Gilmer County Marriage Records

Gilmer County marriage records are on file at the Probate Court in Ellijay, Georgia. The court handles marriage license applications, keeps past certificates, and can provide certified copies of marriage records for the county. Gilmer County is in the north Georgia mountains, and the Probate Court office on Broad Street is the one place to go for any marriage record need. Whether you want to apply for a license or look up an old record, this page covers what you need to know about Gilmer County marriage records and how to get them.

Gilmer County Probate Court

The Gilmer County Probate Court is the main office for all marriage license and marriage record services in the county. Both people who want to get married must show up in person at this office. You can not apply by phone, mail, or through another person. The staff will check your paperwork, verify your ID, and issue the license on the spot if all looks good. Most visits take well under an hour at the Gilmer County Probate Court.

The office is at 1 Broad Street, Suite 104, in Ellijay. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. Gilmer County is a smaller county, so the wait time is usually short. Still, calling ahead can help you confirm that someone is free to assist with your marriage license at the Gilmer County courthouse.

Marriage License Fees in Gilmer County

Gilmer County follows standard Georgia fee rates for marriage licenses. The fee runs between $56 and $76 without premarital counseling. Couples who take a qualifying course can cut the cost by $40. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1 allows this discount. The course needs to be at least six hours, done within 12 months of your application date, and run by a licensed professional counselor, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or active clergy member. Bring the original certificate of completion when you visit the Gilmer County Probate Court.

Certified copies of Gilmer County marriage records cost $10 each. Call the Probate Court at (706) 635-4462 to check which payment methods they take before you make the trip. Cash and money orders are the safest bet. Many Georgia probate courts do not take personal checks.

Note: License fees are non-refundable in Gilmer County, even if the license goes unused.

Gilmer County Marriage License Requirements

Georgia law requires both people to be at least 18 years old under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can apply only if they have been emancipated by a court, and 15 days must have passed since the order. Both parties must appear in person at the Gilmer County Probate Court. There is no way around this step.

You need a 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. Documents not in English must have a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free from a prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Gilmer County.

• Valid photo ID for both parties
• Proof of age if photo ID does not show birth date
• Final divorce decree or death certificate if needed
• Social Security number for each person
• Premarital counseling certificate for the discount

The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. Georgia has no waiting period, so you can hold the ceremony right away after getting the license from the Gilmer County Probate Court.

How to Get Gilmer County Marriage Records

Visit the Probate Court in Ellijay to get copies. Tell the clerk the names and the date of the marriage. The fee is $10 per certified copy. Staff will search the files and print what you need. Most requests take just a few minutes if the record is on hand at the Gilmer County courthouse.

If you can not go in person, try a mail request. Send a written note with the full names, the date of the marriage, and a money order for $10 to the Gilmer County Probate Court at 1 Broad St, Suite 104, Ellijay, GA 30540. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. For marriages between June 1952 and August 1996, you can also contact the Georgia Department of Public Health. The state search fee is $10 and is non-refundable. Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks.

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

After the Ceremony in Gilmer County

Once the wedding is done, the officiant must sign the marriage license. Georgia law gives them 30 days to return the signed license to the Gilmer County Probate Court. After the court gets it back, they record the marriage and mail a certified marriage certificate to the couple. This usually takes up to 30 days from when the license is returned. If you need the certificate faster, visit the courthouse in Ellijay and ask if the record has been entered into the system.

Judges, ministers, and other clergy can perform a legal ceremony in Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30. The Gilmer County Probate Court may also be able to perform a ceremony. Call the office to check availability and what days work for their schedule.

Gilmer County Marriage Record Sources

The Council of Probate Court Judges oversees all 159 county probate courts in Georgia, including Gilmer County. Their standard forms page has paperwork used by every court in the state. The Georgia Probate Records website lets you start a marriage application online before going to the Gilmer County Probate Court.

For older records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has marriage records on microfilm for many Georgia counties. FamilySearch has Georgia marriage indexes from 1808 to 1967 that may include Gilmer County entries. These resources can help with family history research or locating very old Gilmer County marriage records.

State Marriage Records for Gilmer County

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If a Gilmer County marriage falls in that window, you can request a certified copy from the state Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The fee is $10 per search, and extra copies cost $5 each if ordered at the same time. Walk-in visits can produce same-day results when the record is found.

You can also ask the state for a marriage verification for any marriage on or after January 1, 2014. Use the verification request form to submit your request. This works when you just need proof that a marriage took place but do not need the full certificate from Gilmer County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Gilmer County. If the marriage took place outside Gilmer County, contact one of these Probate Courts for the right records.