Search Georgia Marriage Records
Georgia marriage records are public documents held by county Probate Courts across all 159 counties. Each court keeps marriage licenses, applications, and certificates on file. The State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta also holds records from June 1952 through August 1996. You can search for Georgia marriage records online through the Probate Records portal or visit a county court in person. Most counties now let you start a marriage license application on the web before your visit. This guide shows where to look and how to get copies of marriage records from any county in Georgia.
Georgia Marriage Records Quick Facts
Where to Get Georgia Marriage Records
County Probate Courts are the main source for marriage records in Georgia. Each of the 159 counties has a Probate Court that issues marriage licenses and stores the records. These courts hold files going back well over a hundred years in most parts of the state. The Council of Probate Court Judges oversees all county courts and provides a list of contact info for each one. If you know which county the marriage took place in, go straight to that court. You can call, visit, or check the court website. Most are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Both parties named on a marriage record can request certified copies at any time.
The Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia site lists resources for all 159 county Probate Courts.
This site has standard forms, court contact details, and general info about how Probate Courts work in Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Public Health runs the State Office of Vital Records. This office keeps marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. You can request copies by mail, in person, or through any of the 159 county vital records offices. The search fee is $10 and is not refundable. If the record is found, one certified copy is included. Extra copies cost $5 each when you order at the same time. The state office is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call (404) 679-4702 for help. Hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. For records before 1952 or after 1996, you must go to the county Probate Court where the marriage took place. The state does not hold those files.
The Georgia.gov vital records page explains each way you can request a marriage record from the state.
Use this page to find the right form and learn what to send with your request for Georgia marriage records.
Search Marriage Records Online in Georgia
Many Georgia counties use the Georgia Probate Records online system. This portal lets you search for recorded marriage licenses from home. Not every county is on the system yet, but many of the larger ones are. You can also use the portal to start a marriage license application before you go to the court. The application stays on file for up to 30 days. Both parties still need to show up at the Probate Court to get the actual license. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, a valid marriage in Georgia needs both parties able to contract, an actual agreement, and consummation according to law. The online system handles the paperwork side of the process so your visit goes faster.
The Georgia Probate Records portal is used by courts across the state for marriage license applications.
Check this portal first when you need to search or apply for a marriage license in Georgia.
To look up a specific marriage record, you need the names of the parties and the approximate date. The marriage search page lets you find recorded licenses from participating counties. Results show names, date, and county. Keep in mind that not every county has uploaded records to this system. If you can't find what you need online, call the county Probate Court directly. Staff can search their files and tell you what they have on hand.
The Probate Records marriage search tool lets you look up marriage licenses by name.
This is a free way to check if a marriage record exists in a participating Georgia county.
Georgia Marriage License Requirements
Georgia has clear rules for who can get a marriage license. Both parties must be at least 18 years old under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may marry only under strict conditions. The minor must be emancipated, and at least 15 days must have passed since the court order. The older party cannot be more than four years older than the 17-year-old. Both must complete premarital education per O.C.G.A. 19-3-36. No person under 17 may marry in Georgia at all. Both parties must appear in person at the Probate Court. You need a valid photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or military ID. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree or the death certificate of your former spouse.
The Georgia.gov marriage license page walks through the full application process step by step.
This page covers what to bring and where to apply for a marriage license in Georgia.
There is no waiting period in Georgia. You can marry the same day you get the license. The license is good for 60 days in most counties. Some counties say their licenses do not expire at all.
Residency rules are flexible. If at least one person is a Georgia resident, you can apply at any county Probate Court in the state. If neither person lives in Georgia, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. Georgia has not required blood tests since July 1, 2003. Couples who finish a qualifying premarital education program of six or more hours get a reduced fee under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The program must be done within 12 months before the application. It must be led by a licensed counselor, social worker, therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or active clergy member.
Apply for a Georgia Marriage License Online
Many Georgia counties now let you fill out the marriage license application online before your visit. The online marriage application is available through the Georgia Probate Records system. You enter your information, save the confirmation number, and bring it to the Probate Court. This cuts down on wait time at the office. Some counties require you to use the online system. Others still take walk-in applications. Call your county court to check which method they prefer.
The Georgia Probate Records application page lets couples pre-fill their marriage license forms.
Complete the form online and bring your confirmation number to the Probate Court to finish the process.
Marriage Record Fees in Georgia
Fees vary by county across Georgia. The state search fee at the Office of Vital Records is $10. That fee is not refundable, even if the record is not found. One certified copy is included when the record turns up. Extra copies cost $5 each. County Probate Courts set their own license fees under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60. Most counties charge between $56 and $77 for a marriage license without premarital counseling. With a counseling certificate, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. Certified copies of marriage records cost $10 at most Georgia courts. Personal checks are not accepted at many offices. Bring cash, a money order, or a credit card. Some courts add a service fee for card payments.
The DPH fee schedule lists current costs for all vital records requests at the state level.
Check this page for the most current fees before you submit a request to the state office in Georgia.
How to Get Copies of Georgia Marriage Records
You can get copies of Georgia marriage records in several ways. For records between 1952 and 1996, contact the State Office of Vital Records by mail or in person. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks to process. In-person visits can be same-day if the record is found. You need a completed request form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by certified check or money order. The Request for Search of Marriage Form is on the DPH website. Send it to 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. You can also visit any of the 159 county vital records offices in person. They can submit requests on your behalf. Cash, Visa, MasterCard, and debit cards are accepted for in-person payments at the state office.
For records before 1952 or after 1996, contact the Probate Court in the county where the marriage happened. Most courts handle requests in person, by mail, or by phone. Certified copies typically cost $10. Allow extra time for mail requests. The officiant must return the signed marriage license to the Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony under Georgia law. After the court records it, you can request certified copies. Some counties also accept requests through VitalChek, though extra fees apply on top of the standard costs.
The Probate Court standard forms page has forms you may need when requesting marriage records from a county court.
Download the forms you need and bring them to your county Probate Court or mail them in with your request.
Historical Georgia Marriage Records
Georgia has marriage records going back to 1805, when the state first required civil registration. Before that year, the only records came from churches and family Bibles. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds marriage records on microfilm for most counties. Their collection covers files from the 1800s through the mid-1900s. The Virtual Vault gives online access to some historical records. Probate records from 1742 through 1990 are also in the Archives collection. You can also find Georgia marriage records on FamilySearch for the years 1808 to 1967 and on Ancestry.com for select counties from 1828 to 1978.
The Georgia Archives research page explains how to access their collections of historical records.
Visit the Archives in Morrow or use their online tools to find old Georgia marriage records.
The Georgia Archives vital records section focuses on birth, death, and marriage records held in their collection.
This section covers what marriage records are on microfilm and how to request copies for genealogy work.
Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-43, a marriage performed in another state has the same legal effect as one in Georgia. Georgia residents cannot get around Georgia marriage laws by marrying out of state.
Note: The state marriage records timeline has three key periods. Records from before 1952 are only at the county Probate Court. Records from 1952 to 1996 are at both the state office and the county. Records from 1996 forward are only at the county level.
Browse Georgia Marriage Records by County
Each county in Georgia has its own Probate Court that issues marriage licenses and keeps the records on file. Pick a county below to find local contact info, fees, and resources for marriage records in that area.
Marriage Records in Major Georgia Cities
Residents of major cities get marriage licenses at their county Probate Court. Georgia handles marriage records at the county level, not the city level. Pick a city below to learn which court serves that area and how to get marriage records there.
The Georgia demographics page lists all cities by population.
Use the list above to find which cities qualify for their own marriage records guide on this site.