Access Brooks County Marriage Records

Brooks County marriage records are maintained at the Probate Court in Quitman, Georgia. The court processes marriage license applications, stores signed certificates, and hands out certified copies to the public. Whether you are searching for an old marriage record in Brooks County or planning to get married, the Probate Court on East Courtland Avenue handles everything. Located in south Georgia near the Florida border, Brooks County serves a rural community with straightforward service at the courthouse. Call (229) 263-5567 to reach the court with any questions about marriage records.

Brooks County Probate Court

The Brooks County Probate Court is at 500 East Courtland Avenue in Quitman. The mailing address is P.O. Box 630, Quitman, GA 31643. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All marriage licenses and marriage records in Brooks County go through this one office.

Staff at the court can help you with a range of services. Marriage license applications are one of the main things they do. They also keep all signed marriage certificates in the county files. If you need a certified copy of a Brooks County marriage record, this is where to get it. The clerk can also search for older records by name or date. Getting help in person is easy since the court in Quitman is a small, approachable office.

You can find general information about Georgia Probate Courts and download standard forms from the Council of Probate Court Judges website. The forms used in Brooks County are the same ones used across all 159 Georgia counties.

The state fee schedule above shows what the Georgia Department of Public Health charges for vital record searches, including marriage records from the 1952 to 1996 period that applies to Brooks County.

Brooks County Marriage License Application

Both parties must appear in person at the Brooks County Probate Court to apply for a marriage license. No exceptions. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID. If either person was previously married, proof of dissolution is required. That means a certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse.

Brooks County charges standard Georgia rates for a marriage license as set by O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. Call the court at (229) 263-5567 to confirm the exact fee. Couples who complete at least six hours of premarital counseling qualify for a lower fee under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. The counseling must come from a licensed professional or active clergy member. It has to be done within 12 months before your application at the Brooks County Probate Court.

The license is valid for 60 days. Georgia has no waiting period. You can use the license the same day you get it from the Brooks County court in Quitman.

Searching Brooks County Marriage Records

To look up a marriage record in Brooks County, start with the Probate Court. Call (229) 263-5567 and ask the clerk to search by name and date. You can also go to the office in Quitman during business hours for a walk-in search. Most searches take just a few minutes.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from 1952 through 1996. This state office in Atlanta charges $10 per search, and mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. For Brooks County marriages before 1952, try the Georgia Archives in Morrow. They have older records on microfilm for many south Georgia counties.

The Georgia Probate Records portal is an online tool for marriage applications. Some counties post recorded marriage data there too. Check with the Brooks County court to see if they use this system. It may help if you need to search for a record from home rather than driving to Quitman.

Note: Marriage records from after August 1996 exist only at the county Probate Court where the license was issued.

Copies of Brooks County Marriage Records

Certified copies cost $10 each at most Georgia Probate Courts. The Brooks County court in Quitman can issue copies in person or by mail. For mail requests, include the full names, the date of marriage, and a check or money order. Send it to P.O. Box 630, Quitman, GA 31643. Allow a few days for processing and return mail.

State-level copies through the Georgia Department of Public Health cost $10 for the initial search and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The state fee is not refundable. Processing by mail takes 8 to 10 weeks through the state office. For faster results on Brooks County marriage records, go directly to the Probate Court in Quitman.

Marriage Law in Brooks County

O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2 sets the minimum age to marry in Georgia at 18. A 17-year-old may marry only with a court emancipation order. Fifteen days must pass since the emancipation. The older party cannot be more than four years older under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-36. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia. These rules apply in every county, including Brooks.

There is no blood test and no waiting period in Georgia. Residents can apply at any county Probate Court. Non-residents must apply in the county of the ceremony. For Brooks County, that is the court in Quitman. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, a valid marriage requires the ability to contract, an actual agreement, and recording the marriage by law. All three must be present for the Brooks County marriage record to be valid.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Brooks County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records it and sends a certified certificate to the couple. If the officiant does not return the license on time, the marriage may not appear in the county records. Make sure this step gets done.

Cities in Brooks County

Quitman is the county seat and largest town in Brooks County. Morven and Pavo are other small communities in the area. No cities in Brooks County have a population over 25,000. All marriage licenses and marriage records are handled by the Probate Court in Quitman.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Brooks County. If you are close to the county line, confirm your address before you apply for a marriage license in Quitman.