Bullock County Marriage License Records

Marriage licenses in Bullock County are filed at the Probate Court in Union Springs. About 10,000 people live here. It is one of Alabama's most rural counties. Bullock County has the lowest marriage license recording fee in the state, tied with a few other counties at $70. The county also keeps Reconstruction-era marriage records, valuable for historical research.

Bullock County Probate Court Office

The Probate Court handles all marriage licenses in Bullock County. The office is in the courthouse in Union Springs. This small town is the county seat. The courthouse is in the center of town, easy to find.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The court is closed on state holidays. No appointment is needed for filing. Walk-ins are welcome. The staff is helpful with questions about the process.

Note: Bullock County uses the Ingenuity platform for some online services. Check availability before visiting.

Bullock County Marriage License Fees

The recording fee in Bullock County is $70. This is tied for the lowest in Alabama. You pay this when you file. The fee covers recording, state filing, and one certified copy.

The fee breaks down as follows. The base court fee is about $10. The state adds $60 for the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. There are no extra local fees. That is why Bullock County charges less than most.

The court accepts cash and checks. Credit and debit cards may have a small fee. Ask at the counter. For mail-in requests, send a check or money order to Bullock County Probate Court.

Extra certified copies cost about $5 each. Get a few when you file. You may need them for name changes or other legal matters. Ordering now saves a trip back later.

How to File in Bullock County

Filing a marriage license in Bullock County is simple. The process follows standard Alabama rules. Here is what to do.

Start by getting the form. Download it from dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage. The form must be typed. Handwritten forms are not accepted. Both parties fill out their sections. Check all details carefully.

To file in Bullock County, bring these items:

• Completed marriage license form (typed)
• Valid photo ID for both parties
• Both signatures notarized by an Alabama notary
• $70 recording fee
• Social Security numbers for both parties

Both people must sign in front of an Alabama notary. The notary stamps the form. This makes it valid. Banks often have free notary services. UPS stores also have notaries for a small fee.

Take the completed form to the Probate Court. The clerk checks it. If everything is correct, they file it on the spot. You get a certified copy right away. The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Remember the 30-day deadline. File within 30 days of the last signature. Your marriage is valid from that signature date.

Can You Search Bullock County Records Online?

Bullock County has limited online records access. The county uses Ingenuity for some services. Online marriage record searches may not be available. You may need to contact the court directly.

To find a specific record, call (334) 738-2250. Staff can search by name or date. They can tell you if a record exists. To get a copy, you may need to visit or mail a request.

The state keeps records too. Alabama Center for Health Statistics has marriage records from 1936 forward. Order through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. The fee is $15 for search and first copy. Additional copies cost $6.

For older records, try FamilySearch.org. They have digitized Alabama marriage records. Bullock County's Reconstruction-era records may be in their collection. Access is free with an account.

Bullock County's Low Fee

Bullock County has the lowest recording fee in Alabama. At $70, it ties with a few other rural counties. Why is the fee lower here? The answer is simple: no extra local fees.

All Alabama counties charge the same state-mandated fees. The base court fee is $10. The Domestic Violence Trust Fund adds $60. That makes $70. Some counties add local fees on top. Bullock County does not. What you see is what you pay.

For comparison, here is how Bullock County stacks up:

• Bullock County: $70 (tied for lowest)
• State average: about $75
• Highest county (Calhoun): $104

If saving money matters to you, Bullock County is a good option. Remember, you can file in any Alabama county. You do not have to live in Bullock County to file there. The drive to Union Springs may be worth the savings.

The low fee does not mean less service. You get the same legal document. The same process applies. The only difference is the price.

Reconstruction-Era Marriage Records

Bullock County keeps marriage records from the Reconstruction era. This period followed the Civil War. These records are valuable for genealogy research. They document marriages of formerly enslaved people and their families.

Many African American families can trace their history through these records. After emancipation, couples formalized marriages that had not been legally recognized before. Bullock County was established in 1866, right after the war. Record keeping began immediately.

To access these historical records, contact the Probate Court. Staff can help with research requests. FamilySearch also has digitized some older records. For detailed genealogy work, consider visiting in person. The staff can guide you to the right books and files.

Marriage License Laws in Alabama

Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. The state stopped issuing licenses. Now it uses marriage licenses. No ceremony is required. No officiant is needed. The license is a legal contract.

The main law is Alabama Code Section 30-1-9.1. It set up the new system. Your marriage is valid when both sign and the form is recorded. File within 30 days.

Age requirements come from Section 30-1-4. You must be 16 or older. Ages 16-17 need parental consent under Section 30-1-5.

Marriage records are public under Section 22-9A-21. Anyone can request copies.

After divorce, wait 60 days before remarrying. Bullock County follows this rule.

Search Bullock County Records

Use our search tool to find marriage records and other public records in Bullock County, Alabama.

Cities in Bullock County

Bullock County is rural. Union Springs is the largest town and county seat. Other communities include Midway and Perote. All residents file at the Probate Court in Union Springs.

No city in Bullock County has a population over 50,000. Union Springs has about 3,000 residents. For marriage services, everyone uses the single courthouse location.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bullock County. You can file in any Alabama county. Consider these options if another location works better for you.