Sumter County Marriage Records Search

Sumter County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Livingston. This rural county sits in western Alabama near the Mississippi border. With about 12,000 residents, Sumter County is one of the state's smaller counties. The Probate Court handles all marriage certificate filings for Sumter County. You can file in person at the courthouse. The court also issues certified copies of existing records going back to 1833.

Sumter County Probate Court

The Sumter County Probate Court records all marriages in the county. The office is in Livingston, which is the county seat. Livingston is also home to the University of West Alabama. The Probate Judge leads the office with a small staff. They can help you file a new marriage certificate or get copies of old records.

Sumter County is a small rural county. The Probate Court is not as busy as courts in larger areas. Wait times are usually short. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. Staff can answer questions about the filing process. They are used to helping people who may not have filed a marriage certificate before.

The county has kept marriage records since 1833, which is when Sumter County was formed. These old records are valuable for genealogy research. The Probate Court can search older records if you provide names and approximate dates. Some records may be on microfilm or in archived storage.

How to File a Marriage Certificate

Filing a marriage certificate in Sumter County is simple. Alabama changed its marriage system in 2019. You no longer need a license. No ceremony is needed. Marriage is a contract now. Two people sign a form and file it at the Probate Court. That makes you married in Sumter County.

First, get the marriage certificate form. Download it from the state at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. There are two forms. One is for adults 18 and older. One is for people 16 to 17 who have parental consent. Pick the right form. Fill it out with both names, birth dates, and other needed info.

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. Here is the key step: you must sign in front of an Alabama notary public. Notaries from other states will not work. The Sumter County Probate Court has notary services if you need them.

Then bring the signed form to the Probate Court in Livingston. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. Pay the recording fee. The clerk records the form and gives you a receipt. You are now legally married in Alabama. The process is quick and usually takes less than 20 minutes.

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

• Both must be at least 18 years old, or 16-17 with parental consent
• Both must have mental capacity to enter a contract
• Neither can be married to someone else already
• The parties cannot be closely related by blood
• Both must enter the marriage freely

Sumter County Marriage Fees

Sumter County charges fees for recording marriage certificates and for copies. Fees are set by state law and county policy. Call ahead to confirm rates. The Probate Court accepts cash and checks. Ask about card payments when you visit.

Here are the main fees at the Sumter County Probate Court:

• Marriage certificate recording: approximately $75
• Certified copy: contact office for exact fee
• Additional copies: contact office for exact fee
• Notary service: may be extra

The recording fee in Sumter County is typical for Alabama. It is on the lower end of the range. Some larger counties charge more. Call the office before you visit to get the exact current fee. This way you can bring the right amount of money.

You can also get state copies. The Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for a search and one copy. Extra copies cost $6 each. VitalChek online orders run about $30 total. The state has records from August 1936 to today.

How to Get Marriage Record Copies

You can get copies of Sumter County marriage records in several ways. The method you use depends on how fast you need the copy and what type you need. Both the county and state can provide copies.

For county copies, visit the Sumter County Probate Court in Livingston. Bring ID and the names of both spouses. Staff can search records and make copies. In-person requests are often done the same day. You can also call ahead to ask about mail requests. The county has an online portal at sumtercountyal.com for more info.

For state copies, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health. Send mail to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Include $15 for the fee. You can order at vitalchek.com too. 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 request a copy. You do not need to be related to the couple. No reason is needed.

Historical Marriage Records

Sumter County has marriage records going back to 1833. This is when the county was formed. Early records have basic info. Later ones have more detail. What you find depends on when the marriage took place.

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

Starting in 1910, records got more detailed. They began to list parents' names. Ages, occupations, and physical traits were added. Prior marriages were noted. This extra info is useful for family research in Sumter County.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has some Sumter County records on microfilm. FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexes you can search online. These tools help you find records before you request copies from the Probate Court.

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 useful if you cannot visit the Sumter 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 and one certified copy. Extra copies are $6 each. Mail to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Call (334) 206-5418 with questions. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. VitalChek orders cost about $30 but arrive in 3 to 5 business days.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County has several small cities and towns. All of them file marriage certificates at the Sumter County Probate Court in Livingston. This is the only location that handles marriage filings for the county.

The main town is Livingston, which is the county seat. It is home to the University of West Alabama. Other places in Sumter County include York, Epes, and Geiger. None of these have their own marriage offices. All residents use the Sumter County Probate Court. The county does not have any cities over 50,000.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Sumter County. If you live near a county line, check your address. You can file your marriage certificate in any Alabama county.