Search Colquitt County Marriage Records

Colquitt County marriage records are on file at the Probate Court in Moultrie, Georgia. The court handles new marriage license applications and keeps copies of all recorded marriages in the county. Colquitt County sits in southwest Georgia and has a population of around 46,000 residents. If you want to get a marriage license or look up an old record, the Probate Court on South Main Street is where to start. Staff can help you with license applications, certified copies, and general questions about the process for Colquitt County.

Colquitt County Probate Court

The Probate Court in Colquitt County is the main office for all marriage license and records matters. It sits at 101 South Main Street in downtown Moultrie. The phone number is (229) 616-7420. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk in or call ahead to ask about your specific needs.

Both parties must appear in person at the Colquitt County Probate Court to apply for a marriage license. You cannot send a friend or family member in your place. Bring valid photo ID for each person. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. If you were married before, you need proof that the prior marriage ended, like a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate. The court staff in Colquitt County can walk you through the full application once you arrive.

Many Georgia counties now use the Georgia Probate Records online system for marriage applications. Check with the Colquitt County Probate Court to see if they participate. Filling out the application online before your visit can save time at the office.

Colquitt County Marriage License Fees

Colquitt County follows the standard Georgia fee schedule for marriage licenses. Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, the fee without premarital counseling runs between $56 and $77. With proof of completing a qualifying premarital education program, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. The exact amount in Colquitt County depends on local court costs added to the state base.

To get the lower rate, both people must finish at least six hours of premarital counseling. The program has to be done within 12 months of your application date. A licensed professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or active clergy member must lead the sessions. You bring the signed and notarized completion certificate to the Colquitt County Probate Court when you apply. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1, this is the only way to get the reduced rate.

Call the court at (229) 616-7420 to ask which payment methods they accept. Most Georgia probate courts take cash, money orders, and cards.

How to Find Colquitt County Marriage Records

The Probate Court holds all marriage records for Colquitt County. If you need a certified copy, call or visit the office. The cost is typically $10 per certified copy in Georgia. You will need the names of the parties and an approximate date of the marriage to help the staff find your record in Colquitt County.

The state also holds some records. The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. You can request those through the DPH vital records office in Atlanta. The state search fee is $10, and that fee is not refundable even if the record is not found. Processing by mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. For anything before 1952 or after 1996, the Colquitt County Probate Court is the only source.

The state website explains how to submit your request by mail, in person, or online. For marriage records specifically, the Probate Court in Colquitt County is often the faster route.

Note: The state office can provide marriage verifications for marriages from January 2014 forward, but full certified copies for post-1996 records are only at the county level.

Marriage License Requirements in Colquitt County

Georgia law applies to all marriage licenses in Colquitt County. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both parties must be at least 18. A 17-year-old may marry only with proof of emancipation and after meeting the conditions in O.C.G.A. 19-3-36. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia. There is no blood test required. That rule ended on July 1, 2003. There is also no waiting period. Once you have the license, you can marry the same day.

The license is good for 60 days in Colquitt County. If you do not use it in that time, it becomes void. You would have to start over and pay the fee again. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the Colquitt County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the license and mails a certified marriage certificate to the couple. This usually takes about 30 days from the date the court gets the signed document back.

If at least one party lives in Georgia, you can get a license in any county. If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must apply in the county where the wedding will take place. This rule can matter for Colquitt County couples planning ceremonies outside their home county.

Colquitt County Historical Marriage Records

For older marriage records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow is a good resource. They hold microfilm copies of marriage records for many Georgia counties, some going back to the 1800s. The Archives website also offers a Virtual Vault with online access to some historical documents. FamilySearch has free indexes for Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967, which may include Colquitt County records.

The Colquitt County Probate Court itself has records going back many years. Contact the court to ask how far back their holdings go. For genealogy work, you may need to check both the local court and the state archives. Each source may have records the other does not have for Colquitt County.

Cities in Colquitt County

Colquitt County includes Moultrie, which is the county seat, along with smaller communities like Norman Park, Doerun, Berlin, and Funston. All residents of Colquitt County apply for marriage licenses at the Probate Court in Moultrie. No city within the county has a separate office for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Colquitt County in south Georgia. Check which county you live in before applying for a marriage license to make sure you go to the right court.