City guide · Mobile, Alabama · Details last checked Oct 31, 2026

Mobile, Alabama document errands: printing, fax, notary, passports and certified copies (2026)

Where to print, fax, notarize, apply for a passport and get certified copies in Mobile, Alabama, using only official and provider pages. Each fact links to its source. Some facts are statewide or national rather than local. We label those.

Printing, copying, scanning and fax

Mobile Public Library

• Printing: black-and-white prints are 10¢ a page and color 50¢. You can print from the Princh website or app or by email, and jobs are held for 24 hours ^[8]. We didn't find a separate photocopy price.
• Fax: available at every library location; faxes to local, long-distance and toll-free numbers are $1 a page, and cover pages are free ^[9].
• Ben May Main Library address: the library's pages give two street numbers. The location listing says 701 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36602, and the site's contact footer says 700 Government Street ^[9]. Phone (251) 340-1535 ^[9].

• The UPS Store: it lists 5 locations in Mobile. Its city page says its stores offer packing, shipping, printing, shredding, notarizing, faxing and mailbox services ^[10]. We didn't find prices on the store pages; The UPS Store's site says products, services, prices and hours may vary by location ^[11]. The Census Geocoder places 4 of the 5 inside Mobile city; it didn't match the address of the store at 3688 Airport Blvd., Ste. B ^[10][7].

See printing prices and fax prices.

Notary in Mobile

• Mobile Public Library: notary services for no charge. It depends on the notary's availability, so contact your branch first. Bring a current government-issued photo ID for every signer, and don't sign until the notary is present ^[2].
• The UPS Store: its Mobile page lists notarizing ^[10]. We didn't find prices.
• Probate Court of Mobile County: its staff aren't permitted to notarize documents for the public ^[5].
• Becoming a notary in Mobile County: you must live in Mobile County. Send the application with the non-refundable $10 fee to the Judge of Probate, and finish the required training within 30 days of applying. After the appointment letter, get a $50,000 bond and record it, with your training certificate, within 40 days of the letter; the filing fee then is $43 ^[12]. Mail applications to Notary Department, Mobile County Probate Court, P.O. Box 7, Mobile, AL 36601-0007 ^[12].
• How notaries are commissioned (statewide): in Alabama, notaries apply to and are commissioned by the probate judge of their county, for four-year terms. New and renewal applicants must finish a training program from the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute; attorneys are exempt. The Secretary of State tells applicants to ask their county probate judge about application, bond and fee requirements ^[13]. Act 2023-548 sets a $50,000 bond ^[14].
• Fees (statewide law): Act 2023-548 lets a notary charge "a reasonable fee, not to exceed ten dollars ($10), for each notarial act performed." State, county and city employees may not charge for a notarial act done as part of their public job, unless another law allows it ^[14]. The Alabama Department of Public Health says your personal bank "should provide notary services for free" ^[4].
• Remote notarization (statewide): since Oct. 1, 2026, Act 2026-536 adds rules for remote notarization; the notary must be physically in Alabama and keep the audio-video recording for seven years ^[13].

Passports in Mobile

The U.S. Department of State's Passport Acceptance Facility Locator data lists 1 facility in Mobile. The Census Geocoder places it inside Mobile city ^[1][7]:

• Appointments: the locator says to book an appointment or see more passport times at usps.com/scheduler ^[1].
• Other offices: we didn't find another Mobile passport acceptance facility in the locator data, including the probate court ^[1].
• Post office fees (national): a $35.00 acceptance fee and a $15.00 photo fee "if needed" ^[15].
• Faster return delivery (national): two official pages list different prices. USPS lists "$22.05—1- to 3- day delivery service for faster return shipping to you from the State Department" ^[15]. The State Department's fee page lists 1–3 business day return delivery at $26.87, for passport books only ^[16]. We couldn't re-read the State Department page on Oct 31, 2026, because it blocked our check. Confirm the fee with the acceptance facility before you pay.

See the passport checklist and passport photo prices.

Birth, death, marriage, court and recorded-document copies

Birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates (statewide)

• Fees (statewide): the Alabama Center for Health Statistics charges $15.00 to search for a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate, including one certified copy (or a "Certificate of Failure to Find"). Extra copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $6.00 each. Expediting adds $15.00. Fees aren't refunded ^{[17][18][19][20]}.
• In person (statewide): any county health department in Alabama can issue certified copies, and most are issued while you wait ^[21][17].
• By mail (statewide): Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625, by check or money order payable to "Center for Health Statistics" (no cash). Allow about 7–10 days ^[17][21].
• Online or by phone (statewide): through VitalChek, 1-888-279-9888, with extra fees; the state office doesn't take online requests directly ^[21].
• Who can order (statewide): birth certificates are restricted for 125 years and death certificates for 25 years to the people the law lists, such as the person named, parents, spouse, children and siblings. Marriage and divorce certificates are unrestricted ^{[17][18][19][20]}.

• Mobile County Health Department: Alabama birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates at the Main Health Center, 251 North Bayou St., 251-690-8150. Certificates are processed 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday; the last customer is taken at about 4 p.m. ^[3].
• Fees and payment: $15 for the first certified copy and $6 for each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time. It takes cash, and personal checks or money orders payable to "Mobile County Health Dept." with your driver license number and expiration date on them; credit and debit cards are taken at the main health center only, with a $1.95 fee ^[3].

Marriage certificates (Alabama has no marriage licenses)

• No marriage licenses (statewide): since Aug. 29, 2019, Alabama probate courts no longer issue marriage licenses. Instead, the couple completes the Alabama Marriage Certificate form and delivers it to a probate court for recording within 30 days of the later of the two signatures. You can record it in any Alabama county probate court, and each probate court sets its own recording fee ^[4].
• Notary (statewide): the form must be notarized by a notary authorized under Alabama law; a form notarized by an out-of-state notary isn't accepted ^[4].
• Copies and corrections (statewide): certified copies are $15.00 from the state (see above) or any county health department. Corrections go through the probate court that issued the license or recorded the certificate ^[19].
• Probate Court of Mobile County: recording the marriage certificate form costs $73.00, paid by cash, money order or credit card; no checks. Extra certified copies are $3.00 each ^[5].
• How: print the form on 8.5 x 11 inch white or light paper, front side only, at actual size. Probate staff can't notarize it ^[5]. Blank forms can be picked up at the Judicial Intake window, first floor of the Mobile County Government Center Annex, 151 Government St. ^[22].

Recorded documents (deeds and other land records)

• Probate Court of Mobile County: the Recording Office is on the first floor of the Mobile County Government Center Annex, 151 Government Street. Windows are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday–Friday, and take checks on local banks, money orders and cash ^[5].
• Fees (effective Jan. 1, 2011): $2.50 a page, plus a $1.00 recordation stamp and a $2.00 special recording fee on every instrument, plus a $10.00 Mobile County special tax on taxable documents such as deeds and mortgages. Deed tax is $0.50 per $500 and mortgage tax $0.15 per $100, each rounded up ^[23].
• Copies: $1.00 a page and $2.00 for certification ^[24].

Court records

• Mobile County Circuit Clerk: Government Plaza, 205 Government Street, Suite 913, (251) 574-8806, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday ^[25]. The Census Geocoder places Government Plaza in Mobile city ^[7].
• Criminal records (Circuit Court Criminal Division): searches cost $10.00 for computer searches, $20.00 for paper records (1984 and later) and $25.00 for microfilm (1983 and earlier), all non-refundable. Copies are $5.00 for the first 20 pages per case number, $0.50 for each additional page and $5.00 for certification per case number. It takes cash, cashier's checks, money orders, Visa or Mastercard, but no personal checks. Allow at least two weeks; mail requests go to Room C927 at 205 Government Street ^[26]. We didn't find a fee sheet for civil or other divisions.

Apostilles and certifications (statewide)

• Fee (statewide): $5.00 per document from the Alabama Secretary of State's Authentication Division. It accepts check or money order payable to the Secretary of State, cash or a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover) ^[27][28].
• Which one (statewide): countries in the Hague Convention get an Apostille; other countries get a Certification ^[27].
• Whose signature (statewide): an Apostille goes on documents signed and sealed by a currently commissioned Alabama notary, probate judge or the current State Registrar; birth and death certificates must carry the current State Registrar's signature. A Certification goes on documents signed by a probate judge, circuit clerk or the current State Registrar, and a notarized document also needs a county authentication from the probate judge of the county where the notary is commissioned. Federal documents aren't authenticated by the state ^[27].
• Where (statewide): mail the submittal form and documents to the Authentication Division, 11 South Union Street, Suite 224, Montgomery, AL 36130, and allow five business days for mail time. Walk-in service is 8:00 to 5:00 Monday–Friday. Phone (334) 242-5325 ^[28].

• Mobile County step: if your notarized document is going to a country that needs a Certification rather than an Apostille, first get a county authentication from the probate judge of the county where the notary is commissioned (statewide rule) ^[27]. We didn't find a Mobile County price for this.

More on certified copies: how to get a certified copy.

Money orders

USPS money order fees are national: $2.65 for $0.01 to $500.00, and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000.00. Pay with cash or a debit card, not a credit card. The limit is $1,000 per domestic money order ^[29]. Other sellers: money order guide.

Shredding

• City of Mobile shred day (past event): the city's Community Shred Day page lists a free event on March 20, 2021, at James Seals Park & Community Center ^[30]. We didn't find a 2026 city shred event.
• The UPS Store: its Mobile page lists shredding ^[10]. We didn't find prices.

For paid per-pound shredding, see where to shred documents.

Questions

Sources

Sources last checked Oct 29 or Oct 31, 2026, as marked on each, except the locator data file.

1. U.S. Department of State, Passport Acceptance Facility Locator (locator data file, downloaded Oct 28, 2026, filtered to Alabama): passportfacilitylocator.travel.state.gov (last checked Oct 28, 2026)
2. Mobile Public Library, "Notary Services": mobilepubliclibrary.org/notary (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
3. Mobile County Health Department, "Vital Records" (read with a web fetch; the site didn’t return the page to our direct download): mchd.org/vital-records (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
4. Alabama Department of Public Health, "Marriage FAQs": alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-faqs.html (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
5. Probate Court of Mobile County, "Document Recording (including Marriage Certificates)": probate.mobilecountyal.gov/public-records/document-recording (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
6. U.S. Census Bureau, "2020 Place by County relationship file, Alabama": www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/place_by_cou/st01_al_place_by_county2020.txt (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
7. U.S. Census Bureau, "Census Geocoder (address to geography lookup)": geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
8. Mobile Public Library, "Mobile & Remote Printing": mobilepubliclibrary.org/print-copy/mobile (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
9. Mobile Public Library, "Ben May Main Library": mobilepubliclibrary.org/locations-hours/main (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
10. The UPS Store, "The UPS Store Locations in Mobile, Alabama": locations.theupsstore.com/al/mobile (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
11. The UPS Store, "Notary Services Nationwide": theupsstore.com/store-services/notary-services (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
12. Probate Court of Mobile County, "Notary Public": probate.mobilecountyal.gov/public-records/notary-public (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
13. Alabama Secretary of State, "Notaries Public": sos.alabama.gov/administrative-services/notaries-public (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
14. Alabama Secretary of State, "Act 2023-548 (SB322, enrolled; PDF)": sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/notaries-public/Act%202023-548.pdf (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
15. USPS, "Passports": usps.com/international/passports.htm (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
16. U.S. Department of State, passport fees page (Last Updated March 19, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html (last checked Oct 29, 2026)
17. Alabama Department of Public Health, "Birth Certificates": alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/birth-certificates.html (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
18. Alabama Department of Public Health, "Death Certificates": alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/death-certificates.html (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
19. Alabama Department of Public Health, "Marriage Certificates": alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
20. Alabama Department of Public Health, "Divorce Certificates": alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/divorce-certificates.html (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
21. Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, "Vital Records": alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/index.html (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
22. Probate Court of Mobile County, "Alabama’s Marriage Act: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)": benchmark.probate.mobilecountyal.gov/uploads/MarriageActFAQ.pdf (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
23. Probate Court of Mobile County, "Recording Fees": probate.mobilecountyal.gov/public-records/recording-fees (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
24. Probate Court of Mobile County, "Records Fees (PDF)": benchmark.probate.mobilecountyal.gov/uploads/recordsfees.pdf (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
25. Mobile County Circuit Clerk (Alabama Administrative Office of Courts), "Mobile County - 13th Judicial Circuit of Alabama": mobile.alacourt.gov (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
26. Mobile County Circuit Clerk, "Circuit Court Criminal Division Record Search or Copy Request Form (PDF)": mobile.alacourt.gov/media/osrhrb1g/reqrecordsearchcourtrecs.pdf (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
27. Alabama Secretary of State, "Authentications": sos.alabama.gov/administrative-services/authentications (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
28. Alabama Secretary of State, "Authentication Submittal Form (PDF)": sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/form-files/AUTHENTICATION%20SUBMITTAL%20FORM.pdf (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
29. USPS, "Money Orders": usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
30. City of Mobile, "Community Shred Day": cityofmobile.gov/community-shred-day (last checked Oct 31, 2026)

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