Hart County Marriage Records

Hart County marriage records are stored at the Probate Court in Hartwell, Georgia. The court handles marriage license applications and keeps copies of all completed marriage records for the county. If you want to search for a past marriage certificate or need a new license, the Hart County Probate Court on East Main Street is your starting point. The staff at this office can help you look up old filings, walk you through the license application, and provide certified copies of marriage records on file in Hart County.

Hart County Probate Court

The Hart County Probate Court is where all marriage license and marriage record business takes place. This office is on East Main Street in Hartwell, the county seat. Both people who plan to marry must appear at the court together. Sending one person alone does not work. The clerk checks your ID and paperwork, takes the fee, and hands you the license if all is in order. Most visits take less than an hour.

Walk-ins are accepted during business hours at the Hart County Probate Court. Still, calling first is wise. The staff can let you know what to bring and when someone is free. Hart County is a smaller community near Lake Hartwell, and court staff are typically helpful and quick to respond when you reach out by phone. The Probate Court judge may perform marriage ceremonies. Call to ask about this before your visit.

Marriage License Fees in Hart County

The marriage license fee in Hart County falls within the state range. O.C.G.A. 15-9-60 allows Georgia counties to charge between $56 and $77 for a standard license. Couples who take a qualifying premarital education course pay less. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1, the reduced fee ranges from $16 to $37 depending on the county. The class must be at least six hours long and completed within 12 months before you apply at the Hart County Probate Court.

A licensed counselor, social worker, therapist, or active clergy member must lead the course. You must bring the original certificate of completion when you visit the Hart County office. Copies, scans, or electronic versions do not count. Payment methods at the court may include cash and money orders. Call (706) 376-7191 to ask about credit or debit cards before your visit.

How to Get Hart County Marriage Records

You can get certified copies of marriage records from the Hart County Probate Court a few different ways. The quickest is to go in person. Visit the courthouse in Hartwell, give the clerk the names and date, and pay the $10 fee. Most requests are done on the spot.

Mail requests are another option if you cannot make the trip. Send a written note with the full names of both parties, the date of the ceremony, and a money order for $10 to the Hart County Probate Court at 61 E Main St, Hartwell, GA 30643. Put your return address on the note. Mail requests can take a couple of weeks to process. You can also call (706) 376-7191 and ask the Hart County staff if a record is on file before you write or visit.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. For Hart County marriages outside that time frame, the Probate Court in Hartwell is the only place to get copies. The state charges $10 for a search and that fee is not refundable.

Note: Certified copies cost $10 each at the Hart County Probate Court, and extra copies ordered at the state office cost $5 each.

Hart County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2 to get a marriage license in Hart County. A 17-year-old can apply only with proof of legal emancipation and at least 15 days must have passed since the order. The older party cannot be more than four years older under O.C.G.A. 19-3-36. No one under 17 may marry in Georgia.

Both parties must appear together at the Hart County Probate Court with valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID will do. If either person was married before, bring the final divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse. All papers must be in English. If something is in another language, you need a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, both must be of sound mind and have no living spouse from a prior un-dissolved marriage to marry in Hart County.

• Valid photo ID for both people
• Social Security number
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Premarital education certificate for reduced fee

The license stays good for 60 days. There is no waiting period in Georgia. You can hold the ceremony right after you pick up the license from the Hart County Probate Court.

Hart County Marriage Record Sources

The Georgia Probate Records site lets you search recorded marriage licenses from participating counties. Some Hart County records may appear in the system. The online marriage application on the same site lets you fill out your forms before visiting the Hart County Probate Court, which can speed up the process at the window.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds old marriage records on microfilm from many counties. FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967. The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms used by all 159 county probate courts. For marriage verifications from January 1, 2014 onward, the state offers a verification request form.

After the Ceremony in Hart County

Once you get the license, any authorized person can do the ceremony. Georgia law lets judges, ministers, and clergy officiate. The officiant must sign the marriage license. They then return it to the Hart County Probate Court within 30 days.

The court records the marriage after it gets the signed license back. The Hart County Probate Court then mails a certified marriage certificate to the couple. This process takes about 30 days. If you need the certificate sooner, visit the courthouse in Hartwell and ask for a copy once the record is in the system.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Hart County. If the marriage you need took place outside Hart County, check with one of these Probate Courts for their records.