Cook County Marriage Records

Cook County marriage records are kept at the Probate Court in Adel, Georgia. The court issues new marriage licenses and maintains files for all past marriages recorded in the county. Cook County is a small, rural county in south-central Georgia with roughly 17,000 residents. The Probate Court on Hutchinson Avenue handles all marriage license and records work. If you want to search for an old marriage record or apply for a new license, this office is where you go. Staff can help with both new applications and requests for copies of past records in Cook County.

Cook County Probate Court Office

The Probate Court at 212 North Hutchinson Avenue in Adel handles all marriage license work in Cook County. Call (229) 896-7714 for questions about licenses or records. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The court is closed on state holidays.

Both people who want to marry must appear in person at the Cook County Probate Court. You cannot apply by phone, mail, or through another person. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID all work. If either person was married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or death certificate to prove the earlier marriage ended. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Georgia does not require a blood test, and there is no waiting period once the court issues the license.

Many Georgia courts use the online portal at georgiaprobaterecords.com for marriage applications. Check with Cook County to see if they accept online applications. Filling out the form ahead of time can save you a trip.

Marriage License Fees in Cook County

Cook County uses the standard Georgia fee schedule. Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, the marriage license fee without premarital counseling ranges from $56 to $77. With proof of qualifying premarital education, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. The exact amount depends on what local costs Cook County adds to the state base.

The counseling discount comes from O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. Both people must complete at least six hours of instruction from a licensed counselor, therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or active clergy member. The program must be finished within 12 months of the application date. Bring the signed, notarized certificate to the Probate Court. Without it, you pay the full price in Cook County.

Call the court to confirm what payment methods they accept. Most Georgia courts take cash, money orders, and credit or debit cards. Some smaller courts may not take personal checks, so it helps to check first.

How to Search Cook County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Cook County are stored at the Probate Court. The court can look up records by name and date. Certified copies typically cost $10 each. You may need to show a valid ID to get a certified copy. Contact the court by phone to ask about their process for records requests in Cook County.

For records from June 1952 through August 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health also keeps copies. You can reach the state office through the DPH marriage records page. The state search fee is $10. It is not refundable even if the record is not found. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks to process. For records outside that time frame, the Cook County Probate Court is the only source.

For genealogy research, the Georgia Archives has historical marriage records on microfilm for many counties. Their collection includes indexes and images that may cover Cook County. FamilySearch also has free online indexes for Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967.

After Your Wedding in Cook County

The officiant must sign the marriage license after the ceremony. Georgia law says the signed license must go back to the Cook County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records it and then mails a certified copy of the marriage certificate to the couple. This takes about 30 days from the date the court gets the signed license back.

The marriage license is good for 60 days from the date it was issued. If you do not use it in that time, it becomes void and you would need to reapply and pay again. Georgia has no waiting period. You can hold the ceremony the same day you get the license. The officiant must be legally authorized to perform marriages under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30. This includes judges, ministers, and other designated officials.

Note: Until the officiant returns the signed license to the Cook County Probate Court, the marriage is not officially recorded.

Cook County Marriage License Rules

Georgia sets the same rules for every county. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, a valid marriage requires that both people can contract, they enter an actual contract, and they follow state law. Both must be of sound mind. Neither can have an undissolved prior marriage. If at least one person lives in Georgia, you can get a license in any county. If neither person is a Georgia resident, the license must come from the county where the ceremony will take place.

The minimum age is 18 under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may marry only with proof of emancipation, and the older party can be no more than four years older. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia. These rules protect minors and apply in Cook County the same as everywhere else in the state. O.C.G.A. 19-3-43 also says that a marriage performed in another state has the same legal weight as one in Georgia, but Georgia residents cannot go out of state to get around Georgia marriage laws.

Cities in Cook County

Cook County includes Adel, the county seat, along with the smaller communities of Sparks and Lenox. All residents apply for marriage licenses at the Probate Court in Adel. There are no separate offices for marriage records in other parts of Cook County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cook County. If you live near the edge of Cook County, check your address before applying for a marriage license to make sure you visit the right court.