easy to get the records you need.

Historical Marriage Records

Limestone County has marriage records going back to the 1830s. The county was formed in 1818 and began keeping records soon after. Old records contain different information than modern ones. What you find depends on when the marriage took place in Limestone County.

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 the marriage date. These old records are often handwritten. The script style can be hard to read today.

Starting in 1910, records got more detailed. They began to include names of parents for both parties. Physical descriptions appeared on the forms. Age, occupation, and number of prior marriages were also added. These facts are useful for family history research in Limestone County.

The Limestone County Archives has one of the best online collections in north Alabama. Over 350,000 entries are searchable. This covers marriage records from 1832 to 1900. FamilySearch and Ancestry also have indexes. These can help you find a record before you request a certified copy from the Probate Court.

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 a good option if you cannot visit the Limestone County Probate Court or if you are not sure which county the marriage was filed in across Alabama.

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 with the service fee.

The Alabama Probate Judges Association also has a helpful map at alpja.org. This shows all 67 Alabama counties and links to each probate court. You can use this to find contact info for any county in the state if you need to search more than one location.

Cities in Limestone County

Limestone County has several cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Limestone County Probate Court in Athens. Part of the city of Madison extends into Limestone County from neighboring Madison County.

Madison residents who live in Limestone County can file at either the Limestone County Probate Court or the Madison County Probate Court. Check your address to see which county you are in. The county line runs through parts of Madison. Other Limestone County communities include Athens, Ardmore, Elkmont, and Mooresville. All file at the Athens courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Limestone 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 for convenience.