Search Lauderdale County Marriage Records

Lauderdale County marriage licenses are filed at the Probate Court in Florence. This northwest Alabama county has about 93,000 residents. The area is famous for Muscle Shoals music history. The Probate Court has never lost a record in its history. This makes Lauderdale County a reliable place to file and search for marriage records.

Lauderdale County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles all marriage filings in Lauderdale County. The office is in the county courthouse in Florence. Staff manage marriages, estates, wills, and other probate matters. They can answer questions about the filing process and fees.

Florence is part of the Shoals area. This includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. All four cities are served by the Lauderdale County Probate Court. The courthouse is easy to find in downtown Florence.

Note: The courthouse is in downtown Florence near other government offices.

Lauderdale County Marriage License Fees

The recording fee is $73 in Lauderdale County. This is lower than many Alabama counties. The fee covers filing and recording your marriage license. Part goes to state funds. Part goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund.

Payment is due when you file. Cash is accepted. Ask about checks or cards when you call. The staff can tell you what payment methods they take. Come prepared with the right form of payment.

Need extra copies? Order from the Probate Court. Certified copies cost a few dollars each. The state keeps records from 1936 forward. VitalChek offers state copies for $15 plus their fees.

How to File in Lauderdale County

Start by getting the form. Download it from the Alabama Department of Public Health website. Type all information. Handwritten forms are not accepted. Print the form but do not sign until a notary is present.

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

To file in Lauderdale County, bring these items:

• Completed marriage license form (typed)
• Both signatures notarized by an Alabama notary
• Valid photo ID for the person filing
• $73 recording fee

The deadline is 30 days from the second signature. The marriage is legal on that date. Miss the deadline and the form becomes void. You would need to start over with a new form.

Only one person needs to go. Bring ID. Staff review your documents and record the license. You leave with a copy.

Can You Search Lauderdale Records Online?

Lauderdale County uses the Ingenuity system for online services. Some records may be searchable online. Marriage licenses from recent years might be available. Contact the Probate Court for details on online access.

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

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

Lauderdale County's Remarkable Record Keeping

Lauderdale County has never lost a record. This is rare for any government office. Fires, floods, and other disasters have destroyed records in many Alabama counties. But Lauderdale County has kept everything safe since the beginning.

This makes the county valuable for genealogy research. Historical marriage records are intact. Families can trace their history through documents that have survived for generations. The Probate Court takes pride in this perfect record.

The Muscle Shoals area is famous for music. FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio recorded legendary artists. Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan all recorded here. The music heritage brings tourists from around the world. Couples sometimes file their marriage licenses here because of that connection.

Marriage License Laws in Alabama

Alabama does not issue marriage licenses. Since 2019, couples file a license instead. Alabama Code Section 30-1-9.1 created this system. The law took effect August 29, 2019.

No ceremony is required. No officiant is needed. No witnesses must be present. The marriage is a contract. Both parties sign, get it notarized, and file. The marriage is legal on the date of the second signature.

You must be 18 to marry without consent. Ages 16 and 17 need parental consent via a notarized affidavit. No one under 16 can marry. See Section 30-1-4 for details.

If you divorced recently, wait 60 days. The period starts from your final divorce decree. File too early and the court rejects your form.

Cities in Lauderdale County

Lauderdale County includes Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. Florence is the county seat and largest city. These four cities make up the Shoals area. None have populations over 50,000 individually. All residents file at the Lauderdale County Probate Court.

The county sits in the northwest corner of Alabama. The Tennessee River runs along its border. The area has a vibrant arts and music scene. The Probate Court serves all residents from across the county.

Nearby Counties

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

Search Lauderdale County Records

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