Jasper County Marriage Records

Jasper County marriage records are maintained at the Probate Court in Monticello, Georgia. The court issues all marriage licenses for the county and stores the records that result from them. If you need to search for a past marriage record or apply for a new license, the Jasper County Probate Court is the office to visit. Both applicants must appear together. Staff at the courthouse can help you track down older certificates and licenses that have been filed in Jasper County. For records not held at the county level, the state Vital Records office may be able to assist.

Jasper County Probate Court

The Jasper County Probate Court handles all marriage license applications in the county. This office is in Suite 111 on West Greene Street in Monticello. Both people who want to marry must come in together. No one can apply alone or by mail. The clerk reviews your documents, takes the fee, and issues the license on the spot if everything checks out. Most visits at the Jasper County Probate Court take well under an hour.

You do not need an appointment. Walk-ins are fine during regular hours. But calling ahead is smart if you want to be sure staff can see you right away. The Jasper County Probate Court may also perform marriage ceremonies. Ask the clerk about which days are open for this. Under Georgia law, probate judges have the authority to officiate marriages per O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.

Jasper County Marriage License Fees

The standard fee for a marriage license in Jasper County runs from $56 to $77. That is the range set by O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60 for Georgia probate courts. If both people complete a premarital education course of at least six hours, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. This discount is spelled out in O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. You need to bring proof of the completed course when you apply at the Jasper County Probate Court. The course must be done within 12 months of the application date.

Plan to pay with cash or a money order. Certified checks are also accepted. Personal checks are not taken at most Georgia probate courts. Call (706) 468-4903 to confirm whether the Jasper County office takes cards before you go.

How to Search Jasper County Marriage Records

Getting a copy of a marriage record in Jasper County is straightforward. Visit the Probate Court in Monticello. Give the clerk the names and date of the marriage. A certified copy costs $10. Staff will look through the files and print the record for you. If the marriage is on file at the Jasper County courthouse, the process takes only a few minutes.

You may also try a mail request. Write to the Jasper County Probate Court at 126 W Greene St, Suite 111, Monticello, GA 31064. Include the full names of both spouses, the date of the ceremony, and a money order for $10. Add your return address so the copy can be mailed back. Call (706) 468-4903 if you have questions about what the Jasper County office needs from you.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. Anything before or after that period must come from the Jasper County Probate Court. The state search fee is $10 and is not refundable.

Jasper County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Jasper County. This is set by O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may apply only with proof of emancipation, and at least 15 days must have passed since the court order. Both applicants must appear in person at the Jasper County Probate Court. There is no exception to this rule.

Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If either person was married before, a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse is required. Any document in a language other than English must come with a certified translation. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1 says both parties must be of sound mind and free from a prior un-dissolved marriage. Georgia has not required a blood test for marriage since 2003.

• Valid photo ID for both parties
• Social Security numbers
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Certified translation for foreign language documents
• Premarital counseling certificate for the fee reduction

The marriage license is good for 60 days. If you do not use it in time, it expires and you must reapply and pay again at the Jasper County Probate Court. Georgia has no waiting period, so you can marry right after the license is issued.

Jasper County Ceremony and Recording

After the license is in hand, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and clergy all qualify under Georgia law. The officiant signs the license and must return it to the Jasper County Probate Court within 30 days. Once the court receives the signed license, the marriage is recorded and a certified certificate is mailed to the couple. This mailing takes about 30 days.

If you need the certificate sooner, visit the courthouse in Monticello once the record has been entered. Certified copies cost $10 each. The Jasper County Probate Court is the only local source for these certificates. The state office in Atlanta does not issue them for marriages after 1996.

Additional Jasper County Resources

The DPH fee schedule lists all costs for state-level vital record requests, including marriage records. This page is helpful if you plan to request records from the state rather than the Jasper County Probate Court.

The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms used by all Georgia probate courts, including Jasper County. For historical research, the Georgia Archives has microfilm records for many counties. FamilySearch offers a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967. The Georgia.gov marriage license page provides a clear overview of what to bring and how the process works statewide.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jasper County. If the marriage happened in a neighboring area, contact the right Probate Court for that county's records.