Access Coweta County Marriage Records

Coweta County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in Newnan, Georgia. Judge Markham oversees the court, which issues new marriage licenses and stores all recorded marriage documents for the county. Coweta County has about 150,000 residents and sits just south of Atlanta along the I-85 corridor. The Probate Court on Court Square in downtown Newnan handles license applications, certified copies, and general records requests. If you plan to get married or need to look up a past marriage record in Coweta County, this is the office to contact.

Coweta County Probate Court

The Probate Court in Coweta County is at 200 Court Square in Newnan. Judge Markham leads the office. The phone number is (770) 254-2640 and the fax is (770) 254-2648. You can also email the court at cowetaprobate@coweta.ga.us. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Coweta County uses a first-come, first-serve system for marriage license applications. That means no appointment is needed. You walk in during business hours and the staff helps you in the order you arrive. Both people must be there at the same time. The court processes the application while you wait. Bring all required documents to avoid a second trip. If you started your application online through the Georgia Probate Records portal, tell the clerk when you get there so they can pull up your file.

The Coweta County marriage license page has the full list of what you need and how the process works.

The state site gives a general overview of the process. For Coweta County specifics, the county's own page has the details.

Coweta County Marriage License Application

Getting a license in Coweta County requires both people to show up with valid ID. The court accepts a birth certificate, driver's license, state ID, passport, armed forces ID, or resident alien ID. Only one form of ID is needed per person. If you were married before, bring your final divorce decree with the judge's signature and a "FILED" stamp, or a death certificate for your former spouse.

The standard fee is $56. With a notarized premarital counseling form, the fee drops to $16. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1, the counseling must be at least six hours and completed within 12 months of your application. A licensed professional or active clergy member must lead the sessions. The certificate must be signed, notarized, and dated. Copies or scans do not count in Coweta County. You need the original document.

Coweta County accepts cash, checks, and credit or debit cards. A 4.5% convenience fee applies to card payments. This is higher than many other Georgia counties. If you want to avoid the fee, pay with cash or a personal check. Most Georgia courts do not take personal checks, but Coweta County does.

Note: If at least one person is a Georgia resident, you can get your license in any county, not just Coweta.

How to Search Coweta County Marriage Records

The Probate Court keeps all marriage records for Coweta County. You can call or visit the office to ask about a specific record. Have the names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage ready. Certified copies of recorded marriage records cost $10 each. Bring your ID when picking up copies in person.

The state also holds some records. The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. You can request those from the state vital records office. The fee is $10 for a search, and it is not refundable. Processing by mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. For records before 1952 or after 1996, the Coweta County Probate Court in Newnan is where you need to go. The court has records that go back many years.

For historical research, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has microfilm copies of marriage records for many counties. Some of these go back to the early 1800s. FamilySearch also provides free online indexes for Georgia marriages.

Marriage License Rules in Coweta County

Georgia law sets the rules for marriage licenses in Coweta County. Both parties must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can marry only with proof of emancipation, and 15 days must have passed since the emancipation order was granted. The older person can be no more than four years older. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia at all.

There is no blood test. No waiting period either. Once you get the license in Coweta County, you can hold the ceremony the same day. The license stays valid and does not expire according to the Coweta County Probate Court. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the court within 30 days. The court then records the marriage and mails a certified copy to the couple within about 30 days.

If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must get the license in the county where the ceremony will take place. If at least one person lives in Georgia, you can apply in any county. This means Coweta County residents can get their license from any of Georgia's 159 county probate courts if they prefer.

Cities in Coweta County

Coweta County includes Newnan, the county seat, and several other communities. All marriage licenses come from the Probate Court in Newnan, no matter which part of Coweta County you call home.

Other communities in Coweta County include Senoia, Sharpsburg, Turin, Moreland, and Grantville. All of these areas use the Coweta County Probate Court for marriage license and records matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Coweta County. Check your address if you live near a county line before applying for a license.