Search Berrien County Marriage Records

Berrien County marriage records are kept at the Probate Court in Nashville, Georgia. The court issues new marriage licenses, stores signed certificates after ceremonies, and gives out certified copies of both. Whether you need to apply for a marriage license or search for an existing marriage record, the Berrien County Probate Court on Jeff Davis Street is your starting point. Call (912) 686-5213 if you have questions about what to bring or how long the process takes. Both people must appear together to apply for a license in Berrien County.

Berrien County Probate Court Office

The Berrien County Probate Court is the only office that issues marriage licenses and stores marriage records in this county. The court sits at 100 Jeff Davis Street in Nashville. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff can help you with license applications, certified copies, and record searches.

Beyond marriage records, the Berrien County Probate Court handles wills, guardianships, and firearm licenses. But for the purpose of marriage records in Berrien County, the license division is what you need. You can learn more on the Berrien County Probate Court page before you visit Nashville.

The Georgia Probate Records online portal is another resource for Berrien County marriage records and applications.

This state portal lets you pre-fill a marriage application before visiting the court. It may also show recorded marriage data for Berrien County.

Marriage License Process in Berrien County

Getting a marriage license in Berrien County starts with a visit to the Probate Court. Both people must appear together. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A Georgia driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. If either person was married before, you need proof that the prior marriage ended. Bring a certified divorce decree or death certificate.

The license fee in Berrien County is $76 without premarital counseling. Complete at least six hours of premarital education through a qualified provider, and the fee drops to $36. That is a real savings. The counseling must be done within 12 months before the application date as spelled out in O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. Present the certificate when you apply at the Berrien County Probate Court. The Berrien County marriage license page has more details.

The fee includes a certified copy of the marriage application and certificate. No refunds are given once the fee is paid. The license is valid for 60 days in Berrien County. If the ceremony does not take place within that time, you must apply again and pay the full fee.

How to Find Berrien County Marriage Records

The easiest way to find a marriage record in Berrien County is to call the Probate Court. Give them the names and a rough date. The clerk can search and let you know what they have on file. You can also visit in person during business hours. For records between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta may have a copy.

Berrien County marriage records from before 1952 may exist at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The archives hold historical vital records on microfilm, including marriage records from many south Georgia counties. These records can be useful for genealogy work or legal matters that involve older marriages in Berrien County.

Note: Records after August 1996 are only at the county Probate Court where the license was issued.

Berrien County Marriage Record Fees

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 each at the Berrien County Probate Court. You can request copies in person at the Nashville office or by mail. For mail requests, send a written note with the names and date of the marriage along with a check or money order for $10 per copy.

The state charges $10 for a marriage record search through the Department of Public Health. That fee is not refundable. Extra copies cost $5 each if ordered at the same time. Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person requests at a county vital records office may be faster. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county sets its own license fee. Berrien County charges $76 for a standard license and $36 with a premarital counseling certificate.

Berrien County Marriage Requirements

Georgia law sets the rules for who can get a marriage license. Both people must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old needs a court order of emancipation, and at least 15 days must pass after that order. The older party cannot be more than four years older per O.C.G.A. § 19-3-36. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia.

There is no blood test. There is no waiting period. Georgia residents can apply for a marriage license at any county Probate Court in the state. If neither party lives in Georgia, you must apply in the county where the wedding will take place. For Berrien County, that means the Nashville court.

After the ceremony, the person who performed it must sign the license and return it to the Berrien County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. Make sure your officiant knows the 30-day deadline. This step makes the marriage part of the official record in Berrien County.

Georgia Marriage Laws for Berrien County

O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1 lays out the three things needed for a valid marriage in Georgia. The parties must be able to contract. There must be an actual agreement. And the marriage must be recorded by law. All three must exist at the same time for a Berrien County marriage record to be valid.

Georgia does not recognize common law marriages created after January 1, 1997. If a couple lived together in Berrien County before that date and held themselves out as married, they may have a valid common law marriage. But new ones are not possible. You have to go through the Probate Court in Nashville and get a proper license to create a marriage record in Berrien County today.

Cities in Berrien County

Nashville is the county seat and the main city in Berrien County. Other small towns include Enigma and Ray City. No cities in Berrien County have a population over 25,000. All marriage license applications and marriage record requests go through the Probate Court in Nashville.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Berrien County. If you are not sure which county you live in, confirm your address before you apply for a marriage license.