Access Randolph County Marriage Records

Randolph County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Wedowee. This east Alabama county sits along the Georgia border near Lake Wedowee. The Randolph County Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for county residents. You can file a new marriage certificate here or get copies of past records. The county has records dating back to 1896. Wedowee is the county seat and main town.

Randolph County Probate Court

The Randolph County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The Probate Judge oversees this office. Staff can help you file a new marriage certificate or get copies of old records. The office is located on Main Street in Wedowee.

You can file your marriage certificate at this office. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. Call ahead to check hours or ask about wait times. Randolph County is a small county, so the staff often has time to help with questions. The lake brings many visitors who sometimes file here.

Randolph County offers online marriage certificate completion. You can fill out your marriage form online through their website. This saves time when you visit the office. You can also search record indexes online with a subscription. For certified copies, you need to contact the office.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Randolph 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 Randolph 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 have parental consent. Randolph County also lets you fill out the form online through their website. This can save you time.

Next, both parties 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 Randolph County Probate Court has notaries on staff who can help with this step.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court office in Wedowee. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. Cash and checks are typically accepted. Call ahead to confirm payment options. The clerk will record your form and give you a receipt. You are now legally married in Randolph 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
• Persons aged 16 or 17 need parental consent
• Both parties must have mental capacity
• Neither party can be married already
• The parties cannot be related by blood

Alabama has no residency rule for marriage. You do not have to live in Randolph County to file here. Visitors at Lake Wedowee sometimes file in this county. If you were divorced in Alabama, you must wait 60 days before you can marry again. This is a state rule that applies everywhere.

Cleburne County Residents

If you live in Cleburne County, you should know that Cleburne no longer offers marriage recording services. Randolph County is one of the nearby options for Cleburne County residents. The other options are Calhoun County, Clay County, and Cherokee County. Randolph County borders Cleburne to the south. The drive to Wedowee may be shorter depending on where you live in Cleburne.

Cleburne County stopped recording marriages some time ago. This is the only county in Alabama that does not offer this service. If you live in Cleburne, you can file your marriage certificate in Randolph County just like a resident would. The process and fees are the same for everyone.

Randolph County Marriage Fees

Randolph County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. The fees are set by state law and county policy. Call ahead to confirm current rates. Fees can change over time. The Probate Court accepts cash and checks for most payments.

These are typical fees at the Randolph County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: Approximately $75
• Certified copy: Contact office for rate
• Online record access: Subscription fee applies
• Notary service: Small fee if needed

Randolph County fees are in the average range for Alabama. The fee covers recording your form in the county records. Ask the clerk what is included when you file. Some counties include one certified copy with the recording fee.

If you need a certified copy from the state instead, 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 records, use the Randolph County Probate Court.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

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

For county copies, visit the Probate Court office in Wedowee. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. You should also know the approximate date of the marriage if you can. Staff will search the records and make copies for you. In-person requests are often same-day in small counties like Randolph. You can also call ahead and ask about mail requests.

Randolph County has online record access with a subscription. You can search indexes and view basic record info. This can help you find records before you make a formal request. For certified copies, you still need to contact the office directly. Phone requests may work for some needs.

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 give a reason for the request.

Historical Marriage Records

Randolph County has marriage records going back to 1896. Earlier records were lost due to courthouse fires and other events. Historical records vary in what they contain. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

Records from before 1910 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.

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

FamilySearch and Ancestry have some Randolph County indexes online. 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 Randolph County records. These are useful for genealogy work.

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 Randolph County Probate Court. 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 state option is helpful for people who live far from Wedowee. Randolph County is rural, so the state alternative can save travel time. But for the most complete records, the Randolph County Probate Court is the best source. They have records going back to 1896.

Cities in Randolph County

Randolph County has several small towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Randolph County Probate Court in Wedowee. There are no cities over 50,000 people in Randolph County.

Towns in Randolph County include Wedowee, Roanoke, and Woodland. Wedowee is the county seat. Lake Wedowee is a popular recreation spot that draws visitors. Roanoke is the largest town by population. All residents file marriage certificates at the Probate Court in Wedowee.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Randolph 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.