SB69 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Marriage license, recording by judge of probate, transmission to Vital Statistics office, Secs. 30-1-9, 30-1-10, 30-1-11, 30-1-13, 30-1-14 repealed; Secs. 22-9A-17, 30-1-5, 30-1-12, 30-1-16 am'd.

Summary

SB 69 would replace the traditional marriage license and ceremony system with a probate-recording method where two people marry and the judge of probate records the marriage and forwards it to Vital Statistics, repealing older provisions.

What This Bill Does

It abolishes the requirement to obtain a marriage license from the judge of probate and the ceremony requirement; marriages would be entered into by two eligible parties and recorded by the probate court. The judge of probate would maintain a permanent record and forward the marriage documents to the Office of Vital Statistics, with monthly submission deadlines. The marriage document would need specific information and notarized affidavits from each party, including age, consent for minors, and other eligibility details; it also establishes a process for correcting errors in vital records and preserves certain minor-consent provisions.

Who It Affects

• Couples seeking to marry in Alabama: can marry by submitting affidavits and data and have the probate judge record the marriage, without a state-issued license or ceremony.
• Judge of probate: required to record each marriage, maintain permanent records, and forward records to the Office of Vital Statistics; collects recording and other specified fees.
• Office of Vital Statistics: responsible for registering and maintaining the statewide marriage records received from the probate offices.
• Minors aged 16-18 and their parents/guardians: still subject to consent requirements (and a bond is required in some cases) with notarized affidavits; documentation must meet new minimum information standards.
• Notaries and witnesses: involved in notarizing affidavits and completing required forms used to record the marriage.

Key Provisions

• Abolition of the marriage license and ceremony requirements; marriages are entered into by two parties and recorded by the judge of probate.
• The judge of probate records each marriage on a permanent record and forwards the documentation to the Office of Vital Statistics, with reporting deadlines (monthly, by the fifth day).
• The marriage document must include minimum information: full legal names of both parties, notarized affidavits from each party confirming eligibility (age, marital status, competency, lack of near relation, voluntary nature), and signatures of both parties.
• Minor consent provisions remain: for 16- to 18-year-olds, parental/guardian consent is required, documented by notarized affidavits and, in some cases, a bond of $200; consent must be filed with the probate court.
• Procedures for correcting vital records errors include petitions, hearings, court decrees, and forwarding corrected records to Vital Statistics; costs are borne by the petitioner.
• Sections 30-1-9, 30-1-10, 30-1-11, 30-1-13, and 30-1-14 are repealed.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Family Law