Bacon County Marriage Records

Bacon County marriage records are on file at the Probate Court in Alma, Georgia. Whether you want to apply for a new marriage license or need a copy of a past marriage certificate, this court handles it all. The Bacon County Probate Court serves everyone in the county and can also help people who plan to get married here but live somewhere else. Staff can pull records, print certified copies, and answer your questions about the process. This page covers how to search marriage records, what you need to bring, and what fees apply in Bacon County.

Bacon County Probate Court Details

The Bacon County Probate Court is on West 12th Street in Alma. This is where you go for marriage licenses, marriage records, and other probate services. The office is in Suite 100 of the building. It is open on weekdays during normal business hours. No appointment is needed to walk in and apply for a license or request a marriage record. The staff can help with both new applications and searches for old marriage files from Bacon County.

Bacon County is a smaller county in southeast Georgia. The court handles a modest number of marriage licenses each year compared to bigger counties, so wait times are usually short. You can be in and out in under an hour on most days. If you have questions, a quick phone call can save you a trip to the Bacon County courthouse.

Marriage License Fees in Bacon County

Bacon County follows the standard Georgia fee schedule for marriage licenses under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. The cost falls between $56 and $77 for the standard rate. If both parties take a premarital education course, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. The class must be at least six hours long and done within 12 months of when you apply. A licensed counselor, therapist, or active member of the clergy must lead the class. Show the certificate at the Bacon County Probate Court when you apply to get the discount.

Cash is the safest form of payment. Many Georgia probate courts also take money orders and certified checks. Call the Bacon County office at (912) 632-7661 to check what forms of payment they accept right now. Personal checks are not taken at most courts in the state.

Note: Fees paid for a marriage license are not given back, even if you decide not to use the license.

How to Get Bacon County Marriage Records

To get a copy of a marriage record from Bacon County, go to the Probate Court in Alma. Give the clerk the names on the license and the date of the marriage. A certified copy costs $10. The clerk will search the files and print the record if it is on file. In-person requests are the fastest way to get what you need from the Bacon County Probate Court.

Mail requests are another option if you can not visit in person. Send a letter with the full names of both people, the date of the ceremony, your return address, and a money order for $10 to the Bacon County Probate Court at 502 W. 12th Street, Suite 100, Alma, GA 31510. It may take a few weeks for the court to process your request and mail the copy back. Phone requests for certified copies are usually not possible, but you can call to ask about a record before you send money.

The Ballotpedia page for Bacon County Probate Court has basic info about the court and its role. For state-level records from 1952 to 1996, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The Georgia.gov marriage license page shown above gives a full breakdown of what the state requires for all counties, including Bacon County.

Bacon County Marriage License Requirements

Georgia law applies the same rules in every county. Both people must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. Both must come to the Bacon County Probate Court in person. You can not send one person alone or use a power of attorney. Each person needs a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID all work. If you do not have a photo ID, bring two other forms of identification that show your full name and date of birth.

If either person was married before, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. This means a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, you must be free from any prior un-dissolved marriage. All documents must be in English or come with a certified translation. The Bacon County Probate Court checks all papers before they issue the license.

• Both parties present in person
• Valid photo ID for each
• Social Security numbers
• Proof of divorce or death of former spouse if applicable
• Premarital counseling certificate for reduced fee
• Payment in accepted form

After Getting Married in Bacon County

The officiant who performs the ceremony signs the marriage license. Under Georgia law, they have 30 days to send the signed license back to the Bacon County Probate Court. Once the court gets it, the marriage is recorded in the county files. The couple then gets a certified marriage certificate by mail. This takes about 30 days from when the signed license comes back.

You can also go to the Bacon County Probate Court in Alma and pick up a copy once it has been filed. The fee for a certified copy is $10. Many people need this for changing their name at the Social Security office, updating a driver's license, or dealing with insurance. The Bacon County Probate Court is the one place to get your certificate after the wedding.

Historical Records for Bacon County

For genealogy work or old record searches, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has marriage records on microfilm for many counties. FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may cover Bacon County. The Council of Probate Court Judges site has forms and general info about all Georgia probate courts. The Georgia Probate Records online portal can also help you start a marriage application before visiting the Bacon County courthouse.

The state Vital Records office at the Georgia DPH handles birth and death records along with the limited set of marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For marriages in Bacon County outside that range, the Probate Court in Alma is your only source.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Bacon County. If you are not sure where the marriage took place, check with a neighboring Probate Court to see if they have the record.