Access Heard County Marriage Records

Heard County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Franklin, Georgia. This is the sole office that handles marriage license applications and keeps copies of past marriage records for the county. If you are looking for a marriage certificate from Heard County or want to get a new license, the Probate Court at East Court Square in Franklin is the right place to go. Staff can help with both old record searches and new applications for marriage licenses in Heard County.

Heard County Probate Court

The Heard County Probate Court handles all marriage license and marriage record business in the area. It sits at East Court Square in Franklin. Both people who plan to marry need to come in person. You cannot send one person or apply by mail. The clerk will look at your ID, check your forms, take the fee, and give you the license on the spot if things look good.

Heard County is a small rural county in west Georgia. The court staff are used to handling all types of requests, from new licenses to copies of old marriage records. Walk-ins are taken during normal hours, but calling ahead is smart. A quick call to (706) 675-3301 lets you check what to bring and when staff are free. The Probate Court judge may perform weddings at the courthouse. Call to ask about days and times that work for ceremonies in Heard County.

Heard County Marriage License Fees

The marriage license fee in Heard County follows the statewide range set by O.C.G.A. 15-9-60. Georgia counties charge between $56 and $77 for a standard license. Couples who take a premarital education class can pay less. That discount drops the fee to between $16 and $37 based on the local schedule.

O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 explains the rules. The course needs to be at least six hours long. It must be done within 12 months before you apply for the license at the Heard County Probate Court. A licensed counselor, therapist, social worker, or active clergy member must lead the course. You need the original completion form with proper signatures and a notary mark when you come to the Heard County office. Most courts do not accept copies or scans of the form. Payment at the Heard County Probate Court may be cash or money order. Call to check if they take cards.

Note: All license fees in Heard County are non-refundable even if you do not use the license.

How to Search Heard County Marriage Records

The fastest way to get a marriage record from Heard County is to go to the Probate Court in Franklin in person. Give the clerk the full names and date of the marriage. A certified copy costs $10. The clerk will search while you wait. Most requests are done quickly if the record is in the Heard County files.

You can request records by mail too. Write a note with both names, the marriage date, and a money order for $10. Mail it to the Heard County Probate Court at 215 E Court Square, Franklin, GA 30217. Include your return address. Mail requests take a couple of weeks. You can also call (706) 675-3301 to ask if the Heard County office has a specific record before you visit or write.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds some marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For Heard County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Franklin is the only source.

Marriage License Rules in Heard County

Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both parties must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Heard County. A 17-year-old may apply only with proof of emancipation, and 15 days must have passed since the order. O.C.G.A. 19-3-36 says the older person cannot be more than four years older. No one under 17 can get a license in Georgia.

Both people must show up together at the Heard County Probate Court. Bring valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID works. If either person was married before, bring the certified divorce decree or a death certificate. All documents must be in English or have a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free from any prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Heard County.

• Valid photo ID for both parties
• Social Security number
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Premarital education form for the lower fee
• Certified translation for non-English documents

The license is good for 60 days from when the Heard County Probate Court issues it. There is no waiting period in Georgia.

Heard County Marriage Record Sources

The Georgia Probate Records portal lets you search for recorded marriage licenses from many Georgia counties. Some Heard County records may be there. You can also use the online marriage application to fill out your forms before you visit the court in Franklin.

For old records, the Georgia Archives has microfilm copies of marriage records 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 courts. A marriage verification from the state covers marriages on or after January 1, 2014.

After the Ceremony in Heard County

After you pick up the license, any person Georgia law allows can perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and clergy are all permitted. The officiant signs the license and must return it to the Heard County Probate Court within 30 days.

Once the court gets the signed license, they record the marriage. The Heard County Probate Court then sends a certified marriage certificate by mail to the couple. This usually takes about 30 days from the date the signed license comes back. If you need the certificate faster, go to the courthouse in Franklin and ask for a copy once the record has been filed in the system.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Heard County. If you need marriage records from outside Heard County, check with the Probate Court in one of these nearby counties.