Bartow County Marriage Records

Bartow County marriage records are on file at the Probate Court in Cartersville, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses, keeps all recorded certificates, and gives out certified copies. If you plan to get married in Bartow County or need to search for a past marriage record, this is the office to contact. The court requires an online application before you visit, which sets it apart from some other Georgia counties. This page explains every step of the process, from fees and forms to how to get copies of Bartow County marriage records.

Bartow County Probate Court

The Bartow County Probate Court is at 135 W. Cherokee Ave, Suite 243A in Cartersville. Judge W. Blake Scoggins leads the court. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Marriage license applications are taken until 4:30 PM. One thing to know: the office closes from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM on the first and second Thursday of each month for traffic court. Do not plan your visit during that window on those days.

Bartow County is in northwest Georgia, about 45 miles north of Atlanta. Cartersville is the county seat and the main city. The Probate Court has been handling marriage licenses here for many years. Staff can help with new license applications, record searches, and certified copies. The office stays busy, so having your papers ready when you walk in makes a big difference.

Bartow County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Bartow County costs $75 at the standard rate. This is near the top of the Georgia range. If both people take a premarital education course of at least six hours, the fee drops to $35. You save $40 with the counseling certificate. The course must have been done within 12 months of the application date and led by a licensed professional or active clergy member, per O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1.

Bartow County accepts cash, money orders, certified checks, and credit or debit cards. A service charge applies for card payments. Personal checks are not taken. Bring the right form of payment to avoid delays at the Bartow County Probate Court.

Note: All fees are non-refundable once paid at the Bartow County Probate Court.

Online Application for Bartow County

Bartow County requires you to fill out the marriage license application online before you come to the courthouse. This is not optional. Go to georgiaprobaterecords.com and complete the form. You will get a confirmation number when you finish. Write this number down or print it out. You must bring the confirmation number to the Bartow County Probate Court within two weeks of completing the online form.

The online application lets you fill in names, dates, addresses, and other details from home. It does not replace the in-person visit. Both people still have to show up at the courthouse together with their IDs and documents. But having the application done ahead of time makes the visit faster. The Bartow County clerk pulls up your application using the confirmation number, checks your papers, takes the fee, and issues the license.

The Bartow County Probate Court page has contact info, hours, and links to the online application system.

How to Search Bartow County Marriage Records

To find a marriage record from Bartow County, you have a few options. The most direct is to visit the Probate Court in Cartersville. Give the clerk the names and the date of the marriage. A certified copy costs $10. Staff will search the files and print the record for you.

Bartow County also has an online records system. The Bartow County online records page may let you search for recorded marriages from home. Not all records may be in the online system, but it is worth checking before you drive to the courthouse.

This online records page lets you look up marriage data from Bartow County. If you find what you need, you can then go to the court for a certified copy, or request one by mail.

For mail requests, write a letter with the full names of both people, the date of the ceremony, and a money order for $10. Send it to the Bartow County Probate Court at 135 W. Cherokee Ave, Suite 243A, Cartersville, GA 30120. Include your return address and allow a few weeks for processing.

Bartow County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must come to the Bartow County Probate Court together. No exceptions. Each person needs a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID works. If you do not have a photo ID, bring two forms of identification that show your full name and date of birth. Both people must be at least 18 years old under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2.

A 17-year-old can get a license only if they have been emancipated by a court, at least 15 days have passed since the order, and the older person is not more than four years older. Both must also complete premarital education. If either person was married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. The Bartow County Probate Court checks all these documents before issuing the license.

• Complete online application first
• Bring confirmation number to the court
• Both people appear in person
• Valid photo ID for each
• Proof that any prior marriage has ended
• Payment of $75 (or $35 with counseling)

Ceremonies and Bartow County

The Bartow County Probate Court does not perform marriage ceremonies. You will need to find your own officiant. Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30), judges, ministers, and other authorized clergy can perform the ceremony. There is no waiting period in Georgia. Once you have the license from the Bartow County Probate Court, you can get married that same day.

The officiant signs the license after the ceremony. They have 30 days to return the signed license to the Bartow County Probate Court. After it is filed, the court records the marriage and sends a certified certificate to the couple by mail. This takes about 30 days. If you need it faster, visit the court in Cartersville after the license has been returned and ask for a copy. The fee is $10 for each certified copy of a Bartow County marriage certificate.

State Records for Bartow County

The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Bartow County marriage you need is in that range, you can request a copy from the state. The search fee is $10 and non-refundable. Mail the marriage search request form to the State Office of Vital Records at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Expect 8 to 10 weeks for a response.

For marriages before 1952 or after 1996 in Bartow County, only the Probate Court in Cartersville has those files. The Georgia Archives in Morrow may also have old Bartow County records on microfilm. The Probate Court standard forms page has blank forms used by all 159 Georgia county courts, and the Georgia.gov marriage license page walks you through the rules that apply in Bartow County and everywhere else in the state.

Nearby Counties

Bartow County is in northwest Georgia. These counties share a border with Bartow County. If the marriage took place in a neighboring area, check their Probate Court instead.