Find Macon County Marriage Records

Macon County marriage records are maintained at the Probate Court in Tuskegee. This county has about 18,000 residents and is located in east-central Alabama. The Macon County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for the area. You can file new certificates here or request copies of past records. Tuskegee is home to Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The county has marriage records dating back to its founding in 1832.

Macon County Probate Court

The Macon 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 Tuskegee on Rosa Parks Avenue. It serves all of Macon 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 hours or ask about specific services. Staff can answer your questions about the filing process in Macon County.

Macon County has records available online from June 1997 to today. This makes it easier to search for recent records. But for older records or certified copies, you will need to contact the Probate Court directly. The online system covers about 25 years of records.

The county is home to Tuskegee University. This brings researchers and visitors to the area. Many come looking for family history connected to the university or the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Marriage records are part of that history for families with roots in Macon County.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Macon 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 Macon 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 need 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 Macon County Probate Court has notaries on staff. There may be a small extra fee for notary service.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Tuskegee. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. The clerk will record the form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married in Macon County. No judge or officiant needs to perform a ceremony.

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
• Neither party can already be married
• The parties cannot be related by blood

Macon County Marriage Fees

Macon County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call the Probate Court to confirm current rates before you visit. Fees can change over time. The office accepts cash and may accept checks or cards.

Research shows Macon County charges about $77 for recording a marriage certificate. This is close to the state average. You should also expect to pay a few dollars per page for certified copies. The recording fee covers the filing of your marriage certificate. A receipt serves as proof of filing.

These are the likely fees at the Macon County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: about $77
• Certified copy: $3 to $5 per page
• Additional certified copies: same rate
• Notary service: small fee if needed

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. The state has records from August 1936 to today. For older Macon County records, you must use the county Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Macon County marriage records in several ways. The method you pick depends on how fast you need the copy. It also matters if you need a certified copy or a plain copy. Both the county and state can provide marriage record copies.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Tuskegee. 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. Macon County has online records from June 1997 to today. This can help you search before you visit.

The county is home to Tuskegee University. Many people come here for family history research. If you are tracing ancestors connected to the university or the Tuskegee area, marriage records can be a key source. Staff can help you search for old records that may tie to your family history.

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

Macon County has marriage records going back to the 1830s. The county was formed in 1832. Old records contain different information than modern ones. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

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 and marriage date. These old records are often handwritten and can be hard to read today.

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

Tuskegee University was founded in 1881. The Tuskegee Airmen trained here during World War II. These facts draw many researchers to Macon County. Marriage records can help trace families connected to these important parts of American history. The county records are a key resource for this research.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes for some Macon County records. These can help you find a record before you request a copy. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery also has microfilm copies of some county 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 a good option if you cannot visit the Macon County Probate Court in Tuskegee or 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.

The Alabama Probate Judges Association has a helpful map at alpja.org. This shows all 67 Alabama counties and links to each probate court. Use this to find contact info for any county in the state.

Cities in Macon County

Macon County has several small towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Macon County Probate Court in Tuskegee. The county does not have any cities over 50,000 in population.

Communities in Macon County include Tuskegee, Shorter, Notasulga, and Franklin. All residents use the single Probate Court office in Tuskegee for marriage filings and records. Tuskegee is the largest town and serves as the center of county government.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Macon 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.