Birmingham Marriage License Filing

Marriage licenses in Birmingham are filed at the Jefferson County Probate Court. Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County and was once Alabama's largest city. About 196,000 people live here now. Jefferson County is the most populous county in Alabama. The Probate Court has two divisions: Birmingham and Bessemer. Birmingham residents use the Birmingham Division. The recording fee is $84.50. This guide covers how to file your marriage license in Birmingham.

Where to File in Birmingham

Birmingham residents file marriage licenses at the Jefferson County Probate Court, Birmingham Division. The office is at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North. This is downtown Birmingham in the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Jefferson County has two Probate Court divisions. Birmingham Division serves most of the county including the city of Birmingham. Bessemer Division serves the western part of the county. If you live in Birmingham, use the Birmingham Division.

The courthouse is in downtown Birmingham. Paid parking is available nearby. MAX Transit bus routes serve downtown. Security screening is required at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit.

Birmingham's Two Court Divisions

Jefferson County is unique in Alabama. It has two Probate Court divisions. This is because Jefferson is the largest and most populous county in the state. The two divisions help serve residents better.

The Birmingham Division is at the main courthouse downtown. It serves most of the county. This includes Birmingham, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, and surrounding areas. Most Jefferson County residents use this office.

The Bessemer Division is in the western part of the county. It serves Bessemer, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, and nearby areas. If you live in those areas, you may find Bessemer more convenient. Both divisions charge the same $84.50 fee.

Here is the Bessemer Division contact info:

You can file at either division regardless of where you live. The fee is the same. The process is the same. Pick the location that is most convenient for you.

How to Get a Marriage License in Birmingham

Alabama does not have marriage licenses. The state switched to marriage licenses in 2019. No ceremony is required. No officiant is needed. No witnesses are required. The process is simple.

First, get the official form. Download it from dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage. You must type the form. Handwritten forms are rejected. Both parties fill out their sections completely.

Second, get the form notarized. Both parties must sign. Each signature needs notarization by an Alabama notary. Out-of-state notarization is not valid. Banks, shipping stores, and law offices often have notaries.

Third, file at the Probate Court. You have 30 days from the last signature to file. The fee is $84.50. The marriage is legal on the date of the last signature, not when you file.

To file in Birmingham, bring these items:

• Completed marriage license form (typed)
• Both signatures notarized by an Alabama notary
• Valid photo ID
• $84.50 recording fee

Birmingham Marriage License Fees

Jefferson County charges $84.50 to record a marriage license. This is above the state average. The fee includes the $60 Domestic Violence Trust Fund fee required by law.

The court accepts cash, checks, credit cards, and debit cards. There may be a processing fee for card payments. For mail requests, send a check or money order. Make it payable to Jefferson County Probate Court.

Certified copies cost extra. Contact the Probate Court at (205) 325-5420 for copy fees. You can also order copies through VitalChek from the state for $15 plus service fees.

Can You Search Birmingham Records Online?

Yes. Jefferson County has a good online records system called Landmark WEB. You can search marriage records online at landmarkweb.jccal.org. The system has records from the Birmingham Division dating to 1987 and Bessemer Division from 1965.

You can search by name or date for free. Viewing document images costs $0.10 per page. You can pay online with a credit card. The system is available 24 hours a day.

For older records, contact the Probate Court directly. Staff can search records that are not yet digitized. The Archives Division is working to digitize older records from the 1800s.

Alacourt ACCESS at pa.alacourt.com has court records but focuses on court cases. Marriage licenses are probate records and may not appear there.

Alabama Marriage License Laws

Alabama changed its marriage system in 2019. The law is Alabama Code Section 30-1-9.1. It eliminated marriage licenses and created the new system.

Key requirements for marriage in Alabama:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old
• Ages 16-17 need notarized parental consent
• Both signatures must be notarized in Alabama
• File within 30 days of the last signature
• No ceremony, officiant, or witnesses required

Marriage records are public under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21. Anyone can request copies. You do not need to be related to the parties.

If you were divorced, you must wait 60 days before remarrying. This is required by state law. The wait starts from the date your divorce was final.

Jefferson County Marriage Records

Birmingham is in Jefferson County. All marriage licenses for Birmingham residents go through the Jefferson County Probate Court. For more details on both divisions, fees, and online access, see the full county page.

View Jefferson County Marriage Records

Other Alabama Cities

Looking for marriage license info in another Alabama city? Here are the other major cities with populations over 50,000.

• Huntsville (Madison County)
• Mobile (Mobile County)
• Montgomery (Montgomery County)
• Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County)
• Hoover (Jefferson/Shelby County)
• Auburn (Lee County)
• Dothan (Houston County)
• Madison (Madison County)
• Decatur (Morgan County)

Search Marriage Records

Use our search tool to find marriage records and other public records for Birmingham residents.