Search Douglas County Marriage Records

Douglas County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Douglasville, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license applications and keeps recorded marriage certificates for the entire county. Couples who live in Douglas County or plan to hold their ceremony here can apply at the Probate Court on Hospital Drive. You can also search for past marriage records at the courthouse or use the county's online records portal. Staff at the Douglas County Probate Court help with copies of licenses and certificates. The office does not need an appointment for marriage license visits.

Douglas County Probate Court

The Douglas County Probate Court sits on Hospital Drive in Douglasville. The office is on the 3rd floor of the building, on the judicial side. Both people who want to get married must show up in person. No appointment is needed for marriage license visits. The court accepts walk-ins during marriage license hours, which run from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. You should arrive before 4:30 PM to make sure there is time to process your application before the office closes for the day.

Douglas County recommends that couples complete the online application before their visit. This speeds things up at the window. The clerk will check your paperwork, take the fee, and give you the license if everything looks right. The whole process can take less than an hour at the Douglas County Probate Court.

Marriage ceremonies may be performed at the courthouse too. An officiant list is available in the Probate office if you need one. Call ahead to check on ceremony days and times at the Douglas County court.

Douglas County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Douglas County is $56 without premarital counseling. If both people take a qualifying six-hour course, the fee drops to $16. That is a big savings. The state sets this discount under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. To get the lower rate, bring your certificate of completion when you apply at the Douglas County Probate Court. The course must have been done within 12 months before your application date.

The Douglas County Probate Court takes cash, money orders, certified funds, and credit or debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted. Plan your payment before your trip to the courthouse in Douglasville. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 each. If you want copies by mail, send a money order payable to Douglas County Probate Court along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The Douglas County marriage license page has full details on current fees and what forms of payment the office takes.

This page on the Douglas County government site lists all the steps and costs for getting a marriage license in Douglasville.

How to Get Douglas County Marriage Records

You can get copies of marriage records from the Douglas County Probate Court in a few ways. The easiest is to visit the office in Douglasville. Give the clerk both names and the date of the marriage. The fee is $10 per certified copy. Staff will search and print the record for you. Most requests take just minutes if the file is in the Douglas County system.

For mail requests, send a money order for $10 payable to Douglas County Probate Court along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include the full names of both parties and the marriage date. Mail it to 8700 Hospital Dr, 3rd Floor, Douglasville, GA 30134. Do not send personal checks. Phone requests for certified copies are not accepted, but you can call (770) 920-7249 to ask about your options.

Douglas County also has an online records portal where you can search for recorded marriage records and other vital records.

The online portal lets you search for Douglas County marriage records from your home. It is a good way to check if a record exists before you make a trip to the courthouse.

Marriage License Requirements in Douglas County

Georgia law says both people must be at least 18 to get a marriage license. This is set by O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can apply only with proof of emancipation from a juvenile court. At least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation order was granted. The older party can not be more than four years older than the younger one. Both applicants must also complete premarital education under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1 if either is 17. Both people must come to the Douglas County Probate Court in person.

You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or other valid photo ID will work. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a certified death certificate for the former spouse. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free of any prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Douglas County. Douglas County notes that Applicant 1 is the groom and Applicant 2 is the bride on the application form.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Certified divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Social Security number for both parties
• Premarital counseling certificate for the $16 reduced fee
• Proof of emancipation if either party is 17

The license stays valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If you do not hold the ceremony in time, it becomes void and you must start over at the Douglas County Probate Court.

Ceremonies and Recording in Douglas County

After getting the license, you need an authorized officiant to perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and other clergy can officiate under Georgia law. The Douglas County Probate Court has a list of officiants if you need help finding one. Once the ceremony is done, the officiant must sign the marriage license and submit it back to the Douglas County Probate Court.

The Douglas County Probate Court records the marriage once the signed license arrives. After that, certified copies of the marriage certificate become available. You can pick them up in person or request them by mail. The recording process usually takes about 30 days from when the signed license comes back to the court.

The Probate Court website for Douglas County gives an overview of all services the court offers, including marriage licenses and record copies.

State Records for Douglas County

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

For Douglas County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Douglasville is the sole source. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county probate court sets its own fee schedule within the range the state allows. The marriage verification form lets you request a verification for any Georgia marriage from January 1, 2014 onward.

Cities in Douglas County

Douglasville is the county seat and largest city in Douglas County. All marriage licenses for Douglasville residents are issued at the Douglas County Probate Court on Hospital Drive.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Douglas County. If you are not sure where the marriage took place, check with one of these nearby Probate Courts for records.