Calhoun County Marriage Records

Calhoun County marriage records are on file at the Probate Court in Morgan, Georgia. This small, rural county sits in the southwest part of the state near the Chattahoochee River. If you need to search for a marriage license or get a copy of a marriage certificate from Calhoun County, the Probate Court is the place to go. Both new license requests and old record searches are done at the same office. The court staff can help you find what you need, and most requests are handled the same day you walk in. Calhoun County keeps marriage records going back many years, so you can search for both new and old filings here.

Calhoun County Probate Court

The Probate Court in Calhoun County handles all marriage license matters. This is the only office in the county that can issue a new marriage license or give you a copy of a past marriage record. The court is at the courthouse in Morgan, which serves as the county seat. You can walk in during business hours or call first to check on what you need to bring.

Both people who want to get married must come to the Calhoun County Probate Court in person. You can't send just one person. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30 says both must show up with valid photo ID. If you were married before, bring a copy of your divorce decree or a death certificate for a past spouse. The Calhoun County clerk will check your documents and process the license while you wait.

Marriage License Fees in Calhoun County

Calhoun County follows the state fee rules set by O.C.G.A. 15-9-60. The standard fee for a marriage license in Georgia runs from $56 to $77, and the exact cost can vary by county. If you and your partner take a premarital education class that lasts at least six hours, you can save a good deal on the fee. The reduced rate drops to somewhere between $16 and $37.

This discount comes from O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The class must be led by a licensed counselor, therapist, or active clergy member. You need to finish the class within 12 months before you apply for the marriage license. Bring proof of the class when you visit the Calhoun County Probate Court. The court accepts cash and money orders for payment. Call ahead to ask about credit cards, since not all small county courts take them.

Note: The search fee for old marriage records is $10 at the state level, and it is not refundable even if the record is not found.

How to Get Calhoun County Marriage Records

There are a few ways to get marriage records from Calhoun County. The best way depends on when the marriage took place. For most records, you go to the Probate Court in Morgan. This office keeps marriage records for all marriages that took place in Calhoun County. You can ask for a certified copy in person.

If the marriage took place between June 1952 and August 1996, you can also try the Georgia Department of Public Health State Office of Vital Records. They keep copies from that time. The fee is $10 for a search, and you get one certified copy if the record is found. For marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Calhoun County Probate Court is the only source. The state does not have those files.

Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks through the state office. In person at the Calhoun County courthouse, you can often get records the same day. Bring your ID and know the names and rough date of the marriage. The more details you give the clerk, the faster the search goes. You can also call the Calhoun County Probate Court at (229) 849-2940 to ask about a record before you make the trip.

Calhoun County Marriage License Process

Getting a marriage license in Calhoun County is straightforward. Georgia has no waiting period, so once you get the license, you can have the ceremony right away. The license stays valid for 60 days from the date the court issues it. If you don't use it in that window, it expires and you have to start over.

Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both parties must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Calhoun County. A 17-year-old may apply only if they have been legally emancipated and at least 15 days have passed since the court order. The older person in that case can't be more than four years older than the younger one. No one under 17 can get a marriage license in Georgia at all.

You need to bring valid photo ID to the Calhoun County Probate Court. This can be a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Both parties must come together. After the ceremony, the person who performed it must return the signed license to the Probate Court within 30 days. The court then records it and sends back a certified marriage certificate by mail, usually within 30 days. That certificate is your proof of marriage in Calhoun County.

Some couples use the online application at georgiaprobaterecords.com to fill out forms before they visit the court. This can save time at the window. Call the Calhoun County Probate Court to ask if they use this system.

Marriage Records for Family Research

Old marriage records from Calhoun County can help with family history work. The Georgia Archives has microfilm copies of many county marriage records, some going back to the 1800s. You can visit the archives in Morrow, Georgia, or search some of their digital files online through their Virtual Vault.

FamilySearch has an index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967. This free site lets you search by name and county. Ancestry.com also has Georgia marriage records from select counties. These tools can help you find old Calhoun County marriage records that may not be easy to get from the courthouse. Keep in mind that older records may have gaps or be hard to read due to age and wear.

The Georgia Probate Records portal lets you search marriage records from participating counties across the state. Some Calhoun County records may be available through this system. You can search by name and date to find marriage licenses filed in Georgia.

Nearby Counties

If you are not sure which county handled a marriage, check the counties near Calhoun County. The Probate Court in each county keeps its own marriage records.