Search Emanuel County Marriage Records

Emanuel County marriage records are stored at the Probate Court in Swainsboro, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license applications and keeps recorded marriage certificates for the entire county. If you need to look up a past marriage record or want a certified copy, the Emanuel County Probate Court on West Underwood Street is where to start. Staff at the courthouse can help you find licenses and certificates that are on file. For marriage records from before 1952 or after 1996, the Emanuel County Probate Court is the only place to get them.

Emanuel County Probate Court

The Emanuel County Probate Court is at 101 West Underwood Street in Swainsboro. This is the main office for marriage licenses and marriage record requests in the county. Both people must show up in person to apply for a license. You can not send one person or do this by mail. The clerk looks at your ID and forms, takes the fee, and hands you the license if everything checks out. The process at the Emanuel County Probate Court is usually fast.

Walk-ins are welcome during regular hours. There is no need for an appointment. A quick call ahead can help you make sure the office is open and someone is free to assist when you get to the Emanuel County courthouse in Swainsboro.

Marriage License Fees in Emanuel County

Emanuel County follows Georgia's standard license fee. Without premarital counseling, the cost ranges from $56 to $77. If both people complete a qualifying six-hour course, the fee drops to $16 to $37. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1 makes this discount possible. You need to bring the certificate of completion to the Emanuel County Probate Court when you apply. The course must have been done within the past 12 months.

Cash and money orders are your best bet. Personal checks are generally not accepted at Georgia probate courts. Call (478) 237-8911 to see if the Emanuel County office takes credit or debit cards.

Note: Marriage license fees are non-refundable even if the license is never used.

Getting Emanuel County Marriage Records

To get a marriage record, go to the Emanuel County Probate Court in Swainsboro. Give the clerk both names and the date. Ask for a certified copy. The fee is $10. Staff will search and print the record. Most requests take just a few minutes when the file is on hand at the Emanuel County courthouse.

Mail requests are another option. Send a note with the names, date, and a money order for $10 to the Emanuel County Probate Court at 101 W Underwood St, Swainsboro, GA 30401. Add your return address. Phone requests for certified copies are not usually accepted, but call to ask about your options.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For anything outside that window, the Emanuel County Probate Court is where you need to go. The state search fee is $10 and non-refundable. Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks.

Emanuel County License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may apply with proof of emancipation, but 15 days must have passed since the order. The older party can not be more than four years older. Both must appear at the Emanuel County Probate Court in person. No exceptions to this rule.

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

• Valid photo ID for both people
• Birth certificate or passport as proof of age
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Social Security number for both
• Premarital counseling certificate for reduced fee

The Emanuel County marriage license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen in time, the license becomes void and you must start over.

Ceremonies and Recording in Emanuel County

Once you have the license, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and clergy are all allowed under Georgia law. The Emanuel County Probate Court may perform ceremonies too. Call the office to check on this.

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

Emanuel County Marriage Record Resources

Start your application online at the Georgia Probate Records site before heading to the Emanuel County Probate Court.

The DPH fee schedule lists what the state charges for vital record copies. The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms for all 159 Georgia county courts. For older Emanuel County records, the Georgia Archives has records on microfilm. FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Emanuel County entries.

State Records for Emanuel County

The state Vital Records office holds marriage files from June 1952 through August 1996. Request a copy from the Georgia DPH at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The fee is $10, non-refundable. Extra copies cost $5 each. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person visits can get same-day results if the record is found.

For Emanuel County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Swainsboro is the only option. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county sets its own fee schedule within the state's allowed range. Always confirm current costs with the Emanuel County office before you send payment.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Emanuel County. If the marriage happened outside Emanuel County, check with one of these Probate Courts.