Bryan County Marriage Records Search

Bryan County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in Pembroke, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses, stores completed certificates, and provides copies to the public. Bryan County sits just west of Savannah and has grown fast in recent years. If you need to find a marriage record in Bryan County or apply for a new license, the Probate Court on South College Street is the right place. Call (912) 653-3856 for questions about hours, fees, or what to bring. Both parties must visit the Pembroke courthouse together to apply for a marriage license in Bryan County.

Bryan County Probate Court in Pembroke

The Bryan County Probate Court is at 151 South College Street in Pembroke. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This court handles all marriage license applications and keeps all marriage records for Bryan County. Staff can help you apply for a new license, search for an existing record, or get certified copies of marriage certificates.

Bryan County has seen significant population growth because of its closeness to Savannah. Many residents commute to Chatham County for work but live in Bryan County communities like Richmond Hill. The Probate Court in Pembroke still serves all of these residents for marriage license needs. Even though the population is growing, the court runs things the same way it has for years.

The Georgia Probate Records online portal may allow you to start a marriage application before visiting the Bryan County court. Check with the office to see if they participate in this system.

The online application system above can speed up your visit to the Bryan County Probate Court in Pembroke by letting you fill out forms ahead of time.

Getting a Marriage License in Bryan County

Both parties must appear in person at the Probate Court in Pembroke. No one else can apply on your behalf. Bring valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, military ID, or state-issued ID card works. If either person was married before, bring the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Documents in a language other than English need a certified translation.

Bryan County charges standard Georgia rates for a marriage license under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. Call (912) 653-3856 to check the current amount. Couples who complete at least six hours of premarital education from a qualified provider can get the reduced fee per O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. The education must happen within 12 months before the application date. Bring the provider's certificate to the Bryan County court.

The license stays valid for 60 days after it is issued. There is no waiting period in Georgia. You can have the ceremony the same day in Bryan County if you want.

Finding Bryan County Marriage Records

To find a marriage record in Bryan County, call the Probate Court at (912) 653-3856. Give them the full names and a rough date. The clerk will search the files. You can also visit Pembroke during business hours for an in-person lookup. Most record searches at the Bryan County court are quick.

For marriages between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta may have a copy. The state search fee is $10 and not refundable. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Historical Bryan County marriage records from before 1952 might be on file at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The archives keep older vital records on microfilm for counties across Georgia.

Since Bryan County sits next to Chatham County, some people get confused about which court to contact. If the marriage took place in Bryan County, the Pembroke court has the record. Chatham County marriages are at the Savannah court. Check the license itself or ask the couple which county issued it.

Bryan County Marriage Record Copies

Certified copies of marriage certificates from the Bryan County Probate Court cost $10 each at most Georgia courts. You can request them in person at Pembroke or by mail. For mail requests, include the names, date of marriage, and payment by check or money order.

The state charges $10 per search and $5 per extra copy through the Georgia Department of Public Health. State processing by mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. For faster service on Bryan County marriage records, go to the Probate Court in Pembroke directly. In-person requests are usually handled the same day or within a few business days.

Note: The state search fee is not refundable, even if no record is found for your Bryan County request.

Bryan County Marriage Requirements

Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2, both parties must be at least 18 years old to marry in Georgia. A 17-year-old needs a court emancipation order. Fifteen days must pass since the order, and the older party cannot be more than four years older per O.C.G.A. § 19-3-36. Both minors must finish premarital education. No one under 17 may marry.

Georgia residents can apply at any county court. There is no residency rule for residents. Non-residents must apply in the county where the wedding will take place. If the ceremony is in Bryan County, that means the Pembroke court. There is no blood test required. No waiting period exists in Georgia.

After the wedding, the officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the Bryan County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the marriage. The couple gets a certified certificate by mail. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, a valid marriage needs three things: ability to contract, an actual agreement, and proper recording. The signed and recorded license at the Bryan County court satisfies the recording part.

Georgia Resources for Bryan County

The State Office of Vital Records holds marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. The Council of Probate Court Judges has forms used at all 159 county courts, including Bryan County. The Georgia Archives keeps older historical records from before 1952.

For recent marriage records in Bryan County, the Probate Court in Pembroke remains your primary contact. State agencies are useful as backup sources for older records or when you are unsure which county holds a particular marriage record.

Cities in Bryan County

Pembroke is the county seat. Richmond Hill is the largest city in Bryan County by population. No cities in Bryan County have a population over 25,000, so all marriage license and marriage record services go through the Probate Court in Pembroke.

Nearby Counties

Bryan County borders several coastal and inland counties. Confirm your address before applying for a marriage license to make sure you file in the right place.