Official government fees, deadlines, and requirements by location.
Official guide
Learn Alabama's marriage certificate recording fee process, the 30-day filing deadline, and a Mobile County fee example.
Key takeaway: Confirm the current fee and requirements with the issuing office before visiting.
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Title: ADPH Instructions for Completing and Filing an Alabama Marriage Certificate (Adults)
Section: The instructions explain that Alabama no longer issues marriage licenses, that the marriage certificate must be recorded by a probate court, that the form must be delivered within 30 days of the later signature date, and that the recording fee is paid to the judge of probate at the time of recording.
Last updated: Not listed
Verified on: 2026-01-16 by LocalFees Research
Conflict status: none
Source URL: https://benchmark.probate.mobilecountyal.gov/uploads/Marriage%20Certificate%20Instructions%20-%20Adults.pdf
At a glance
Confirm the current fee and requirements with the issuing office before you go.
Fee
Confirm with issuing office
Recording fee is paid to the judge of probate when the marriage certificate is recorded; the statewide instructions do not list a single fee amount.
Deadline
Marriage certificate must be delivered to the probate court for recording within 30 days of the later signature date.
Waiting period
Not published
Apply online
Not published
Official details
Confirm the exact fee and requirements with the issuing office before you visit.
Guide
These sections summarize official guidance and highlight the steps that most often cause delays.
Summary
Under Alabama Act 2019-340, couples complete an Alabama Marriage Certificate form and deliver it to a county probate court for recording. Once properly completed and recorded, the marriage is legal.
The fee you pay is the probate court recording fee for the marriage certificate, not a license fee or a ceremony fee.
The marriage certificate form is the legal document, and recording it with the probate court is what makes the marriage valid.
Probate courts record the certificate and forward it to the Center for Health Statistics for filing.
The instructions do not list a statewide amount, so confirm the current recording fee and accepted payment methods with the probate court in the county where you will record the certificate.
If properly recorded within 30 days, the effective date of the marriage is the later signature date.
The county accepts cash, money order, or credit card and does not accept checks for recording marriage certificates.
Use this as a local example and confirm the fee and payment rules with your county probate court.
Ask the probate court about copy fees and whether you can request copies at the time of recording.
Use this checklist to align with Alabama's recording requirements:
Another common issue is arriving with a payment method the probate court does not accept.
Confirm notarization, timing, and payment rules before you visit the probate court.
Official sources for this page include ADPH Instructions for Completing and Filing an Alabama Marriage Certificate (Adults) and the Mobile County Probate Court marriage certificate guidance.
This page summarizes statewide requirements and provides a county example for context. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Always verify details with your county probate court.
Local differences
County-level data will be embedded here when verified. For now, use the official county sources listed above.
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