RE: subject of marriage bonds..pledges or actual payments?? When did marriage "applications" come into usage? Does any one know when the marriage bonds in Alabama were began and when they ended the requirement (if they did). Often you will see the bond on the marriage license was stated to be a two hundred dollar "bond". I am of the understanding that this was really a "pledge" and not an actual payment.....unless there was a default in the marriage. What would constitute a "default of marriage" that would require this bond to have been paid? To whom would it have been paid? Who would have collected the bond? Would it go to the bride, the state or the county? Would it have only been collected in the event that the marriage was consummated and children resulted or in the event of the lack of consummation? Would it have been collected only if the marriage was not a valid marriage? Or only if it was a first marriage or one of the couple was a minor? Would it have been required if it were a second marriage (example after a divorce or death)?