Marengo County Marriage Records Search

Marengo County marriage records are maintained at the Probate Court in Linden. This county has about 18,800 residents and is located in western Alabama. The Marengo County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for the area. You can file new certificates here or request copies of past records. The county was named for the Battle of Marengo, one of Napoleon's victories. Marriage records in Marengo County go back to 1818.

Marengo County Probate Court

The Marengo 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 Linden on East Coats Avenue. It serves all of Marengo 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 services. Staff can answer your questions about the filing process in Marengo County. They handle marriage filings regularly.

Marengo County has some online records available. You may be able to search or view certain records through their website. The county also has a marriage index from 1818 to 1895 that is useful for historical research. This makes it easier to find old records before you visit the courthouse.

The county seat of Linden is a small town. It has the charm of rural Alabama. The courthouse is the center of county government. If you need to file or search records, this is the place to come.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Marengo 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 Marengo 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 case. Fill it out with both names, dates of birth, and other 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. The Marengo 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 Linden. 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 Marengo 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

Marengo County Marriage Fees

Marengo 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.

Most Alabama counties charge between $70 and $90 to record a marriage certificate. Marengo County fees are likely in this range. 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 typical fees you may encounter:

• Marriage certificate recording: Call to confirm
• 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 Marengo County records, you must use the county Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Marengo County marriage records in several ways. The method you choose 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 Linden. 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. Marengo County has some online records available.

The county has a marriage index from 1818 to 1895. This is useful if you are looking for old records. You can search the index first to find the record, then request a certified copy from the Probate Court. This saves time when researching family history in Marengo 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

Marengo County has marriage records going back to 1818. The county was formed that same year. This gives it one of the oldest record collections in Alabama. 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 Marengo County.

The county was named for the Battle of Marengo. This was a famous victory by Napoleon in 1800. The name reflects the classical education of early Alabama settlers. Many families have deep roots in this area. Marriage records help trace those family lines back through the generations.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes for some Marengo County records. The county marriage index from 1818 to 1895 is a key resource. 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 Marengo County Probate Court in Linden. It also helps 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 Marengo County

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

Communities in Marengo County include Linden, Demopolis, Thomaston, and Sweet Water. Demopolis is the largest city in the county. All residents use the single Probate Court office in Linden for marriage filings and records. The county is rural with a small population spread across farms and small towns along the Black Belt region.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Marengo 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.