Elbert County Marriage Records

Elbert County marriage records are managed by the Probate Court in Elberton, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses and keeps all recorded certificates for the county. If you want to search for a past marriage record or need a copy of a license or certificate, the Elbert County Probate Court on Forest Avenue is your main resource. Elberton is known as the granite capital of the world, and the courthouse serves everyone in the county for marriage license needs. Staff can look up old files and provide certified copies of marriage records on request.

Elbert County Probate Court

The Elbert County Probate Court sits at 45 Forest Avenue in Elberton. This is the office for all marriage license and marriage record work in the county. Both applicants must appear in person. You can not send one person or apply by mail. The clerk reviews your paperwork, takes the fee, and gives you the license if everything checks out.

Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours. No appointment is needed at the Elbert County Probate Court. Calling ahead is always a good idea, especially if you are driving from out of town. That way you know the office is open and ready to help. The court may also perform marriage ceremonies, but check with staff first on what days are available.

Elbert County Marriage License Fees

Elbert County follows Georgia's standard fee range. Without premarital counseling, the license fee is between $56 and $77. With a qualifying course, it drops to the $16 to $37 range. The discount is set by O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. Bring the certificate of completion when you apply at the Elbert County Probate Court. The course must be at least six hours and done within 12 months of your visit.

Cash and money orders are the safest bet. Personal checks are not accepted at most Georgia probate courts, and Elbert County is likely the same. Call (706) 283-2005 to ask about card payments. It is better to know before you drive to Elberton than to find out at the window.

Note: All fees are non-refundable, even if you do not end up using the license.

How to Search Elbert County Marriage Records

The best way to get a marriage record from Elbert County is to visit the Probate Court in Elberton. Tell the clerk the names of both parties and the date. The fee is $10 per certified copy. Staff will look up the file and print it for you. This takes a few minutes in most cases at the Elbert County courthouse.

If you can not visit in person, try sending a mail request. Write out the full names, date, and include a money order for $10. Send it to the Elbert County Probate Court at 45 Forest Ave, Elberton, GA 30635. Put your return address on the note. The clerk will mail the certified copy back to you. Phone requests for certified copies are not typically handled, but a phone call can tell you if other options are available.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds some marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For records outside that range, the Elbert County Probate Court is the only source. The state charges $10 for a search, and that fee is non-refundable.

Elbert County License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may get a license only with proof of legal emancipation. At least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation order. The older party can not be more than four years older. Both must come to the Elbert County Probate Court in Elberton.

A valid photo ID is required. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. If you were married before, bring a certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both must be of sound mind and free of any prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Elbert County. All documents must be in English, and foreign language papers require a certified translation.

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

The license stays valid for 60 days from the date it is issued at the Elbert County Probate Court. If you miss that window, you have to start over.

Ceremonies in Elbert County

After you get the license, an authorized officiant performs the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and clergy can do this under Georgia law. The Elbert County Probate Court may also be able to perform ceremonies. Call ahead to ask about days and times.

The officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the Elbert County Probate Court within 30 days. Once the signed license is back, the court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This takes about 30 days. If you need it faster, go to the Elberton courthouse once the record is entered into the system.

Elbert County Record Sources

Fill out your application ahead of time at the Georgia Probate Records site. This saves time when you visit the Elbert County Probate Court in Elberton.

The Council of Probate Court Judges has standard forms for all 159 county courts in Georgia. The Georgia Archives in Morrow has older marriage records on microfilm for many counties. FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may cover Elbert County. You can also get a marriage verification from the state for any marriage after January 1, 2014 through the verification form.

State Records for Elbert County

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

For Elbert County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Elberton is the sole source. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county court sets its own fees within the state's range. Always check with the Elbert County office first.

Nearby Counties

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