St. Clair County Marriage Licenses

St. Clair County marriage licenses can be filed at two locations. The county has dual seats in Ashville and Pell City. Both courthouses handle marriage filings. Pick the one closer to you. This guide explains how to get and file marriage licenses in St. Clair County, Alabama.

St. Clair County Probate Court Offices

St. Clair County has two courthouse locations. Both handle marriage licenses. This setup goes back over 100 years. The county was split into districts, and each got a courthouse. Today, you can file at either one.

Ashville is the original county seat. It sits in the northern part of the county. Pell City is in the southern part. It serves residents closer to Interstate 20 and the Birmingham area. The services are the same at both offices. The fee is the same too.

Note: Call ahead to confirm hours, as they may vary for holidays or special events.

St. Clair County's Two Seats

St. Clair County is one of few Alabama counties with two county seats. This is not common. Most counties have just one courthouse. But St. Clair split into districts long ago. Each district wanted its own courthouse.

Ashville was the first seat. It has been there since the county formed in 1818. Pell City became the second seat later. The southern part of the county grew, and people there wanted a closer option. Now both seats share equal status.

For marriage licenses, this is a plus. You have two choices. If one office is busy or far away, go to the other. Both offer the same services. Both charge the same $78.50 fee. Both can issue certified copies. The forms and process are the same at each location.

Some people file at Ashville because it feels like a small-town courthouse. Others prefer Pell City because it is larger and near I-20. The choice is yours. Pick the one that fits your schedule and location.

St. Clair County Marriage License Fees

The recording fee is $78.50. This applies at both the Ashville and Pell City offices. The fee includes the state-required $60 for the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. You pay this when you file your form.

Payment options are similar at both offices. Cash works at either location. Checks are accepted too. Credit and debit cards may have a small service fee added. Ask the clerk about card fees before you pay. Money orders also work.

Certified copies cost extra. The first copy is about $5 to $6. More copies cost less each. Order copies when you file if you need them. You can also get copies later by mail or in person.

Note: Fees can change. Call (205) 594-2120 for Ashville or (205) 338-9449 for Pell City to confirm the current fee.

How to File in St. Clair County

Filing a marriage license in St. Clair County is straightforward. Alabama no longer uses marriage licenses. You fill out a marriage license form and file it with a Probate Court. In St. Clair County, you can use either Ashville or Pell City.

Start by getting the form. Go to the Alabama Department of Public Health website at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. Download and print the form. You must type the info. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

Both people fill out their sections. Then both must sign. After signing, you need a notary to witness and stamp the signatures. The notary must be licensed in Alabama. Banks, shipping stores, and some offices have notaries. The Probate Court in St. Clair County cannot notarize your form.

To file your marriage license, bring these items:

• Completed marriage license form (typed)
• Both signatures notarized by an Alabama notary
• Valid photo ID for each person
• $78.50 for the recording fee

You must file within 30 days of the last signature. If you wait too long, the form expires. You would have to start over. The marriage becomes legal on the date of the last signature, not the date you file. Filing just records it officially.

Processing takes just a few minutes. The clerk checks your form. If it is correct, they record it on the spot. You can get certified copies right away. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes total.

Can You Search St. Clair Records Online?

St. Clair County has limited online records. The county does not have a full public search portal for probate records. You can find some info through state systems, but local records may need an in-person or phone request.

The Alabama Department of Public Health keeps copies of all marriage licenses from 1936 on. You can order copies through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. This is the state system. It covers records from all 67 counties.

For local records or older documents, contact the Probate Court directly. Call the Ashville office at (205) 594-2120 or Pell City at (205) 338-9449. Staff can search by name or date. You may need to provide details like full names and year of marriage.

Some Alabama counties use the Ingenuity system for online probate records. St. Clair County's online options are more limited. If you need a deep search, plan to visit or call the office.

Marriage License Laws in Alabama

Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. The state no longer issues marriage licenses. Now couples file a marriage license instead. This is unique to Alabama. No other state does it this way.

Alabama Code Section 30-1-9.1 is the key law. It sets the rules for the new system. You must complete the state form, have both signatures notarized, and file within 30 days. No ceremony is needed. No officiant is needed. The notarized form itself makes the marriage legal.

Age rules come from Section 30-1-4. You must be at least 16 to marry. If you are 16 or 17, a parent must give consent. The consent must be in a notarized affidavit. Section 30-1-5 covers this.

Marriage records are public. Section 22-9A-21 says anyone can request copies. You do not need to be a spouse. This makes records easy to access for legal or family history reasons.

If you were divorced, you must wait 60 days to remarry. This is state law. The wait starts when the divorce is final.

St. Clair County History

St. Clair County was formed in 1818. It is one of the oldest counties in Alabama. The county has seen a lot of change over the years. It grew from a rural farming area to a mix of suburbs and small towns.

The dual county seat setup dates back to 1907. The county was split into two judicial divisions. Each got its own courthouse. This was a way to serve people in different parts of the county. Roads were rough back then, and travel took time. Having two courthouses made sense.

Today, the county sits between Birmingham and Gadsden. Interstate 20 runs through the southern part. Pell City and Moody have grown as bedroom communities for Birmingham. Ashville keeps a quieter, small-town feel. Both parts of the county are served well by the dual courthouse system.

Cities in St. Clair County

St. Clair County has several towns and cities. All residents file marriage licenses at the Probate Court. You can use either the Ashville or Pell City office.

Major cities include Pell City, Moody, Springville, Ashville, Ragland, and Odenville. Pell City is the largest city. It sits on Logan Martin Lake. Moody is close to Birmingham and has grown fast. Springville has a historic downtown with shops and restaurants.

There are no cities in St. Clair County over 50,000 in population. Birmingham and Hoover are nearby in Jefferson County. If you work in those cities but live in St. Clair County, you still file here. Or you can file in any other Alabama county. The choice is yours.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Clair County. You can file your marriage license in any Alabama county. Pick the one that works best for you.

Search St. Clair County Records

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