Evans County Marriage Records

Evans County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in Claxton, Georgia. The court issues all marriage licenses and stores recorded certificates for Evans County. If you need to search for a past marriage record or want a certified copy of a license, the Evans County Probate Court on Freeman Street is the office to visit. Claxton is a small town, and the Probate Court staff can help you look up older records. For marriage files from before 1952 or after 1996, this courthouse is the sole source since the state office does not hold those Evans County records.

Evans County Probate Court Details

The Evans County Probate Court is at 3 Freeman Street in Claxton. This is the office that handles marriage licenses and marriage records for the county. Both people must come in person to get a license. You can not apply by mail or send one person alone. The clerk will check your ID and paperwork, take the fee, and give you the license if all is in order.

Walk-ins are fine during normal business hours at the Evans County Probate Court. No appointment is needed. Since Claxton is a small community, staff can usually help right away. Calling ahead is still a good idea if you are coming from out of town. The court may also perform marriage ceremonies, but check with the clerk on this before you make plans.

Marriage License Fees in Evans County

Evans County uses Georgia's standard fee range for marriage licenses. The cost is between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. With a qualifying six-hour course, the fee can drop to $16 to $37. This savings comes from O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. Bring your certificate of completion when you apply at the Evans County Probate Court. The course needs to have been finished within 12 months before your visit to Claxton.

Bring cash or a money order. Personal checks are not taken at most Georgia probate courts. Call (912) 739-3868 to ask about credit or debit card options at the Evans County office before your trip.

How to Get Evans County Marriage Records

The easiest way to get a marriage record is to visit the Evans County Probate Court in Claxton. Provide the full names and the marriage date to the clerk. Ask for a certified copy. The fee is $10 per copy. Staff will look up the file and print it for you. Most requests take only a few minutes if the record is on file at the Evans County courthouse.

If you can not visit in person, you may send a mail request. Write a note with the full names of both parties, the date of the marriage, and a money order for $10. Mail it to the Evans County Probate Court at 3 Freeman St, Claxton, GA 30417. Include your return address so the clerk can mail the copy back to you.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For anything outside that time, the Evans County Probate Court in Claxton is where to look. The state charges a $10 non-refundable search fee. Mail requests to the state office take 8 to 10 weeks.

Evans County Marriage License Requirements

Both applicants must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can apply only with proof of emancipation. At least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation order. The older person can not be more than four years older than the younger one. Both must show up at the Evans County Probate Court in person.

You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. If either person was married before, a certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse is required. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both people must be of sound mind and free of any prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Evans County. All documents must be in English. Foreign language papers need a certified translation.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Proof of age such as birth certificate
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Social Security number
• Premarital education certificate for reduced fee

The Evans County license is good for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen in that time, the license expires and you must reapply at the Claxton office.

Evans County Marriage Ceremonies

After getting the license, an authorized officiant performs the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and clergy are all allowed. The Evans County Probate Court may also do ceremonies. Call to ask about this service.

The person who performs the ceremony must sign the license and return it to the Evans County Probate Court within 30 days. Once the court gets it back, they record the marriage and mail a certified certificate to the couple. This takes about 30 days. If you need the certificate sooner, go to the Claxton courthouse once the record has been entered into the system.

Evans County Record Sources

The Georgia Probate Records website lets you fill out a marriage application online before your visit to the Evans County Probate Court in Claxton.

The Council of Probate Court Judges has standard forms that all 159 Georgia county courts use. For older Evans County records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow keeps marriage records on microfilm for many counties. You can also request a verification of marriage from the state for ceremonies from January 1, 2014 onward through the verification form.

State Records for Evans County

The Georgia DPH has marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. Request copies from the state Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The search 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.

For Evans County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Claxton is the only source. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county probate court sets its own fees within the state's allowed range. Always confirm the current cost with Evans County before sending payment.

Nearby Counties

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