Find Marriage Records in Franklin County

Franklin County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in Carnesville, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses, performs ceremonies on request, and stores certified copies of marriage certificates for the county. Whether you need a new license or want to look up an old marriage record, the Franklin County Probate Court on Lavonia Road is the place to start. Staff can help you find records, check what forms you need, and tell you about fees. This page covers what you need to know about searching for Franklin County marriage records.

Franklin County Probate Court

The Franklin County Probate Court is the sole office for marriage license and marriage record services in the county. It sits at 9592 Lavonia Road in Carnesville. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Both people who want to marry must come to the Franklin County Probate Court together. You can not apply by mail or send just one person. The staff will check your ID, review your forms, and issue the license if everything is correct.

Franklin County is a smaller county in northeast Georgia. The process here is straightforward and tends to be fast since the office does not have the long lines you might see in a larger metro area. Call ahead to make sure someone is free to help, though walk-ins are usually fine during regular hours at the Franklin County courthouse in Carnesville.

Marriage License Fees in Franklin County

Franklin County follows standard Georgia fee rates for marriage licenses. Most counties charge between $56 and $76 without premarital counseling. Couples who complete a qualifying premarital education course get a $40 discount under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. The course must last at least six hours and must be done within 12 months before the date you apply. It has to be led by a licensed counselor, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or active clergy member. Bring the original certificate of completion to the Franklin County Probate Court to get the reduced rate.

Certified copies of Franklin County marriage certificates cost $10 each. Call the Probate Court at (706) 384-6504 to check what forms of payment they take. Many Georgia courts do not accept personal checks. Cash, money orders, and credit or debit cards are the most common options in Franklin County.

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

Franklin County Marriage License Requirements

Georgia law sets the rules. Both people must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can apply only with a court-granted emancipation order, and 15 days must have passed since that order. The older person can not be more than four years older. Both parties must appear in person at the Franklin County Probate Court in Carnesville.

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

• Valid photo ID for both people
• Proof of age if needed
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Social Security number
• Premarital counseling certificate for the reduced fee

Georgia has no waiting period. The license is good for 60 days from when it is issued. If you do not use it in time, you must start over at the Franklin County Probate Court and pay the fee again.

How to Get Franklin County Marriage Records

Visit the Probate Court in Carnesville to get copies of marriage records. Give the clerk the names and date of marriage. The fee is $10 per certified copy. Most requests can be handled while you wait at the Franklin County courthouse. If the record is very old, it might take a bit longer to find in the files.

For mail requests, send a written note with the names, the marriage date, and a money order for $10 to the Franklin County Probate Court at 9592 Lavonia Rd, Carnesville, GA 30521. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Georgia Department of Public Health holds some marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Franklin County marriage is in that range, you can also try the state office. The state search fee is $10 and is non-refundable. Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks.

For marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Franklin County Probate Court is the only source. The state does not keep those files.

After the Wedding in Franklin County

Once the ceremony is done, the officiant signs the marriage license. They must return it to the Franklin County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This takes up to 30 days after the signed license comes back. If you need it sooner, check with the courthouse in Carnesville to see if the record has been entered into the system yet.

Many types of people can perform a legal wedding in Georgia. Judges, justices of the peace, ministers, and other clergy all qualify under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30. Ask the Franklin County Probate Court if the judge can do the ceremony at the courthouse. Not all courts offer this every day, so call ahead to check the schedule at the Franklin County office.

Franklin County Marriage Record Resources

The Council of Probate Court Judges oversees all 159 county probate courts in Georgia, including Franklin County. Their site lists standard forms used by every court in the state. The standard forms page can help if you need paperwork for your license application.

For old records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has marriage records on microfilm for many Georgia counties. FamilySearch has an index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may cover Franklin County. The Georgia Probate Records website also lets you start a marriage application online before visiting the Franklin County Probate Court in person.

State Marriage Records for Franklin County

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. You can request a copy from the state Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The fee is $10 per search. Extra copies cost $5 each if ordered at the same time. Walk-in service can produce same-day results. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks.

For a marriage verification, the state can confirm that a marriage took place on or after January 1, 2014. Use the verification request form to submit your request. This is helpful when you just need proof a marriage happened but do not need the full certificate from Franklin County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County. If the marriage took place outside Franklin County, reach out to one of these Probate Courts for records.