Search Marion County Marriage Records

Marion County marriage records are filed and kept at the Probate Court in Hamilton. This county sits in northwest Alabama near the Mississippi state line. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Marion County residents and visitors. Alabama changed how marriages work in 2019. You no longer need a license. The Marion County Probate Court records the marriage certificate form that makes your marriage legal. Staff can also help you get copies of old records that date back many years.

Marion County Probate Court

The Marion County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge runs this office. Staff help with filing new marriage certificates. They also give out copies of past records. The office is in Hamilton, which is the county seat. Hamilton is a small town with about 6,800 people.

You can file your marriage form in person at the Probate Court. Walk-ins are welcome during normal hours. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. Call ahead if you have questions. Staff can tell you what to bring and what to expect. Wait times are often short in this small county.

The Marion County Probate Court has served area residents for many years. Records go back a long time. The county was formed in 1818. It was named after Francis Marion, a hero from the Revolutionary War. Today the court handles marriage records along with wills, estates, and other matters.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Marion County is easy. Alabama made big changes in 2019. The old system with licenses and ceremonies is gone. Now marriage is a contract. Two people sign a form. They file it with the Probate Court. That is all you need to be married in Marion County.

Start by getting the marriage certificate form. Download it from dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. There are two forms. One is for adults 18 and older. One is for minors 16 to 17 who have parental consent. Pick the right form. Fill it out with both names, birth dates, and other details.

Both people 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. This is key. Out-of-state notaries do not work. The Marion County Probate Court has notaries on staff. They can help you sign the form there. There may be a small fee for notary service.

After both people sign, bring the form to the Probate Court in Hamilton. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. The clerk will record your form. You will get a receipt. That is it. You are now legally married in Marion County, Alabama.

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

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old
• Minors aged 16 or 17 need parental consent
• Both parties must have mental capacity to consent
• Neither party can already be married
• The parties cannot be related by blood
• You must wait 60 days after a divorce to remarry

Marion County Marriage Fees

Marion County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and making copies. The recording fee in Marion County is $74. This fee includes one certified copy. That is nice because most counties charge extra for copies. Call ahead to confirm current rates since fees can change.

The Marion County Probate Court takes cash and checks. Ask about credit card options when you visit. Here are the main fees:

• Marriage certificate recording: $74.00 (includes one certified copy)
• Additional certified copies: $3.00 per page
• Notary service: varies

You can also get copies from the state. The Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a search and one certified copy. Extra copies cost $6 each. VitalChek is the state's online vendor. Orders through VitalChek cost about $30 total. The state has records from August 1936 to today. For older Marion County records, you must use the Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Marion County marriage records in a few ways. The method depends on how fast you need the copy. It also depends on what kind of copy you need. Both the county and state can give you copies.

For county copies, go to the Probate Court in Hamilton. Bring your ID. Tell staff the names of both spouses and the date of marriage if you know it. They will search the records and make copies. In-person requests are often done the same day. Marion County has an online portal where you can view some records. Visit the county website to search.

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 for faster service. VitalChek adds a service fee. The state has records from 1936 to today. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days.

Under Code of Alabama Section 22-9A-21, marriage records are public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to be related to the people named. You do not need a reason to request the record. This makes it simple to get copies for legal matters, family research, or any other purpose.

Historical Marriage Records

Marion County has marriage records going back many years. The county was formed in 1818. Early records may be sparse or hard to read. What you find depends on when the marriage took place. The Probate Court in Hamilton has the original documents.

Records from before 1888 show basic facts. They list the names of the bride and groom. They show bondsmen who vouched for the couple. The officiant name appears. The license bond amount and marriage date are included. These old records are often handwritten. The handwriting can be hard to read.

Starting in 1910, records got more detailed. They added names of parents. Physical descriptions appeared. Age, occupation, and number of prior marriages were listed. These details help with family history research. The Marion County Probate Court can search these old records for you.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have some Marion County indexes online. You can search these to find a record before asking for a copy from the Probate Court. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of some county records too. These are good sources for genealogy work.

State Records Alternative

The Alabama Department of Public Health also has marriage records. The state has copies from August 1936 to today. This is a good option if you cannot get to the Marion County Probate Court. It also helps if you are not sure which county has the record.

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. The phone number is (334) 206-5418. 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 map of all 67 counties. Visit alpja.org to find contact info for any county. This helps if you need to check records in other counties too.

Cities in Marion County

Marion County has several small towns and cities. All of them file marriage certificates at the Marion County Probate Court in Hamilton. There are no cities in Marion County with over 50,000 people. The largest city is Hamilton with about 6,800 residents.

Other places in Marion County include Winfield, Guin, Brilliant, and Hackleburg. All file marriage certificates at the Marion County Probate Court. The court serves everyone in the county no matter where they live.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Marion County. If you live near a county line, check your address. You can file in any Alabama county, but many people use their home county. Here are your neighbors: