Search Elmore County Marriage Licenses

Elmore County marriage licenses are filed at the Probate Court in Wetumpka. The county sits just north of Montgomery. It has about 88,000 residents. Wetumpka is home to a meteor impact crater visible from space. The Probate Court handles all marriage license filings. No license is needed in Alabama. Couples complete a form, get it notarized, and file it here.

Elmore County Probate Court

The Probate Court in Elmore County records all marriage licenses. The office is in the county courthouse in downtown Wetumpka. Staff can help you file your form and answer questions about the process. Walk-ins are welcome during regular hours.

The court uses the Ingenuity online system. You can look up some records on their website. For new filings, you must visit in person or use mail. The staff is known for being helpful with first-time filers. Bring your completed form, valid ID, and payment.

Note: The courthouse may close for state holidays and local events. Call ahead if you plan to visit on a day near a holiday.

Elmore County Marriage License Fees

The recording fee in Elmore County is $76. This is the total cost to file your marriage license. The fee breaks down into state and county parts. A portion goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund as required by state law.

Payment methods vary by county. In Elmore County, you can pay with cash or check. Some offices also take cards. Call ahead to confirm what forms of payment they accept. The fee is due when you file. You get a receipt and a recorded copy of your license.

If you need extra copies later, you can order them from the Probate Court. Certified copies cost a few dollars each. The state also sells copies through VitalChek for $15 plus service fees. County copies are usually cheaper and faster.

How to File in Elmore County

Filing a marriage license in Elmore County takes just a few steps. Start by getting the form. You can download it from the Alabama Department of Public Health website. The form must be typed. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

Both parties fill out their sections. This includes names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and addresses. If either party was married before, include divorce information. Both must sign the form. Then take it to an Alabama notary public. Both signatures must be notarized.

To file your Elmore County marriage license, bring these items:

• Completed marriage license form with both signatures
• Notarization on both signatures by an Alabama notary
• Valid photo ID for the person filing
• Payment of $76 recording fee

You have 30 days to file after the second signature. The marriage is legal on the date of that signature, not the filing date. File within the deadline or the form becomes void. You would need to start over with a new form.

Only one person needs to file. Both parties do not have to be present at the Probate Court. The person who files should bring ID. Processing takes just a few minutes. You leave with a recorded copy.

Can You Search Elmore Records Online?

Elmore County uses the Ingenuity system for some online records. You can search for recorded documents on their portal. Marriage records from recent years may be available. Older records might require an in-person visit or mail request.

The state also has records. Alabama began keeping marriage records in August 1936. The Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery has copies from that date forward. You can order copies online through VitalChek or by mail. The state charges $15 for a search and first copy.

For genealogy research, older records are at the county level only. Elmore County has records going back many decades. Contact the Probate Court for help with historical searches. Some records have been digitized. Others are only on paper.

Note: Marriage records in Alabama are public. Anyone can request a copy with the right information. You do not have to be a party to the marriage.

Elmore County's Unique Landmark

Wetumpka sits inside an ancient meteor impact crater. The crater is about 5 miles wide. It formed roughly 83 million years ago. Scientists can see the crater's outline from space. This makes Elmore County home to one of Alabama's most unusual geographic features.

The downtown area of Wetumpka is inside the crater rim. The Coosa River flows through the impact site. Local museums and tours highlight this natural wonder. Couples who file their marriage license here can say they got married in a meteor crater, at least on paper.

The crater has no effect on the filing process. The Probate Court works the same as any other county. But it does make Elmore County stand out. Not many places can claim such a dramatic geological history.

Marriage License Laws in Alabama

Alabama changed its marriage system in 2019. The state no longer issues marriage licenses. Instead, couples file a marriage license. This shift came from Alabama Code Section 30-1-9.1. The law took effect on August 29, 2019.

Under the new system, no ceremony is required. No officiant is needed. No witnesses are necessary. The marriage is a contract between two people. Both sign a form, get it notarized, and file it with any county Probate Court in Alabama. The marriage becomes legal on the date of the second signature.

Age rules still apply. You must be at least 18 to marry without consent. Ages 16 and 17 require parental consent through a notarized affidavit. No one under 16 can marry. These rules come from Section 30-1-4 and Section 30-1-5.

If you were divorced, wait 60 days before filing a new marriage license. This waiting period is in Alabama law. The 60 days start from the date of the final divorce decree. File too early and the court will reject your form.

Cities in Elmore County

Elmore County has several cities and towns. Wetumpka is the county seat. Other places include Millbrook, Prattville (shared with Autauga County), Tallassee, Eclectic, and Coosada. All residents file marriage licenses at the Elmore County Probate Court in Wetumpka.

None of Elmore County's cities have populations over 50,000. The county as a whole is growing. Many residents commute to Montgomery for work. The Probate Court serves all of them for marriage filings.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Elmore County. You can file your marriage license in any Alabama county. Some couples choose based on convenience or fees.

Search Elmore County Records

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