Butts County Marriage Records Lookup

Butts County marriage records are kept at the Probate Court in Jackson, Georgia. The court handles marriage license applications, maintains signed certificates, and provides certified copies for the public. If you want to search for a Butts County marriage record or need to apply for a new license, the Probate Court on West Third Street in Jackson is your only option. This small county south of Atlanta sees steady demand for marriage licenses, especially from couples in the Jackson Lake area. Call (770) 775-8204 for questions about fees, hours, or what to bring.

Butts County Probate Court in Jackson

The Butts County Probate Court is at 625 West Third Street, Suite 9, in Jackson. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All marriage licenses and marriage records in Butts County are handled at this one location. The court also deals with wills, estates, guardianships, and other probate matters. For marriage-related services, the staff can help you right at the front counter.

Butts County sits about 45 miles south of Atlanta along Interstate 75. Jackson is a small town with a relaxed pace, and the courthouse is easy to find. If you are driving from the metro area for a marriage license, the trip to Jackson is straightforward. The Butts County Probate Court handles fewer applications than big city courts, so wait times tend to be shorter.

Standard forms for all Georgia Probate Courts are available from the Council of Probate Court Judges website. These are the same forms used in Butts County.

The Georgia Probate Records search tool above may let you look up recorded marriages in participating counties. Check with the Butts County court to see if their records appear in this system.

Butts County Marriage License Process

Both parties must appear in person at the Butts County Probate Court in Jackson. No exceptions to this rule. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. If either person was married before, you need proof the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate does the job.

The fee for a marriage license in Butts County follows standard Georgia rates set by O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. Call (770) 775-8204 to confirm the current amount. Couples who have done at least six hours of premarital counseling with a licensed provider or active clergy member get a lower fee under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. The counseling must happen within 12 months before you apply at the Butts County court. Bring the provider's certificate with you to Jackson.

The license stays valid for 60 days. Georgia has no waiting period, so you can marry the same day you pick up the license. If 60 days pass with no ceremony, the license is void and you must start over at the Butts County Probate Court.

Note: Georgia does not require a blood test for a marriage license.

Finding Butts County Marriage Records

To look up a marriage record in Butts County, call the Probate Court at (770) 775-8204. Give the clerk the names and an approximate date. They can search the files and let you know what is on record. In-person visits during business hours at the Jackson courthouse also work well for record searches.

For marriages from 1952 through 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta may have a copy on file. The state charges $10 for a search, and that fee is not refundable. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. For older Butts County marriage records from before 1952, try the Georgia Archives in Morrow. They have historical vital records on microfilm from many Georgia counties, including those in the middle part of the state.

The Georgia Probate Records online portal lets couples fill out marriage applications online before visiting the court. Some counties also have searchable marriage data on the site. Check whether Butts County uses this system by calling the court or visiting the portal.

Copies of Butts County Marriage Records

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 each at most Georgia Probate Courts. You can request them in person at the Jackson courthouse or by mail. For mail requests, include the names, marriage date, and a check or money order for $10 per copy. Send it to the Butts County Probate Court at 625 West Third Street, Suite 9, Jackson, GA 30233.

State copies through the Georgia Department of Public Health cost $10 for the initial search and $5 for extra copies ordered at the same time. State processing by mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. For fast results on Butts County marriage records, go to the Probate Court in Jackson. In-person requests are usually handled the same day or within a few business days.

Marriage Requirements in Butts County

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2 says both parties must be at least 18. A 17-year-old can marry only with a court emancipation order. At least 15 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 complete premarital education. Nobody under 17 can marry in Georgia.

Residents of Georgia can apply for a marriage license at any county Probate Court. Non-residents must apply in the county of the wedding ceremony. For Butts County, that means the court in Jackson. There is no waiting period and no blood test needed in Georgia.

After your ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Butts County Probate Court within 30 days. This is when the marriage becomes part of the official county records. The court then mails a certified certificate to the couple, usually within about 30 days. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, a valid marriage in Georgia needs three things: the ability to contract, an actual agreement, and lawful recording. Getting the signed license back to the Butts County court takes care of that last requirement.

State Resources for Butts County

When the local court does not have what you need, state agencies can help. The State Office of Vital Records holds marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. The Council of Probate Court Judges provides standard forms for all Georgia counties. The Georgia Archives keeps older vital records on microfilm.

Georgia does not recognize common law marriages created after January 1, 1997. If a couple lived together in Butts County and considered themselves married before that date, they may have a valid common law marriage. But new ones are not possible. You must get a license from the Butts County Probate Court to create a valid marriage record today.

Cities in Butts County

Jackson is the county seat and largest city in Butts County. Flovilla and Jenkinsburg are smaller communities in the county. No cities in Butts County have a population over 25,000. All marriage license applications and record requests go through the Probate Court in Jackson.

Nearby Counties

Butts County borders several central Georgia counties. If you live near the county line, confirm your address before applying for a marriage license in Jackson.