Fayette County Marriage Records

Fayette County marriage records are stored at the Probate Court in Fayetteville, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license applications and keeps recorded marriage certificates for the county. Fayette County is part of the Atlanta metro area, and the Probate Court on Center Drive serves residents from Fayetteville, Peachtree City, and the surrounding communities. If you need to search for a past marriage record or want to apply for a new license, the Fayette County Probate Court is the office to contact. Staff can help with certified copies of both old and recent marriage records.

Fayette County Probate Court

The Fayette County Probate Court is at 1 Center Drive in Fayetteville. This is the main office for all marriage license and marriage record work in the county. Both people who want to get married must show up in person. You can not send just one person or handle it by mail. The clerk checks your ID and paperwork, takes the fee, and issues the license if everything is in order. Most visits to the Fayette County Probate Court take less than an hour.

Walk-ins are welcome. No appointment is needed. Fayette County is a busy suburban county south of Atlanta, so the Probate Court sees a high number of marriage license applications. Calling ahead can help you plan your visit. Staff can tell you what to bring and what the current fees are at the Fayette County office.

Fayette County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Fayette County is $76 without premarital counseling. If both people complete a qualifying six-hour course, the fee drops to $36. That is a nice savings. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1 makes this discount possible. You need to bring the certificate of completion when you apply at the Fayette County Probate Court. The course must have been finished within 12 months before your application date. It has to be at least six hours from a licensed counselor, therapist, psychologist, or active clergy member.

The Fayette County Probate Court takes cash and other forms of payment. Money orders and certified checks are accepted. Call (770) 716-4220 to confirm if credit or debit cards are taken. Personal checks are not accepted at most Georgia probate courts, and Fayette County is no different. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 each.

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

How to Get Fayette County Marriage Records

Getting a copy of a marriage record from Fayette County is simple. Visit the Probate Court in Fayetteville. Give the clerk the names of both parties and the marriage date. Ask for a certified copy. The fee is $10 per copy. Staff will look up the file and print it for you. Most requests at the Fayette County courthouse take just a few minutes if the record is on file.

You can also try a mail request. Write a note with the full names, date of the marriage, and a money order for $10. Send it to the Fayette County Probate Court at 1 Center Dr, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Include your return address so the clerk can mail the copy back. Phone requests for certified copies are not typically taken, but you can call to ask about options.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has some marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For anything outside that window, the Fayette County Probate Court in Fayetteville 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.

Fayette County Marriage License Requirements

Georgia law says both people must be at least 18 to get a marriage license under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may apply only with proof of legal emancipation from a juvenile court. At least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation order was granted. The older party can not be more than four years older. Both people must come to the Fayette County Probate Court in Fayetteville in person. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. If either person was married before, a certified copy of the divorce decree or a 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 Fayette 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 or passport
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Social Security number for both
• Premarital education certificate for the $36 reduced fee

The Fayette County marriage license stays valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If the ceremony does not take place in that time, you must reapply and pay again.

Ceremonies and Recording in Fayette County

After you get the license, an authorized person performs the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and clergy can officiate under Georgia law. The Fayette County Probate Court may also perform ceremonies. Call the office ahead of time to ask about this service and what days are available.

The officiant signs the license and returns it to the Fayette County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This process usually takes about 30 days from when the signed license arrives back at the court. If you need the certificate sooner, visit the Fayetteville courthouse once the record is in the system. Residents of Peachtree City and other Fayette County communities all use this same office for their marriage records.

Fayette County Record Resources

You can start the application process at the Georgia Probate Records website before your visit to the Fayette County Probate Court. This saves time at the window.

The online portal lets many Georgia counties accept applications ahead of time. The Fayette County Probate Court website has details about what services the office provides. The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms for all 159 county courts. For older records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has marriage records on microfilm. You can also request a marriage verification for any ceremony from January 1, 2014 onward through the state verification form.

State Records for Fayette County

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Fayette County marriage you need falls in that window, request a copy from the state Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The search fee is $10 and 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 Fayette County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Fayetteville is the sole source. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, each county probate court sets its own fees within the range allowed by the state. Always confirm costs with the Fayette County office before sending payment.

Cities in Fayette County

Peachtree City is the largest city in Fayette County. All marriage licenses for Peachtree City residents are issued at the Fayette County Probate Court in Fayetteville. Fayetteville is the county seat and also serves as a hub for the southern Atlanta metro area.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fayette County. If you need a marriage record from a nearby area, check with one of these Probate Courts.