Habersham County Marriage Records

Habersham County marriage records are held at the Probate Court in Clarkesville, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license applications for people who live in Habersham County or plan to get married here. You can search for past marriage records at the courthouse or call the office to ask about filings. Staff at the Habersham County Probate Court help with both new licenses and old record requests. If you want to look up a marriage certificate or need a certified copy, this office in Clarkesville is where to start your search.

Habersham County Probate Court

The Habersham County Probate Court is the one office that handles all marriage license and marriage record needs in the area. It sits on Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville. Both people who want to get married must come to this office in person. No one can send just one party or apply through the mail. The court staff will look at your ID, check your forms, take the fee, and hand you the license if things check out. Most visits take less than an hour at the Habersham County Probate Court.

Walk-ins are fine during normal hours. You do not need to set up a time ahead of your visit, but a quick phone call can save you a trip if you want to make sure someone is free. The Habersham County Probate Court may also do ceremonies for couples who want to get married at the courthouse, though you should call to ask about days and times that work for the judge.

Marriage License Fees in Habersham County

The cost for a marriage license in Habersham County follows the state fee range. Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, Georgia counties can charge between $56 and $77 for a standard license. Couples who take a qualifying premarital education class can pay a lower rate. That discount drops the fee to between $16 and $37 based on the county. The class must be at least six hours long and done within 12 months of when you apply at the Habersham County Probate Court. You need to bring the certificate of completion with original signatures to get the lower price.

O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 spells out the rules for that discount. The course must be led by a licensed counselor, social worker, therapist, or active clergy member. Copies, scans, or electronic versions of the form are not accepted by most courts. Plan to bring the original. Payment at the Habersham County Probate Court may include cash and money orders. Call the office to check if they take cards, since rules on that can change from time to time.

Note: All license fees are non-refundable at the Habersham County Probate Court even if you do not use the license.

How to Get Habersham County Marriage Records

You can get copies of marriage records from the Habersham County Probate Court in a few ways. The simplest is to walk into the courthouse in Clarkesville. Go to the clerk window and give the full names and date of the marriage. Ask for a certified copy. The fee is $10 per copy. Staff will search the files and print what you need. Most requests are done in a few minutes if the record is on file at the Habersham County courthouse.

Mail requests are also an option. Send a written note with the names of both parties, the date of the ceremony, and a check or money order for $10 to the Habersham County Probate Court at 295 Llewellyn St, Suite 110, Clarkesville, GA 30523. Include your return address so the clerk can mail the copy back to you. Phone requests for certified copies are not usually accepted, but you can call (706) 754-2910 to ask about other options at the Habersham County office. Getting the record in person is always the fastest route for marriage records in Habersham County.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds some marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. For records outside that range, the Habersham County Probate Court is your source.

Habersham County Marriage License Rules

Georgia law sets clear rules for who can get a marriage license. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both people must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old can apply only with proof of legal emancipation and at least 15 days must have passed since the court order. The older party cannot be more than four years older than the younger one in that case. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-36, no one under 17 can get a marriage license in Georgia at all.

Both parties must show up in person at the Habersham County Probate Court. You need 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 your former spouse. All documents must be in English. If a paper is in another language, you need a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free from a prior marriage that has not been dissolved.

• Valid photo ID for both parties
• Social Security number for each person
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Premarital education certificate for the reduced fee
• Certified translation if any document is not in English

The license does not expire for 60 days. That gives you two months to hold the ceremony. If you miss that window, the license becomes void and you have to start fresh at the Habersham County Probate Court.

Marriage Ceremonies in Habersham County

After you pick up the license, any person authorized by Georgia law can perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and other clergy are all allowed to officiate. The Habersham County Probate Court judge may also perform weddings, though you should call first to ask about this.

The person who performs the ceremony must sign the marriage license and return it to the Habersham County Probate Court within 30 days. Once the court gets the signed license back, they record the marriage and mail a certified marriage certificate to the couple. This process typically takes about 30 days after the license is returned. If you need the certificate sooner, go to the courthouse in Clarkesville and ask for a copy once the record has been filed in the system at the Habersham County Probate Court.

Habersham County Marriage Record Sources

The Georgia Probate Records portal lets you search marriage records from many Georgia counties. Some Habersham County records may show up in this system. You can search by name and date to find marriage licenses filed in Georgia. The online marriage application on the same site lets you fill out forms before your visit to the Habersham County Probate Court. This can save time at the counter.

For older records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has marriage records on microfilm from many Georgia counties. FamilySearch has an index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Habersham County records. The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms that all 159 county probate courts use across the state.

State Records for Habersham County

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds a limited set of marriage records. Their files cover marriages from June 1952 through August 1996. If the marriage you need falls in that window, you can request a copy from the state Vital Records office in Atlanta. The search fee is $10, and it is not refundable. Extra copies cost $5 each when ordered at the same time. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks to process.

For marriages in Habersham County that took place before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Clarkesville is your only option. The state office does not have those files. You can also request a marriage verification from the state for any marriage that happened on or after January 1, 2014. Visit the state office in person at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 for same-day results if the record is found.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Habersham County. If the marriage took place outside Habersham County, you may need to check with one of these nearby Probate Courts for the right marriage records.