Banks County Marriage Records

Banks County marriage records are managed by the Probate Court in Homer, Georgia. The court has marriage records dating back to 1859, which makes it a strong source for both modern searches and genealogy research. If you want to get a marriage license or need a certified copy of a past marriage certificate, the Banks County Probate Court is the place to go. Staff there handle license applications, record searches, and certified copy requests. This page explains the steps, costs, and rules for getting marriage records in Banks County.

Banks County Probate Court Info

The Banks County Probate Court is on Yonah-Homer Road in Homer. The office is in Suite 7 of the building. This is a small but busy court that serves all of Banks County for marriage license needs. In addition to marriage licenses, the court handles birth and death records (from 1919), wills, and other probate matters. The staff can issue new licenses, pull old records, and make certified copies while you wait.

Homer is in northeast Georgia, close to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Probate Court has been keeping marriage records since 1859. That means over 160 years of records are in their files. If you are tracing family lines or need proof of a recent marriage from Banks County, the court has what you need.

Banks County Marriage License Fees

Banks County uses the standard Georgia fee schedule for marriage licenses. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, the fee ranges from $56 to $77 at the regular rate. Couples who do a premarital education program of six or more hours can get a reduced rate of $16 to $37. The certificate must be shown when you apply at the Banks County Probate Court.

The education course must have happened within 12 months of your application and must have been led by a licensed counselor, therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or active clergy member. This is set by O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. Call the Banks County office at (706) 677-6250 to ask what payment methods they take. Cash and money orders are usually safe choices. Personal checks are not accepted at most Georgia probate courts.

Note: License fees are non-refundable at the Banks County Probate Court.

How to Search Banks County Marriage Records

The fastest way to find a marriage record from Banks County is to visit the Probate Court in Homer. Give the clerk the names on the license and the year of the marriage. The office has records going all the way back to 1859. For recent marriages, the search is quick. For very old records, the clerk may need to go through old ledger books or microfilm, which can take a bit more time.

A certified copy costs $10. If you want more than one copy, ask at the time of your request. The Banks County Probate Court can print extra copies for you right then. This is cheaper and faster than coming back a second time.

You can also request records by mail. Send a letter to P.O. Box 337, Homer, GA 30547 with the full names, date of the marriage, a money order for $10, and your return address. Allow a few weeks for processing. The Banks County Probate Court website has basic info on court services. For state-level records from 1952 to 1996, contact the Georgia DPH Vital Records office.

The Council of Probate Court Judges oversees probate courts in all 159 Georgia counties, including Banks County. Their site has forms and resources used by every county court in the state.

Banks County Marriage License Requirements

Georgia law sets the same rules for every county. Both people must come to the Banks County Probate Court together. Each one needs a valid government-issued photo ID. This can be a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2, both must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old can get a license only if they are legally emancipated, 15 days have passed since the court order, and the older person is no more than four years older.

If someone was married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Documents not in English need a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both people must be of sound mind and not have a living spouse from a prior undissolved marriage. The Banks County Probate Court clerk checks every document before giving out the license.

• Both parties appear in person together
• Valid photo ID for each person
• Proof of divorce or death of prior spouse
• Social Security numbers
• Premarital counseling certificate for lower fee

After Your Marriage in Banks County

The person who performs the ceremony signs the license. Georgia law gives them 30 days to return the signed license to the Banks County Probate Court. After the court gets it, the marriage is recorded and a certified certificate is mailed to the couple. This takes about 30 days from when the signed license arrives at the office.

If you need the certificate sooner, go to the Probate Court in Homer once the license has been returned. The clerk can print a certified copy for $10. You may need this for a name change, to update your driver's license, or for insurance purposes. The Banks County Probate Court is the only local office that can give you this document.

Historical Marriage Records in Banks County

With records from 1859, the Banks County Probate Court is a valuable source for genealogy. The Georgia Archives in Morrow also has microfilm of old marriage records for many counties. FamilySearch offers a free online index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Banks County entries. The Georgia Probate Records site lets you complete a marriage application online before going to the courthouse, which can speed up your visit to Banks County.

Nearby Counties

Banks County is in northeast Georgia. These counties share a border with Banks County. Check their Probate Courts if you need a marriage record from outside Banks County.