SB33 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Marriage; premarital conflict resolution class required to enter into, related duties of Administrative Office of Courts provided

Summary

SB33 would require couples to take a premarital conflict resolution class before their marriage can be recorded, replacing the traditional marriage license and ceremony requirements.

What This Bill Does

Starting January 1, 2026, both parties must jointly attend at least one premarital conflict resolution class. The Administrative Office of Courts will set minimum class requirements, create a verification form, and may publish a list of acceptable classes. Before recording a marriage, the judge of probate must verify that the couple attended an approved class and file the required affidavits and data, while the state removes the license and ceremony requirements and transfers the recording process to the new system.

Who It Affects

• Couples planning to marry in Alabama: must jointly attend a premarital conflict resolution class and have attendance verified before their marriage can be recorded; traditional license and ceremony requirements are abolished.
• State and local officials and agencies involved in marriage processing (Judge of Probate, Administrative Office of Courts, Office of Vital Statistics, Alabama Law Institute, Department of Public Health): will implement class standards, verification procedures, data recording, and class publication; they handle fee collection and record transmission under the new system.

Key Provisions

• The existing marriage license and ceremony requirements are repealed and abolished; marriages can be recorded based on compliance with the new class attendance requirement.
• Section 30-1-9.1 is amended to state that the only requirement to marry is meeting the new section, with the judge of probate continuing to collect recording fees for each marriage recorded.
• A new Section 30-1-9.2 requires both parties to jointly attend at least one premarital conflict resolution class beginning January 1, 2026; the Administrative Office of Courts will determine minimum class requirements, develop a verification form to accompany the affidavit, and may publish acceptable classes.
• Before recording a marriage, the judge of probate must verify that the couple attended a qualifying class, and the affidavits and data must be filed and transmitted to the Office of Vital Statistics.
• The Alabama Law Institute and Department of Public Health will prepare a form to meet the minimum requirements and coordinate with the Office of Vital Statistics; the act preserves other legal aspects of marriage (e.g., divorce) and does not affect them.

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

Subjects

Family Law