Introduction to Alabama Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Alabama Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Birth Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate, this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure. 

Alabama Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Alabama Center for Health Statistics for marriages in the state of Alabama since 1936.

Alabama Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Alabama law, marriage certificates are not confidential and may be obtained by any individual.

Alabama Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain an Alabama Marriage Certificate for genealogy or other reasons.

Alabama Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Alabama Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Alabama Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Alabama Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Alabama Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Alabama Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 1 month upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Alabama Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Alabama Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Alabama Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Alabama Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Alabama Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Alabama Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Alabama Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

Alabama Vital Records

P.O. Box 5625

Montgomery, AL 36103-5625

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Alabama: You may go to any county health department in the State of Alabama to obtain a certified copy of an Alabama Marriage certificate. Most Alabama Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Alabama Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for an Alabama Marriage certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy of the Alabama Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Alabama Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $6.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Alabama Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.