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HB432 • 2026

Montgomery County; probate judge, additional fee authorized for celebrating rites of matrimony

Montgomery County; probate judge, additional fee authorized for celebrating rites of matrimony

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Hassell
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact dollar amount or range for the 'reasonable fee' is not defined in this text and must be determined by the judge.

Montgomery County Probate Judge Marriage Fee

This law allows the probate judge in Montgomery County to charge an extra fee for performing marriage ceremonies.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Montgomery County probate judge to charge a reasonable additional fee for celebrating marriages.
  • States that this new fee is paid on top of existing state fees under Section 12-19-90.
  • Requires that the money from this extra fee be kept by the judge or their assistant who performed the ceremony.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Judge of Probate in Montgomery County
  • People getting married by a probate judge in Montgomery County

Terms To Know

Probate Judge
A court official authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.
Rites of Matrimony
The ceremony that makes a couple legally married.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not state the exact dollar amount for this new fee.
  • It only applies to Montgomery County and not other counties in Alabama.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 House

    Enacted

  2. 2026-04-02 House

    Delivered to Governor

  3. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Signature Requested

  4. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1019 (Yeas 29, Nays 0)

  5. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 29, Nays 0)

  6. 2026-04-01 House

    Enrolled

  7. 2026-04-01 House

    Ready to Enroll

  8. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Carried Over to the Call of the Chair

  9. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  10. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  11. 2026-03-17 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 900 (Yeas 16, Nays 0)

  12. 2026-03-17 House

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 54, Nays 0)

  13. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  14. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation

  15. 2026-03-10 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  16. 2026-03-10 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  17. 2026-02-12 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  18. 2026-02-12 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Montgomery County Legislation

Official Summary Text

Montgomery County; probate judge, additional fee authorized for celebrating rites of matrimony

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB432 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB432
BYE3DQQ-2
By Representative Hassell (N & P)
RFD: Montgomery County Legislation
First Read: 12-Feb-26
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HB432 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 12-Feb-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to Montgomery County; to authorize the judge
of probate to charge an additional fee for celebrating the
rites of matrimony.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. The Judge of Probate of Montgomery County
may charge an additional reasonable fee for providing the
service of celebrating the rites of matrimony. The fee
authorized by this section shall be in addition to the fee
imposed pursuant to Section 12-19-90, Code of Alabama 1975,
and shall be retained by the judge of probate or the designee
of the judge who solemnized the marriage.
Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately.
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HB432 Enrolled
Page 2
Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 17-Mar-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 01-Apr-26 Passed
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