Marshall County Marriage Records

Marshall County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Guntersville. This county sits in northeast Alabama along the Tennessee River. Lake Guntersville draws many visitors each year. The Marshall County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for the area. Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. You no longer need a license or ceremony. The Probate Court records the marriage certificate that makes your union legal. Staff can also help you find and copy old records dating back to 1836.

Marshall County Probate Court

The Marshall County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge oversees this office. Staff help with filing new marriage certificates and getting copies of old records. The office is in Guntersville, the county seat. Guntersville sits on a peninsula in Lake Guntersville.

You can file your marriage form in person. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. Call before you visit if you have questions. Staff can tell you what to bring. They can also check if you need an appointment for certain services.

Marshall County was formed in 1836. It was named for John Marshall, the famous Chief Justice. The Probate Court has served residents since the county began. Records from the early years still exist. Modern records are kept in computer systems. The county has online search options for some records.

Note that Alabama passed the Revised Notary Act which took effect in September 2023. This changed some notary rules. Make sure your notary follows current Alabama rules when you sign your marriage form.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Marshall County is simple. Alabama made big changes to marriage law in 2019. The old way with licenses and ceremonies ended. Now marriage is a contract. Two people sign a form. They file it at the Probate Court. That is all you need to be married in Marshall County.

First, get the marriage certificate form. Download it from the state website at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. Two forms exist. One is for adults 18 and older. One is for minors 16 to 17 with parental consent. Choose the right form. Fill it out with both names, birth dates, addresses, and other required facts.

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 matters. Out-of-state notaries will not work. The Marshall County Probate Court has notaries on staff. They can notarize your form when you visit. A small fee may apply for notary service.

After both signatures, bring the form to the Probate Court in Guntersville. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. Staff will record your form and give you a receipt. You are now married in Marshall County.

The 2019 law is Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1. It sets these rules:

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

Marshall County Marriage Fees

Marshall County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Call ahead to confirm current rates. Fees can change. The Probate Court accepts cash and checks. Ask about credit card options.

These are typical fees at the Marshall County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: approximately $78.00
• Certified copy: $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 partner. Orders through VitalChek cost about $30 total with service fees. The state has records from August 1936 to today. For older Marshall County records, you must use the Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Marshall County marriage records in a few ways. The method depends on your needs. Both the county and state can provide copies.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court in Guntersville. Bring your ID. Give staff the names of both spouses. If you know the date, that helps. They will search and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day. Marshall County has online records you can search. Visit the county website to access the search tools.

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. Online orders go through vitalchek.com. VitalChek adds a service fee. The state has records from 1936 forward. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek ships in 3 to 5 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 give a reason for your request.

Historical Marriage Records

Marshall County has marriage records going back to 1836. That is when the county was formed. The Probate Court in Guntersville holds the original documents. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

Records from before 1888 show basic facts. They list the bride and groom names. They show bondsmen who vouched for the couple. The officiant name appears. License bond amounts and marriage dates are included. Old records are often handwritten. The script can be hard to read.

Starting in 1910, records got more detailed. They began to include parent names. Physical descriptions of both parties appeared. Age, occupation, and number of prior marriages were added. These details help family history researchers.

FamilySearch and Ancestry have some Marshall County indexes online. Search there first to find a record. Then contact the Probate Court for a copy. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm copies of some county records. These help with genealogy research in Marshall County.

State Records Alternative

The Alabama Department of Public Health also has marriage records. The state has copies from August 1936 to today. This helps if you cannot get to the Marshall County Probate Court. It also works 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. Request by mail or online through VitalChek. The 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 faster but cost more.

For help finding any probate court in Alabama, visit alpja.org. The Alabama Probate Judges Association has a map of all 67 counties with contact details.

Cities in Marshall County

Marshall County has several cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Marshall County Probate Court in Guntersville. No cities in Marshall County have over 50,000 people. Guntersville and Albertville are the two largest.

Other places include Arab, Boaz, Grant, and Union Grove. All file marriage records through the county Probate Court. The court serves everyone in Marshall County no matter where they live in the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Marshall County. Check your address if you live near a county line. You can file in any Alabama county, but many people use their home county.