HB245 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Matt Fridy

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Marriage, members of churches allowed to participate in traditional marriage ceremonies, Sec. 30-1-9.1 am'd.

Summary

HB245 would let certain churches continue traditional marriage ceremonies without probate recording, using exchanged copies of required documents as the official record, and it would alter state licensing and ceremony requirements.

What This Bill Does

It amends Act 2019-340 (Section 30-1-9.1) to allow members of specific churches or religious groups to conduct marriages without recording the marriage with the judge of probate; instead, both parties would exchange copies of all required documentation, and those copies would constitute the legal record. Recording with the judge of probate would be optional for these groups. The bill keeps the minimum information that must appear on the marriage documents (such as names and notarized affidavits) and requires those documents to be handled; copies may be transmitted to the Office of Vital Statistics. It also states that all requirements to obtain a marriage license and the ceremony requirement to solemnize a marriage are abolished.

Who It Affects

• Members of certain churches, religious organizations, or societies who traditionally solemnize marriages; they could proceed without recording with the probate office and use exchanged copies as the legal record.
• Couples and the state administrative system more broadly, since the bill would abolish the state's marriage license requirement and the mandatory ceremony, affecting how marriages are authorized and recorded in Alabama.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 30-1-9.1 to allow traditional religious marriage solemnization without requiring recording with the judge of probate for members of specified churches/organizations; copies of required documentation would be the legal record.
• If an exception applies, recording with the judge of probate becomes optional for those marriages; the parties would exchange copies of all documentation and those copies would serve as the record.
• Keeps minimum information requirements on marriage documentation (e.g., full names, notarized affidavits with age, consent, voluntary nature, non-relations) and requires transmission of relevant forms to the Office of Vital Statistics.
• Abolishes all requirements to obtain a marriage license and the requirement of a ceremony to solemnize a marriage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marriage