Gordon County Marriage Records

Gordon County marriage records are stored at the Probate Court in Calhoun, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses, keeps past certificates on file, and gives out certified copies. Gordon County is in northwest Georgia along the I-75 corridor, and the Probate Court on South Wall Street handles all marriage record needs for the area. You can apply for a new license, search for an old record, or get a certified copy of a marriage certificate. This page walks through the process and what you need for Gordon County marriage records.

Gordon County Probate Court

The Gordon County Probate Court is the sole office for marriage license and marriage record services in the county. It is at 100 South Wall Street in Calhoun. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Both people who want to get married must appear in person. You can not apply by phone or mail for a new license. The staff will check your paperwork, take your payment, and issue the license if all is in order at the Gordon County Probate Court.

Walk-ins are taken during business hours. Gordon County has a moderate population, so wait times are generally short. If you want to be sure the staff is ready for you, calling ahead is always an option. A quick call to (706) 629-1454 can confirm everything is set for your visit to the Gordon County courthouse.

Marriage License Fees in Gordon County

Gordon County uses standard Georgia rates. The fee runs between $56 and $76 without premarital counseling. Couples who take a qualifying course save $40 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. The course must be at least six hours. It must be done within 12 months of your application date and led by a licensed professional counselor, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or active clergy member. Bring the original certificate of completion to the Gordon County Probate Court to get the lower rate.

Certified copies of Gordon County marriage records are $10 each. Call the court at (706) 629-1454 to ask about payment methods. Cash and money orders are the safest bet at most Georgia probate courts. Personal checks are often not accepted.

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

Gordon County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be 18 or older under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can only apply with proof of court-granted emancipation. Fifteen days must have passed since the order, and the older party can not be more than four years older. Both parties must come to the Gordon County Probate Court in person.

You need a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Foreign-language documents need a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both people must be of sound mind and have no prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Gordon County.

• Valid photo ID for both people
• Proof of age if no photo ID with birth date
• Divorce decree or death certificate if needed
• Social Security number
• Premarital counseling certificate for the discount

How to Get Gordon County Marriage Records

Go to the Probate Court in Calhoun. Give the clerk the names and date of the marriage. Pay $10 for a certified copy. The staff will search the files and print the record. Most requests at the Gordon County courthouse take just a few minutes when the file is on hand.

For mail requests, send a note with the full names, the marriage date, and a money order for $10 to the Gordon County Probate Court at 100 S Wall St, Calhoun, GA 30701. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Georgia Department of Public Health has some marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. The state search fee is $10, and it is non-refundable. Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks.

For Gordon County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Calhoun is the only source. The state does not hold those files.

After the Ceremony in Gordon County

The officiant signs the marriage license after the wedding. They must return the signed license to the Gordon County Probate Court within 30 days. The court records the marriage and mails a certified marriage certificate to the couple. This takes up to 30 days after the signed license comes back. If you need the certificate faster, visit the courthouse in Calhoun and check if the record is already in the system.

The license is good for 60 days from the date it was issued. Georgia has no waiting period, so you can marry the same day you get the license from the Gordon County Probate Court. Judges, ministers, and other clergy can officiate the ceremony under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30. Ask the court if the probate judge can perform the ceremony at the courthouse. Availability varies by day.

Gordon County Marriage Record Sources

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

For old records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds marriage records on microfilm for many Georgia counties. FamilySearch has Georgia marriage indexes from 1808 to 1967 that may include Gordon County entries. These resources help with family history and tracking down records that date back many years in Gordon County.

State Records for Gordon County

The Georgia Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. 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 when ordered at the same time. Walk-in visits can get same-day results. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks.

For marriage verifications on or after January 1, 2014, use the verification request form. For any Gordon County marriage records outside the 1952-1996 window, the Probate Court in Calhoun is the only place to go.

Nearby Counties

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