Bibb County Marriage Records
Bibb County marriage records are managed by the Probate Court in Macon, Georgia. The court handles marriage license applications, stores completed marriage certificates, and issues certified copies. If you are looking for a Bibb County marriage record or want to apply for a new license, the Probate Court at 601 Mulberry Street is where everything happens. With a population of over 157,000 in the Macon-Bibb consolidated area, this is one of the busier courts in middle Georgia. You can reach the license division at (478) 621-6493 or the main line at (478) 621-6494.
Bibb County Quick Facts
Bibb County Probate Court in Macon
Judge Sarah S. Harris runs the Bibb County Probate Court. The license division handles all marriage records for the county. The office is on the second floor of the courthouse at 601 Mulberry Street, Room 207. General hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. But marriage license hours end at 4:30 PM. Plan to arrive before 4:00 PM if you need a license that day.
The Bibb County Probate Court website has details on all court services. For marriage-specific information, the marriage license page explains everything you need to bring and how the application works.
The state vital records portal shown above is one way to get older Bibb County marriage records from the 1952 to 1996 period.
| Address | 601 Mulberry Street, Room 207, Macon, GA 31201 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 6518, Macon, GA 31208 |
| Phone | (478) 621-6494 (Main) / (478) 621-6493 (License Division) |
| probatecourt-licensediv@maconbibb.us | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Licenses until 4:30 PM) |
| Judge | Sarah S. Harris |
Bibb County Marriage License Application
Bibb County uses the Georgia Probate Records online system for marriage applications. You fill out the form online first. Then you schedule an appointment through the Bibb County appointment portal. Both parties must show up in person at the Macon courthouse. You cannot complete the process online alone.
Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, birth certificate, passport, or military ID will work. If you were married before, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate is needed. The Bibb County clerk will check everything at your appointment in Macon.
The marriage license fee in Bibb County is $77 without premarital counseling. With a counseling certificate, the fee drops to $37. Payment options include money order, cash, or debit and credit cards. Cards have a 4.5% convenience fee. The court does not accept $50 or $100 bills. Plan your payment method before you arrive at the Bibb County Probate Court.
Note: Arrive before 4:00 PM for marriage license services at the Bibb County court.
How to Search Bibb County Marriage Records
You can search for marriage records in Bibb County by contacting the Probate Court directly. Call the license division at (478) 621-6493. Give them the names and an approximate date. Staff can look up the record and tell you what is on file. You can also visit Room 207 at the Macon courthouse during business hours to do an in-person search of Bibb County marriage records.
For Bibb County marriages from 1952 through 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health may also have copies. The state keeps records from that period at the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta. The search fee is $10 and mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Going in person to a county vital records office is faster.
Historical Bibb County marriage records from before 1952 may be available at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The archives have microfilm collections of older vital records from many Georgia counties. These records are useful for genealogy research and legal matters involving older Bibb County marriages.
Certified Marriage Record Copies
Certified copies of Bibb County marriage certificates cost $10 each. You can get them in person at the courthouse in Macon using cash, money order, or debit and credit card. By mail, the cost is $11. Mail requests must include a money order only. Send a written request with the full names, date of marriage, and payment to P.O. Box 6518, Macon, GA 31208.
The license itself does not expire in Bibb County once it has been used and recorded. The signed certificate is the proof of marriage. You may need certified copies for name changes at the Social Security office, updating your driver's license, or adding a spouse to insurance. The Bibb County Probate Court can issue as many certified copies as you need for $10 each.
Wedding Ceremonies in Bibb County
The Bibb County Probate Court does not perform wedding ceremonies. This is different from many other Georgia counties where the Probate Judge officiates. In Macon-Bibb, the Civil and Magistrate Court handles weddings. Ceremonies take place on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM by appointment. Call (478) 621-6505 to schedule a ceremony.
You can also have any ordained minister, judge, or other authorized person perform the ceremony. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1 requires that the marriage be solemnized according to law. The officiant must sign the license and return it to the Bibb County Probate Court within 30 days. That signed and recorded document becomes the official marriage record in Bibb County.
Marriage Requirements in Bibb County
Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2, both parties must be at least 18 to marry in Georgia. A 17-year-old can get a license only with a court emancipation order. Fifteen days must pass after the order, and the older party cannot be more than four years older per O.C.G.A. § 19-3-36. Both must also complete premarital education in that case.
No blood test is needed. No waiting period exists in Georgia. There is no residency rule if one of you lives in the state. Georgia residents can apply at any county court. If neither person lives in Georgia, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. For a Macon wedding, that means the Bibb County Probate Court.
The following documents are accepted as proof of identity at Bibb County:
- Valid driver's license from any state
- U.S. passport or foreign passport
- Military ID card
- State-issued ID card
- Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
Cities in Bibb County
Macon is the county seat and the only major city in Bibb County. Since the 2012 consolidation of Macon and Bibb County, the two operate as a single government. All marriage license applications and marriage record searches go through the Probate Court in Macon.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Bibb County. Confirm which county you live in before applying for a marriage license. You need to file in the right place.