Ala. Code § 45-37A-54.62

The certificate of incorporation shall be acknowledged before an officer authorized by the laws of this state to take acknowledgement of deeds. When so acknowledged, the certificate may be filed with the judge of probate of the county in which such city is located, who shall forthwith file such certificate and record the same. When application has been made, filed, and recorded, as herein provided, the applicants shall constitute a public corporation under the name proposed in the application.