Access Montgomery County Marriage Records

Montgomery County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Montgomery, Alabama's state capital. This is the fourth most populous county with over 226,000 residents. The Montgomery County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings. Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. You no longer need a license or wedding ceremony. The Probate Court records the signed certificate that makes your marriage official. Staff can also help you find and copy records dating back to 1817.

Montgomery County Probate Court

The Montgomery County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. Judge J.C. Love III oversees this office. Staff help with filing new marriage certificates. They also provide copies of existing records. The office is in downtown Montgomery near the state capitol building.

You can file your marriage form in person. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. The office can get busy since it serves the capital city. Plan for possible wait times, especially on Mondays and Fridays. It is closed on weekends and state holidays. Call ahead if you have questions.

Montgomery has been Alabama's capital since 1846. The county was formed in 1816. It has deep history in both the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement. The Probate Court has served residents for over 200 years. Records date back to 1817. The court has online search options for some records through a subscription service.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Montgomery County is straightforward. Alabama made big changes 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 makes you married in Montgomery County.

Start by getting the marriage certificate form. Download it from the state 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. Pick the right form. Fill it out with both names, birth dates, addresses, and other facts the form asks for.

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 required. Out-of-state notaries do not work. The Montgomery County Probate Court has notaries on staff. They can help you sign when you visit. A notary fee may apply.

Bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Montgomery. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the $88 recording fee. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted. Staff record your form and give you a receipt. The $88 fee includes the ceremony, paperwork, and one certified copy. You are now legally married.

Under Code of Alabama Section 30-1-9.1, these rules apply:

• 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

Montgomery County Marriage Fees

Montgomery County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The recording fee is $88. This is one of the higher fees in Alabama. However, it includes the paperwork, any ceremony assistance, and one certified copy. Call ahead to confirm current rates since fees can change.

The Probate Court takes cash, checks, and credit cards. Here are the main fees:

• Marriage certificate recording: $88.00 (includes one certified copy)
• Additional certified copies: $2.00 per page
• Notary service: small additional fee

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 run about $30 total. The state has records from August 1936 to today. For older Montgomery County records, use the Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Montgomery County marriage records in several ways. The method depends on how fast you need the copy and whether you need a certified or plain copy.

For county copies, visit the Probate Court at 101 South Lawrence Street. Bring ID. Give staff the names of both spouses and the date if you know it. They will search and make copies. In-person requests are often same-day. Montgomery County has online records through a subscription service. Visit the court website to learn about online access options.

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. Order online at vitalchek.com for faster service. VitalChek adds a service fee. State records go back to 1936. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days.

Being in the capital city has a benefit. The state vital records office is also in Montgomery. You can visit them in person at RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street. This gives you two local options for getting records.

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 a stated reason for the request.

Historical Marriage Records

Montgomery County has marriage records dating back to 1817. That is just two years before Alabama became a state. The Probate Court holds these historical 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 and the officiant. License bond amounts and marriage dates appear. These old records are handwritten. The script can be hard to read. Some are fragile from age.

Starting in 1910, records got more detailed. They added parent names. Physical descriptions appeared. Age, occupation, and prior marriages were listed. These facts help with family history research.

Montgomery's role as the state capital means many historical records are nearby. The Alabama Department of Archives and History is in Montgomery. They have microfilm and other records that help with research. FamilySearch and Ancestry also have Montgomery County indexes online.

State Records Alternative

The Alabama Department of Public Health is right in Montgomery. This gives you a local option beyond the Probate Court. The state has records from August 1936 to today. Use this option if you need a state-issued copy or 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 address is P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. For in-person service, visit RSA Tower at 201 Monroe Street. Phone: (334) 206-5418. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek ships in 3 to 5 days.

The Alabama Probate Judges Association at alpja.org has a map of all 67 counties. Use it to find contact info for any probate court in the state.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has the city of Montgomery and several smaller communities. All file marriage certificates at the Montgomery County Probate Court. Montgomery is the only city in the county with over 50,000 people.

Other places in Montgomery County include Pike Road, Prattville (partly in Autauga County), and several smaller towns. All use the Montgomery County Probate Court for marriage certificates.

Nearby Counties

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