Search Jackson County Marriage Records

Jackson County marriage records are filed and stored at the Probate Court in Jefferson, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license applications for residents and those planning ceremonies in the area. Jackson County offers an online application that lets you start the process from home before your visit. You can search for past marriage records at the courthouse or call the Probate Court for help finding what is on file. Staff can pull copies of older licenses and certificates that have been recorded in Jackson County over the years.

Jackson County Probate Court

The Jackson County Probate Court sits on Jackson Parkway in Jefferson. This is the main office for all marriage license and marriage record needs in the county. Both people who want to marry must show up together. You can not send just one person or handle it by mail. The staff checks your paperwork, takes your fee, and hands you the license right there if everything is in order.

One thing that sets Jackson County apart is the online application option. You can go to Georgia Probate Records and fill out the marriage application before you ever step foot in the courthouse. The application stays on file for up to 30 days. This saves time at the counter since most of the data entry is done. You still have to appear in person at the Jackson County Probate Court to get the actual license, but the visit goes much faster.

Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours. Calling ahead is a good idea if you want to make sure staff has time to help right away. The Jackson County Probate Court may perform ceremonies too, but check with the clerk on which days work.

Marriage License Fees in Jackson County

A marriage license in Jackson County costs between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. That is the standard range set under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. Couples who complete a qualifying premarital education course pay between $16 and $37. The state law behind this discount is O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. To get the lower fee, bring your certificate of completion to the Jackson County Probate Court when you apply. The course must be at least six hours long and done within 12 months before you submit the application.

Cash is always accepted. Money orders and certified checks work too. Many Georgia courts now take credit and debit cards, but you should call the Jackson County office to confirm. Personal checks are not taken at most probate courts in the state. Bring the right form of payment to avoid a wasted trip.

Note: License fees at the Jackson County Probate Court are non-refundable even if you do not use the license within 60 days.

How to Get Jackson County Marriage Records

You can get copies of marriage records from the Jackson County Probate Court in a few ways. Going to the courthouse in Jefferson is the fastest option. Bring the names and date of the marriage. Ask the clerk for a certified copy. The fee is $10 per copy. Most requests take just a few minutes if the record is on file in Jackson County.

Mail requests may work if you can not visit in person. Send a letter with the full names of both parties, the marriage date, and a check or money order for $10 to the Jackson County Probate Court at 5000 Jackson Pkwy, Jefferson, GA 30549. Put your return address on the note. Phone requests for certified copies are not usually taken, but call (706) 387-6205 to ask about your choices.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. For anything outside that range, the Jackson County Probate Court is your source. The state charges a $10 non-refundable search fee for marriage record requests.

Jackson County Marriage License Requirements

Georgia law spells out the rules. Both people must be at least 18 years old under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A person who is 17 may apply only with a court order of emancipation, and 15 days must have passed since the order was signed. Both applicants must come in person to the Jackson County Probate Court.

You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all count. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Any document not in English needs a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and have no living spouse from a prior un-dissolved marriage. Georgia stopped requiring blood tests on July 1, 2003, so you do not need one to get a license in Jackson County.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Social Security numbers
• Proof of dissolution if previously married
• Premarital counseling certificate for the lower fee
• Certified translation for any foreign documents

After the Ceremony in Jackson County

Once you have the license, any authorized officiant can perform the ceremony. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30 allows judges, ministers, and clergy to officiate. The license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued by the Jackson County Probate Court. If you do not use it in that time, it becomes void and you have to start over.

The person who performs the ceremony must sign the license and send it back to the Jackson County Probate Court within 30 days. Once the court gets the signed license, the marriage is recorded. A certified marriage certificate then goes out to the couple by mail, which typically takes about 30 days. Need it sooner? Go to the courthouse in Jefferson once the record has been entered and ask for a copy at $10 each.

Jackson County Marriage Record Sources

The Council of Probate Court Judges oversees all 159 Georgia probate courts, including the one in Jackson County. Their site has standard forms and helpful links for marriage license applicants.

The Georgia Probate Records website is where Jackson County residents can fill out the online marriage application before visiting the court. For historical records, the Georgia Archives has marriage files on microfilm for many counties going back well before 1900. FamilySearch holds an index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967. The DPH fee schedule has the latest on costs for state-level record requests.

State Marriage Records for Jackson County

The Georgia Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Jackson County marriage you need falls in that window, you can ask for a copy from the state Vital Records office. The search fee is $10. Extra copies cost $5 each. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person visits to the Atlanta office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 may get same-day results.

For Jackson County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Jefferson is the only source. The state does not hold those files. Marriage verifications are available from the state for any marriage on or after January 1, 2014.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jackson County. If the marriage happened outside Jackson County, you may need to reach out to one of these Probate Courts instead.