(a) A record of each divorce or annulment granted by any court in this state shall be filed by the clerk, register, or clerk and register of each court with the Office of Vital Statistics and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section. The record shall be prepared by the petitioner or his or her representative on a form or in a format prescribed and furnished by the State Registrar and shall be presented to the clerk or register with the petition. In all cases, the completed record shall be prerequisite to the granting of the final decree.
state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) The clerk, register, or clerk and register shall complete and forward to the Office of Vital Statistics on or before the fifth day of each calendar month the records of each divorce or annulment decree granted during the preceding calendar month.
