Search Hall County Marriage Records

Hall County marriage records are managed by the Probate Court at the Hall County Courthouse in Gainesville, Georgia. The court processes all marriage license applications and stores completed marriage records for the county. If you want to search for a past marriage certificate or need to apply for a new license in Hall County, the Probate Court on Green Street is the place to go. Staff can help you look up old records and walk you through the steps to get a new license. Hall County has a specific process that starts with an online application before you visit the office.

Hall County Probate Court

The Hall County Probate Court is where all marriage license and marriage record business takes place in the county. The office is in the Hall County Courthouse at 225 Green Street in Gainesville. Both people who want to get married must show up at the office in person. You cannot send just one party. The court staff will review your documents, take the fee, and process the license while you wait.

One thing that makes Hall County different from some other Georgia counties is the online application step. You must fill out and submit your marriage license application at georgiaprobaterecords.com before you come to the Hall County Probate Court. The court will not start processing your license if you have not done this first. Once you submit the application online, it stays in the system for up to 30 days. If you do not visit the court within that window, the application expires and you have to start over.

Walk-ins are welcome during business hours after you complete the online step. There is no need for an appointment, but calling ahead can help you check that the office is open and ready to assist you at the Hall County Probate Court.

Hall County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Hall County is $56 without premarital counseling. If both parties complete a qualifying education program, the fee drops to $16. That is a savings of $40. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1, the course must be at least six hours long and finished within 12 months of when you apply. The form that proves you took the class must have original signatures and proper notary marks. The Hall County Probate Court does not accept copies, scans, or electronic versions of the premarital education form for the fee discount.

Check with the court on what forms of payment they take. Many Georgia probate courts accept cash, money orders, and some take debit or credit cards. Personal checks are often not accepted. Call the Hall County Probate Court at (770) 531-6906 to ask before your visit so you bring the right form of payment.

Note: The license fee at the Hall County Probate Court is not refundable if you do not end up using the license.

Hall County Marriage License Process

Getting a marriage license in Hall County starts online. Both people need to go to georgiaprobaterecords.com and fill out the application form. This step must be done before you visit the courthouse. The application is stored in the system for 30 days. After that, it expires. Once the form is in, both parties go to the Hall County Probate Court together.

Bring a government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth. A driver's license or passport works. If either party was married before, bring the final judgment or decree of divorce. A death certificate works if a former spouse has passed. Any document not in English must have a certified translation. The Hall County clerk will verify all your paperwork and process the license on the spot. Georgia has no blood test requirement. That rule ended on July 1, 2003, and Hall County has not required one since.

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 emancipation and the other conditions set by O.C.G.A. 19-3-36. There is no waiting period in Georgia. Once the Hall County Probate Court hands you the license, you can hold the ceremony the same day. The license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued.

How to Search Hall County Marriage Records

You can search for marriage records from Hall County in a few ways. The fastest is to visit the Probate Court in Gainesville. Give the clerk the names and the date of the marriage. A certified copy costs $10. Most in-person requests are done within minutes if the record is on file. You can also call (770) 531-6906 to ask about a record before you make the trip.

The Hall County marriage license page has details on the local process and may point you to online search tools. The Georgia Probate Records site also lets you search for recorded marriage licenses from counties that use this system. Hall County records may be available through that portal.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. For Hall County marriages outside that window, the Probate Court in Gainesville is the only source. The state search fee is $10 and is not refundable. Mail requests to the state office take 8 to 10 weeks.

Historical Records in Hall County

For family history work, older Hall County marriage records may be on file at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. They hold microfilm copies of marriage records from many Georgia counties. FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Hall County filings.

The Council of Probate Court Judges maintains standard forms used by all 159 county probate courts in the state. If you need a blank form for a marriage application or other court matter, their website has those available. The state also offers a marriage verification request for marriages on or after January 1, 2014.

Cities in Hall County

Hall County includes the city of Gainesville, which is the county seat and largest city in the area. Marriage licenses for all cities in Hall County are issued at the Probate Court in Gainesville.

Other towns in Hall County include Flowery Branch, Oakwood, and Lula. All marriage license matters for these areas go through the Hall County Probate Court on Green Street in Gainesville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hall County. If you are not sure which county handled a marriage, check with the Probate Court in each nearby county for the right records.