Franklin County Marriage Records

Franklin County marriage licenses are recorded at the Probate Court in Russellville. This northwest Alabama county has about 32,000 residents. The Probate Court accepts mail-in filings. This is helpful for couples who cannot visit in person. E-recording is also available through approved vendors. The county uses Alabama's new system with no license required.

Franklin County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles all marriage filings in Franklin County. The office is in the county courthouse in Russellville. Staff are helpful with questions about the filing process. They can explain what documents you need and how to complete them.

Walk-ins are welcome. You can also file by mail. The mail option is useful if you live far from Russellville. Send your notarized form with payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for your recorded copy. Processing takes a few days by mail.

Note: Call ahead to confirm mail-in procedures and payment methods.

Franklin County Marriage License Fees

The recording fee is $75 in Franklin County. This covers the cost to file and record your marriage license. The fee includes state and county portions. Part goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund by law.

Payment is due when you file. In person, you can pay with cash or check. For mail-in filings, send a check or money order. Make it payable to Franklin County Probate Court. Do not send cash through the mail.

Need extra copies? Order them from the Probate Court. Certified copies cost a few dollars. The state keeps records from 1936 onward. Order state copies through VitalChek for $15 plus their fees. County copies are often quicker.

How to File in Franklin County

Start with the form. Download it from the Alabama Department of Public Health website. Type all information. Do not handwrite. Print it but do not sign until you have a notary present.

Both parties fill out their sections. Include names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and current addresses. List prior marriages and how they ended. Both must sign. Both signatures need notarization by an Alabama notary public.

To file in Franklin County, you need:

• Completed marriage license form typed (not handwritten)
• Both signatures notarized by an Alabama notary
• Valid photo ID if filing in person
• $75 recording fee

The deadline is 30 days from the second signature. The marriage is legal on that date, not when you file. Miss the deadline and the form is void. Start over with a new one if that happens.

For mail filings, send your notarized form plus payment. Include a stamped return envelope. The court records your license and mails back your copy. In person, you leave with the copy the same day.

Can You Search Franklin Records Online?

Franklin County uses the Ingenuity system for some online services. You may be able to search certain records online. Marriage licenses might be available depending on the year. Call the Probate Court to ask about online access to specific records.

The state also has records. Alabama keeps marriage records from August 1936 to present. The Center for Health Statistics manages them. Order copies online through VitalChek. The fee is $15 for the search and first copy. Additional copies cost $6.

Marriage records are public in Alabama. Anyone can request a copy with the right information. You do not need to be named on the license. Provide names and an approximate date to help find the record.

Mail-In and E-Recording in Franklin County

Franklin County accepts mail-in marriage license filings. This is not common in all Alabama counties. It helps couples who live far away or have trouble visiting in person. The mail option works the same as in-person filing. You just wait a bit longer for your recorded copy.

E-recording is also available. This is for professionals like title companies and attorneys. They can submit documents electronically. For most couples, in-person or mail filing works best. E-recording is more for real estate and legal transactions.

The mail-in option makes Franklin County accessible. If you cannot take time off work or do not have transport, mail works. Send your completed form, payment, and return envelope. The Probate Court does the rest. You get your recorded copy back in a few days.

Marriage License Laws in Alabama

Alabama eliminated marriage licenses in 2019. Now couples file a license instead. Alabama Code Section 30-1-9.1 established this system. The change took effect August 29, 2019.

No ceremony is needed. No officiant is required. No witnesses are necessary. The marriage is a contract. Both parties sign, get it notarized, and file with any county Probate Court. The marriage becomes legal on the date of the second signature.

Age rules apply. Both must be 18 to marry without consent. Ages 16 and 17 need parental consent through a notarized affidavit. Under 16 cannot marry. See Section 30-1-4 for age requirements.

Divorced recently? Wait 60 days before filing a new marriage license. This period starts from your final divorce decree date. File too soon and the court rejects your form.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County includes Russellville, Red Bay, Phil Campbell, and Vina. Russellville is the county seat and largest city. None have populations over 50,000. All residents file marriage licenses at the Franklin County Probate Court.

The county is in northwest Alabama near the Tennessee and Mississippi state lines. It is a rural area with a strong community feel. The Probate Court serves all residents. You can file here or in any other Alabama county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County. Each has a Probate Court that records marriage licenses.

Search Franklin County Records

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