HB594 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

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

Summary

HB594 would let members of certain churches perform traditional marriage ceremonies without having to record the paperwork with the judge of probate, using exchanged copies of documents as the legal record.

What This Bill Does

Specifically, the bill allows certain churches to continue their traditional marriage solemnization practices without requiring the marriage to be recorded with the judge of probate. Instead, if both parties exchange copies of all documentation normally required, those copies become the legal record and probate recording becomes optional. The documentation must still include the minimum information and notarized affidavits, and a copy is transmitted to the Office of Vital Statistics as part of the official record. The bill operates within a framework where the state does not require a specific ceremony or license for a marriage to be valid, according to the underlying law.

Who It Affects

• Members of certain churches, religious organizations, or societies who traditionally solemnize marriages; they would be able to rely on exchanged documentation rather than probate recording.
• Judges of probate and the Office of Vital Statistics; recording with probate would be optional for these marriages, and records may be kept through copies transmitted to Vital Statistics.

Key Provisions

• Amends 30-1-9.1 to allow members of certain churches or religious organizations to continue traditional marriage solemnization practices without requiring recording with the judge of probate, provided both parties exchange copies of all required documentation and those copies serve as the legal record.
• Requires the documentation to include minimum identifying information and notarized affidavits, and stipulates that a copy of the documentation may be transmitted to the Office of Vital Statistics as part of the official record.

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