Find Marriage Records in Dodge County

Dodge County marriage records are kept at the Probate Court in Eastman, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license requests for couples who live in Dodge County or plan to hold their ceremony here. You can search for past marriage records by visiting the courthouse or calling the clerk to ask about what files are on hand. Staff at the Dodge County Probate Court help with copies of older licenses and certificates too. For records from before 1952 or after 1996, this courthouse in Eastman is the only place to look since the state office does not hold those marriage files.

Dodge County Probate Court

The Dodge County Probate Court sits on Anson Avenue in Eastman. This is the main office for all marriage license and marriage record needs in the county. Both people who want to get a license must show up in person at this location. You can not send just one person or try to handle it by mail. The clerk will look at your paperwork, take the fee, and hand you the license if all is in order. Most visits at the Dodge County Probate Court take under an hour.

Walk-ins are welcome during regular hours. No appointment is needed. Calling ahead can help if you want to make sure staff is free to help when you get there. The court may also perform marriage ceremonies, but you should check with the Dodge County clerk on days that work.

Marriage License Fees in Dodge County

The fee for a marriage license in Dodge County follows Georgia's standard rate. Without premarital counseling, the cost falls in the $56 to $77 range. With a qualifying course, the fee can drop as low as $16 to $37. That discount is set by state law under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. To get the lower rate, you need to show a certificate of completion when you apply at the Dodge County Probate Court. The course has to be at least six hours and must have been done within 12 months before your visit.

Cash and money orders are the safest forms of payment. Personal checks are not accepted at most Georgia probate courts, and Dodge County is no different. Call the office at (478) 374-2871 to ask about card payments before your trip.

Note: License fees are non-refundable even if you never use the license.

How to Get Dodge County Marriage Records

Getting a copy of a marriage record from Dodge County is straightforward. The simplest way is to go to the Probate Court in Eastman. Give the clerk the full names of both parties and the date of the marriage. Ask for a certified copy. The fee is $10 per copy. Staff will search the files and print what you need. Most requests take just a few minutes if the record is on file at the Dodge County courthouse.

If you can not go in person, you may be able to send a request by mail. Write a note with the full names of both people, the date, and a money order for $10. Send it to the Dodge County Probate Court at 5401 Anson Ave, Room 110, Eastman, GA 31023. Include your return address. Phone requests for certified copies are not usually accepted, but you can call to ask about your options.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds some marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For anything outside that range, the Dodge County Probate Court is the place to go. The state charges a $10 search fee that is non-refundable, and mail requests to the state office take 8 to 10 weeks to process.

Dodge County Marriage License Requirements

Georgia law sets the rules for who can get a license. Both people must be at least 18 years old under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may get a license only if they have been legally emancipated and at least 15 days have passed since the court order. The older party can not be more than four years older than the younger one. Both people must appear in person at the Dodge County Probate Court. There is no way around this step.

You need to bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. All papers must be in English. If a document is in another language, you need a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free from a prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Dodge County.

• Valid photo ID for both people
• Proof of age such as a birth certificate or passport
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Social Security number
• Premarital counseling certificate for the reduced fee

Once you have the license, it stays valid for 60 days. That gives you two months to hold the ceremony. If the license expires before the wedding, you must start over and pay the fee again at the Dodge County Probate Court.

Marriage Ceremonies in Dodge County

After getting the license, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Georgia law allows judges, ministers, and other clergy to officiate. The Dodge County Probate Court may also perform ceremonies if you ask. Call ahead to check on which days the court offers this service.

The person who does the ceremony must sign the marriage license and return it to the Dodge County Probate Court within 30 days. Once the court gets the signed license back, they record the marriage and send a certified marriage certificate to the couple by mail. This usually takes about 30 days from the date the signed license comes back. If you need the certificate sooner, you can visit the Eastman courthouse and ask for a copy once the record has been entered into the system.

Dodge County Marriage Record Resources

The Georgia Probate Records site lets you fill out a marriage application online before your visit to the Dodge County Probate Court. This can save time at the window.

The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms that all 159 Georgia county courts use. For old marriage records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has records on microfilm for many counties. FamilySearch also has an index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Dodge County records.

State Records for Dodge County

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds a limited set of marriage records. Their files cover marriages from June 1952 through August 1996. If the marriage you need falls in that window, you can request a copy from the state Vital Records office in Atlanta. The search fee is $10, and it is non-refundable. Extra copies cost $5 each when you order at the same time. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person visits to the state office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 can get same-day results if the record is found.

For marriages in Dodge County that took place before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Eastman is your only option. The state does not have those files. You can also request a marriage verification from the state for any marriage that happened on or after January 1, 2014, using the verification request form. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county probate court sets its own fees within the range the state allows, so always confirm the current cost with the Dodge County office before you send payment.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dodge County. If the marriage took place outside Dodge County, you may need to check with one of these nearby Probate Courts for the right records.