Catoosa County Marriage Records

Catoosa County marriage records are held at the Probate Court in Ringgold, Georgia. This northwest Georgia county sits right on the Tennessee border, just south of Chattanooga. The Probate Court on Lafayette Street handles marriage license applications and keeps all past marriage records for the county. Whether you need a new license or want to find a record of a past marriage in Catoosa County, this is where you go. Due to the county's location near the state line, the court sees couples from both Georgia and Tennessee. The staff can help with all your marriage record needs during regular business hours.

Catoosa County Probate Court Info

The Probate Court in Ringgold is the sole office for marriage licenses in Catoosa County. Both parties must come in at the same time. You each need a valid photo ID. The court staff will verify your identity and check that you meet all the requirements before issuing the license.

If either person was married before, you must bring proof that the past marriage is over. A certified copy of a final divorce decree works. So does a death certificate for a former spouse. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, Georgia sets three basic requirements for a valid marriage: the parties must be able to contract, there must be an actual agreement, and the marriage must follow the law. The Catoosa County Probate Court checks each of these before they hand over the license.

Since Catoosa County borders Tennessee, some couples come across the state line to get married in Georgia. If neither party lives in Georgia, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. If at least one of you is a Georgia resident, you can apply at any county court in the state.

Marriage License Fees in Catoosa County

Catoosa County follows the state fee structure. The standard marriage license fee in Georgia runs from $56 to $77, as set by O.C.G.A. 15-9-60. Couples who complete a premarital education program can pay less. The reduced fee is between $16 and $37.

To get the discount, both parties must complete at least six hours of premarital education from a qualified provider. The rules for this are in O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The provider must be a licensed counselor, therapist, psychologist, or active clergy member. You need to finish the class within one year of applying for the license. Bring your certificate of completion to the Catoosa County Probate Court when you apply.

Note: Certified copies of marriage records cost extra on top of the license fee.

How to Search Catoosa County Marriage Records

To search for a marriage record in Catoosa County, start at the Probate Court in Ringgold. Walk in with your ID and tell the clerk what you are looking for. Give them the names of the parties and the rough date of the marriage. The clerk can search the records and make copies for you, often the same day.

If the marriage was between June 1952 and August 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health may also have a copy. The state charges $10 for a search and provides one certified copy if the record is found. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. For marriages outside that date range, the Catoosa County Probate Court is the only place with those records.

Georgia marriage records are public documents. You do not need to be one of the people on the license to ask for a copy. The only exception is the marriage application, which is limited to the parties named on it. Anyone can ask for a copy of the marriage certificate or license at the Catoosa County Probate Court.

Catoosa County License Process

The marriage license process in Catoosa County is quick. Georgia does not have a waiting period. You can get the license and have the ceremony the same day. No blood test is needed either. The license stays good for 60 days from the date it is issued. If you don't use it, you lose it and must start the process over.

After the ceremony, the person who performed the marriage signs the license and sends it back to the Catoosa County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This usually takes about 30 days. Keep this certificate safe. You will need it for things like changing your name at the Social Security office or the DMV.

Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, a 17-year-old can get a license only if emancipated, and the older party must be within four years of age. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia. These rules apply at the Catoosa County Probate Court just like everywhere else in the state.

Historical Records and Research

Catoosa County was created in 1853. Marriage records from around that time may be on file at the courthouse or at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The archives hold microfilm copies of many county records from the 1800s and early 1900s.

For online research, FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967. Ancestry.com also has select county records. The Georgia Probate Records portal may have some Catoosa County records available for online search. These tools can help if you are doing genealogy work or need to track down an old marriage certificate from the county.

The online portal lets you search by name and date for marriage records filed at participating Georgia probate courts.

Nearby Counties

Catoosa County borders several other Georgia counties. If you are not certain where a marriage was recorded, try these neighboring courts.