Process for Obtaining Alabama Marriage Records

Alabama marriage records could never have been easy to keep. For the greater part of its history as a US state, Alabama resisted positive change. That kept the state’s economy and its people underdeveloped for a long time. It especially hindered governance and therefore, any kind of recordkeeping too.

After World War II, Alabama’s economy and civil infrastructure began to show signs of recovery,  moving from agriculture to diverse heavy manufacturing and mining operations, besides the establishment or expansion of many military installations by the US Army and Air Force. Then there was the civil rights movement in the 1960’s which caused many people to move out of the state. All this of course means that finding marriage records in Alabama can be a challenge.

An 1881 act of legislation did prescribe registration of all births and deaths in the state with a County Health Officer, but this was not implemented with any diligence. State-level registration of births and deaths was started in 1908, but it took until 1925 to complete 90% of death registrations, and until 1927 for birth registrations.

If you are searching for Alabama marriage records you need to keep in mind that death and marriage records there are closed to the public for 123 years, the exception opening them for family. You will need to get marriage information in the state prior to 1936 from the Probate Office in the county that issued the marriage license. Divorce-related information has to be obtained from the county’s Circuit Court that granted the appeal for divorce.

Why People Seek Marriage Records in Alabama

The fact is, asking for marriage records is nothing new. For many years now for a variety of reasons these records have been sought out. What has happened recently is that accessing these records has become easier. Today, you can ask for Alabama marriage records, marriage licenses, marriage indexes, marriage announcements and other related records.

You my want to  ask for these records for genealogy research. In fact, this is the most popular reason why these records are requested. The information is recorded by an eye witness present at the marriage, and so they are often considered a primary and authoritative information source.

What Do Marriage Records Contain?

A marriage record contains information about a marriage of two individuals such as the marriage date, the place where the marriage took place, and also the name of the father and the mother of the bride and groom. Sometimes, the record even includes the name of the witnesses. The marriage certificate that was issued by the local or state government also includes the residence details.

Are State-Level Records any Easier to Access?

Since 1936, Alabama’s Center for Health Statistics has been keeping certificates of marriages that have been registered in the state within the various counties. For information on marriages prior to 1936, you still have to go to the Probate Office in the county where the marriage license was issued.

You will need to write or call the Center for Health Statistics, State Dept. of Public Health,
P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625, or call at 202-242-5033 to request these older records.

If you go in person, any County Health Department can help you access Alabama marriage records. As with all other states in the union, as well as under Alabama law, marriage certificates are considered public domain.

This means that the state is legally bound to maintain vital records such as marriage records and must provide the details to you when you request them. In most cases, this information is available for free, too. Just ask for the record and fill out an application, and you should get a copy of the record that you need.

The state also asks you to provide the maximum possible information for it to find the marriage records, including the full name of husband, full maiden name of wife, marriage date, and county where the marriage license was issued. You'll also need to provide your name and signature, mailing address and daytime phone number.

Do remember that it might be the case that two people have the same name. In order to ensure that you receive the correct information, you must provide as many search criteria and details as possible.

How to Ensure You Receive Accurate Marriage Records

•    While filling out your application, make sure your letter is to the point and concise.
•    When you are making a request, do not send in more than 1 or 2 request at a time. It is   better to avoid providing confusing family details.
•    It is always better to type the addresses and names in the letter.
•    You will have to provide as much information as possible like each name that could have been used, alternative spellings, nicknames etc.
•    Make a list of dates and types of events accurately (as much as possible). If it is difficult to specify the date, include the span of years that you want searched. Try to narrow it down as much as possible.
•    Always remember that you must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the application.

Searching for Alabama marriage records is a great way to find people. Perhaps you know of a great-grandfather or an uncle or aunt who went to Alabama to settle there and get married. Perhaps you are researching your family tree and want to track them down. Accessing Alabama marriage records will let you do this.

Searching this information can lead you to learn more about your family history and where you came from. Remember, you are legally bound to receive your copy. Just ensure that you submit your application properly and approach the correct authorities.