Effingham County Marriage Records

Effingham County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in Springfield, Georgia. The court manages all marriage license applications and stores recorded marriage certificates for the county. If you need to search for a past marriage record or get a certified copy, the Effingham County Probate Court on North Pine Street is the office to contact. Staff can help you look up old licenses and certificates. Effingham County sits near the coast and borders Chatham County, so many residents in the Savannah metro area come here for their marriage license needs.

Effingham County Probate Court Details

The Effingham County Probate Court is on North Pine Street in Springfield. Both people who want to get married must come to the office in person. You can not send one person or apply by mail. The clerk reviews your ID and forms, takes the fee, and issues the license if all is correct. The whole process at the Effingham County Probate Court can take less than an hour on most days.

No appointment is needed. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. If you want to be sure someone is free to help, call the office ahead of time. Marriage ceremonies may also be available at the Effingham County courthouse, though you should check with the clerk on scheduling.

Effingham County has grown in recent years as part of the greater Savannah area. The Probate Court sees a steady flow of marriage license applications and record requests from Springfield and the surrounding communities.

Marriage License Fees in Effingham County

The fee for a marriage license in Effingham County falls within Georgia's standard range. Without premarital counseling, the cost is between $56 and $77. If both people finish a qualifying six-hour course, the fee can drop to $16 to $37. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1 sets this discount. You must bring the certificate of completion when you apply at the Effingham County Probate Court. The course needs to have been done within 12 months before your visit.

Cash and money orders are accepted. Personal checks are typically not taken. Call (912) 754-2118 to check on credit or debit card options at the Effingham County office before you make the drive to Springfield.

Note: License fees are non-refundable regardless of whether you use the license.

Getting Effingham County Marriage Records

Visit the Probate Court in Springfield to get a copy of an Effingham County marriage record. Give the clerk both names and the marriage date. The fee is $10 per certified copy. Staff will search the files and print what you need. Most requests take minutes when the record is on file.

For mail requests, send a written note with the full names, date, and a money order for $10 to the Effingham County Probate Court at 901 N Pine St, Springfield, GA 31329. Include your return address. Phone requests for certified copies are not usually taken, but you can call to ask about options at the Effingham County office.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has some marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For records outside that range, the Effingham County Probate Court is the only place to look. The state search fee is $10 and non-refundable. Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks.

Effingham County License Requirements

Georgia law sets clear rules for marriage licenses. Both people must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may apply only with proof of emancipation, and 15 days must have passed since the court order. The older party can not be more than four years older. Both people must show up at the Effingham County Probate Court together.

Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or state ID. If either person was married before, a certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse is needed. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free of a prior un-dissolved marriage. All documents must be in English. If they are in another language, a certified translation is required at the Effingham County Probate Court.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Proof of age if no photo ID available
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Social Security number for both
• Premarital counseling certificate for reduced fee

The Effingham County license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen in time, the license expires and you must reapply.

Ceremonies and Recording in Effingham County

Once you have the license, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and other clergy are allowed. The Effingham County Probate Court may also perform ceremonies if you ask ahead of time.

The officiant signs the license and returns it to the Effingham County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This takes about 30 days after the signed license arrives. If you need it sooner, visit the Springfield courthouse once the record is in the system.

Effingham County Record Sources

Start your application online at the Georgia Probate Records website before going to the Effingham County Probate Court.

The Georgia.gov guide explains the full process for getting a marriage license in any Georgia county. The Council of Probate Court Judges has standard forms for all 159 county courts. For older records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow keeps marriage records on microfilm. You can also request a marriage verification from the state for any marriage from January 1, 2014 onward using the verification request form.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Effingham County. If the marriage happened nearby, check with one of these Probate Courts for the right records.