Effective August 29, 2019, the process for entering into a legal marriage in Alabama will change. Under Alabama Act 2019-340, persons wanting to marry will no longer file an application for a marriage license with the county probate court, and the courts will no longer issue marriage licenses. Probate judges will instead accept notarized forms completed by couples as official records of marriage.

Once the probate court records the completed marriage certificate form, the marriage is legal. A wedding ceremony may be performed, but a ceremony will no longer be required for a recognized marriage in Alabama. The elimination of marriage licenses will not affect any other aspects of marriage in Alabama, including divorce, spousal support, child support and child custody.

Persons wanting to marry may access the new marriage certificate form online at the Alabama Department of Public Health’s website at: alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html.

The department’s website will include instructions for completing and filing the new form, as well as answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the marriage law.

For answers to your questions, please consult the FAQs and the instructions for completing the marriage certificate form at alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html.

An Attorney General’s Opinion regarding the new law is pending, and the department will update the FAQs when that opinion is released. If you have a question that is not addressed on the department’s website, you may call the Center for Health Statistics at (334) 206-2714.

The fee for recording a Marriage Certificate remains $70.00