Access Fannin County Marriage Records

Fannin County marriage records are maintained by the Probate Court in Blue Ridge, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license applications and keeps recorded marriage certificates for the county. Blue Ridge sits in the mountains of north Georgia, and the Probate Court on West Main Street serves all residents in the area. Whether you want a new marriage license or need to search for an old record, the Fannin County Probate Court is the place to start. Staff can help you track down licenses and certificates that are on file at the courthouse.

Fannin County Probate Court

The Fannin County Probate Court is at 400 West Main Street, Suite 202, in Blue Ridge. This office handles all marriage license and marriage record requests for the county. Both people who want to get married must appear in person. You can not send one person or apply by mail. The clerk looks at your ID and forms, takes the fee, and gives you the license if everything is correct. Most visits to the Fannin County Probate Court go quickly.

Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. No appointment is needed. Blue Ridge is a popular mountain town, and the Probate Court sees visitors from across north Georgia. If you are coming from out of town, call ahead to make sure the office is open and someone can help when you arrive.

Marriage ceremonies may also be performed at the Fannin County courthouse. Ask the clerk about what days and times are open for this service.

Fannin County Marriage License Fees

Fannin County follows Georgia's standard fee range. Without premarital counseling, the license fee is between $56 and $77. With a qualifying six-hour course, the fee drops to $16 to $37. The discount is set by O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. You must show a certificate of completion when you apply at the Fannin County Probate Court. The course needs to have been done within the last 12 months. It must be at least six hours of instruction from a licensed counselor, therapist, or active clergy member.

Cash and money orders are the safest payment to bring. Personal checks are not accepted at most Georgia probate courts. Call (706) 632-2044 before your trip to see if the Fannin County office takes cards. Plan your payment ahead so you do not have to make a second visit to Blue Ridge.

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

Getting Fannin County Marriage Records

Visit the Probate Court in Blue Ridge to get a copy of a Fannin County marriage record. Tell the clerk both names and the date. The fee is $10 per certified copy. Staff will search and print it. Most requests take minutes when the record is on file.

Mail requests may also be an option. Write a note with the names, date, and a money order for $10. Send it to the Fannin County Probate Court at 400 W Main St, Suite 202, Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Include your return address. The clerk will mail the copy back to you. Phone requests for certified copies are not usually accepted, but call to ask.

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

Marriage License Requirements in Fannin County

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 court order. The older person can not be more than four years older. Both must appear at the Fannin County Probate Court in person.

A valid photo ID is needed. Driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. 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 to get a license in Fannin County. All documents must be in English, and foreign language papers need a certified translation.

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

The Fannin County marriage license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen in that time, the license becomes void and you must reapply at the Blue Ridge courthouse.

Ceremonies in Fannin County

Once you have the license, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Georgia law allows judges, ministers, and clergy to officiate. The Fannin County Probate Court may also perform ceremonies. Call ahead to check on this.

The officiant signs the license and returns it to the Fannin County Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony. The court then records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This takes about 30 days after the signed license arrives at the court in Blue Ridge. If you need the certificate right away, go to the courthouse once the record is in the system.

Fannin County Record Sources

Start your application online at the Georgia Probate Records website before your visit to the Fannin County Probate Court.

The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms for all 159 Georgia county courts. The Georgia.gov marriage license guide walks you through the process for any county. For older Fannin County records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has marriage records on microfilm. FamilySearch offers a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Fannin County entries.

State Records for Fannin County

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

For Fannin County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Blue Ridge is the only source. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county sets its fee schedule within the state's allowed range. Always confirm costs with the Fannin County office. You can also request a marriage verification for any ceremony from January 1, 2014 onward using the state verification form.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fannin County in north Georgia. If the marriage happened nearby, check with one of these Probate Courts.