Sumter County Marriage License Records

Sumter County marriage licenses are filed at the Probate Court in Livingston. The county is home to the University of West Alabama. Marriage records here go back to 1833. This guide covers how to file and find marriage licenses in Sumter County, Alabama.

Sumter County Probate Court Office

The Sumter County Probate Court is in Livingston. This is the county seat. The courthouse sits in the center of town. It is easy to find. Staff at the Probate Court handle marriage licenses and other vital records.

Sumter County is rural and quiet. The office is not crowded. Wait times are short. You can walk in during business hours. No appointment is needed. The staff is helpful and can answer questions about the filing process.

Note: The office is closed on state holidays. Call ahead if you plan to visit near a holiday.

Sumter County Marriage License Fees

The recording fee in Sumter County is $75. This is the total cost to file your marriage license. The fee includes the $60 that goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. You pay when you submit your form.

Sumter County accepts cash and checks. Credit and debit cards may be accepted with a fee. Ask the clerk about payment options before you visit. Money orders work too. Bring exact payment if you can.

Certified copies cost extra. The first copy is about $5. More copies cost less. Many couples order a few copies for their records. You can get copies the same day you file or come back later.

Note: Fees can change. Call (205) 652-7281 to confirm the current fee before your visit.

How to File in Sumter County

Filing a marriage license in Sumter County is simple. Alabama no longer uses marriage licenses. Couples fill out a marriage license form and file it at a Probate Court. Sumter County handles filings at the Livingston courthouse.

First, download the form. Go to the Alabama Department of Public Health website at dph1.adph.state.al.us/marriage/. Print the form and fill it out. You must type the information. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

Both people fill out their sections. Then both sign the form. After signing, you need an Alabama notary to notarize both signatures. The notary must be licensed in Alabama. Out-of-state notaries will not work. Banks, shipping stores, and some offices have notaries.

To file your marriage license in Sumter County, bring these items:

• Completed marriage license form (typed)
• Both signatures notarized by an Alabama notary
• Valid photo ID for each person
• $75 for the recording fee

You have 30 days after the last signature to file. If you miss this deadline, the form is void. You would need to start over with a new form. The marriage is legal on the date of the last signature, not when you file.

Processing is fast. The clerk checks your form while you wait. If everything is correct, they record it right away. You can get certified copies on the spot. Most visits take 15 to 20 minutes.

Can You Search Sumter County Records Online?

Sumter County uses the Ingenuity system for some probate records. This gives limited online access. You can search for basic record info from home. For full documents, you may need to contact the office.

The state also keeps copies of all marriage licenses. The Alabama Department of Public Health has records from 1936 on. You can order copies through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. This works for any Alabama county.

Sumter County has marriage records going back to 1833. These older records are kept locally. For historic research, contact the Probate Court directly. Staff can help you find old records. Bring names and dates if you have them.

Note: Older records may be harder to read due to age and handwriting. Staff can help with searches.

Sumter County and UWA

Sumter County is home to the University of West Alabama. The campus is in Livingston. This brings students and staff to the area. Some choose to file their marriage licenses here.

UWA students and employees can file at the Sumter County Probate Court. They can also file in any other Alabama county. Alabama has no residency rule for marriage filings. You can pick any county that works for you.

The university adds life to the small county. Livingston has restaurants, shops, and services that serve the campus. The town is quiet but has what you need. The courthouse is a short walk from campus.

If you are a UWA student getting married, the local Probate Court is handy. The fee is $75. The office is not crowded. You can file quickly and get back to class.

Sumter County Historic Records

Sumter County has marriage records from 1833. This is nearly 200 years of records. The county formed in 1832, so these are some of the oldest records in the area. They cover families who lived here before the Civil War.

Historic records are useful for genealogy. Researchers come to Sumter County to trace family lines. The Probate Court keeps these old records safe. Some have been microfilmed. Others are in original ledgers.

To search old records, contact the Probate Court. Give them names and dates if you can. Staff will search for you. There may be a small fee for copies. Old records may be hard to read, but staff can help.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History also has some Sumter County records. FamilySearch.org has digitized records too. Check these sources if you are doing family research.

Marriage License Laws in Alabama

Alabama changed its marriage system in 2019. The state stopped issuing marriage licenses. Now couples file a marriage license instead. This is unique to Alabama. No other state uses this system.

Alabama Code Section 30-1-9.1 sets the rules. You must complete the state form, have both signatures notarized, and file within 30 days. No ceremony is required. No officiant is required. The notarized form creates the legal marriage.

Age requirements come from Section 30-1-4. You must be at least 16 to marry in Alabama. If you are 16 or 17, you need parental consent in a notarized affidavit. Section 30-1-5 covers consent.

Marriage records are public in Alabama. Section 22-9A-21 says anyone can request copies. You do not need to be a party to the marriage. This makes it easy to get records for legal or family reasons.

After a divorce, you must wait 60 days before marrying again. This is state law. The wait starts when the divorce is final.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County is rural. The main city is Livingston. Other towns include York, Cuba, Epes, and Geiger. All are small. Residents of all these towns file marriage licenses at the Probate Court in Livingston.

There are no cities in Sumter County over 50,000 in population. The nearest large cities are Tuscaloosa and Meridian, Mississippi. If you live in Sumter County but work elsewhere, you can still file here. Or you can file in any other Alabama county.

Nearby Counties

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

Search Sumter County Records

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