As of May 18, 2022 all marriage certificates must be notarized by a notary public authorized to notarize under the laws of the State of Alabama.

For most persons, signing a marriage certificate with a new last name suffices. However, a person may change his/her last name by obtaining a name changing decree from the probate court in the county of residence. To accomplish this: Obtain a certified criminal history from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.

Obtain a standardized marriage certificate form provided by the state, county probate judge's office or online. Fully complete the form. The form requests the same basic information about each spouse that is currently used. Take the marriage certificate form to a notary to witness signatures.

Information Required Full names before first marriage of both spouses. Date of marriage. County where marriage license was issued. Your name. Your signature. Address where the certificate is to be mailed. Your daytime phone number.

The law provides that the date of the marriage is the date that the affidavit on the Alabama Marriage Certificate form is signed by the two spouses, so long as the completed and notarized form is provided to the probate office for recording within 30 days of the date of the spouses' signatures.

Under the new law, persons wishing to become married are no longer required to file an application for a marriage license with the county probate court, and the courts will no longer issue marriage licenses. Furthermore, all Alabama probate courts will now be required to record marriage certificates.

To apply for a marriage license, both Bride and Groom will need to be present at the same time in the probate office located on the first floor of The Madison County Courthouse. Consent of the parents, surviving parent, legal guardian or legal custodian of a minor is required.