EXHIBIT 5.1
    OPINION OF ALSTON & BIRD LLP REGARDING THE LEGALITY OF THE COMMON STOCK

                               ALSTON & BIRD LLP
                              ONE ATLANTIC CENTER
                           1201 WEST PEACHTREE STREET
                          ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30309-3424
 
                                  404-881-7000
                                FAX 404-881-4777
                                 WWW.ALSTON.COM
 
                                                                    May 26, 1998
 
IVI Checkmate Corp.
1003 Mansell Road
Roswell, Georgia 30076
 
    Re: Registration Statement on Form S-4
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
    We have acted as counsel to IVI Checkmate Corp., a Delaware corporation (the
"Registrant"), in connection with the filing by the Registrant on May 26, 1998
of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") to
register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shares of the
Registrant's common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Shares"), to be issued
by the Registrant pursuant to that certain Combination Agreement dated as of
January 16, 1998 (the "Combination Agreement"), by and among the Registrant,
International Verifact Inc., a Canadian corporation ("IVI"), Checkmate
Electronics, Inc., a Georgia corporation ("Checkmate"), and Future Merger
Corporation, a Georgia corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the
Registrant. Pursuant to the Combination Agreement, IVI and Checkmate will become
wholly owned subsidiaries of the Registrant, and the Registrant will issue up to
18,381,207 Shares in exchange for outstanding common shares of IVI and
Checkmate.
 
    As counsel for the Registrant, we have examined such corporate records and
documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for this
opinion. As to factual matters relevant to this opinion, we have relied upon
representations and warranties contained in certificates and statements of
officers of the Registrant and certain public officials.
 
    Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares
will, when issued in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the
Combination Agreement, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable under Delaware corporate law as in effect on this date.
 
    We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to our firm in the section entitled "Legal
Matters" in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus constituting a part thereof.
 
                                          ALSTON & BIRD LLP
 
                                          By: _________/s/_HILL JEFFRIES________
                                                   M. Hill Jeffries, Partner