HB245 Alabama 2020 Session

Under existing law, the only requirement to solemnize a marriage is to submit an affidavit with certain identifying information and record the affidavit with the judge of probate within 30 days of the last signature on the affidavit.

This bill would provide that members of certain churches, religious organizations, or societies may continue their traditional practices relating to the solemnization of marriage in conjunction with the documentation required under existing law.

This bill would also provide that copies of recorded marriage documentation constitute a legal record of a marriage under certain conditions, and that under these conditions, recording marriage documentation with the judge of probate would optional.

Relating to marriage; to amend Act 2019-340, 2019 Regular Session, now appearing as Section 30-1-9.1, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide that members of certain churches, religious organizations, or societies may continue their traditional practices relating to the solemnization of marriage without being required to record marriage documentation with the judge of probate; and to provide that copies of recorded marriage documentation constitute a legal record of a marriage under certain conditions.