Find Jeff Davis County Marriage Records

Jeff Davis County marriage records are held at the Probate Court in Hazlehurst, Georgia. This is the only local office that issues marriage licenses and stores the resulting records for the county. You can search for past marriage records at the Jeff Davis County courthouse or call the clerk's office. Staff can help with copies of filed licenses and certificates. If you need a record the county does not hold, the state Vital Records office in Atlanta may be an option for a limited date range. For most needs, the Jeff Davis County Probate Court is where you start.

Jeff Davis County Probate Court

The Jeff Davis County Probate Court on Jeff Davis Street in Hazlehurst is the place to go for marriage licenses and records. Both people must show up in person to apply. You can not do this by mail or send someone on your behalf. The court staff reviews everything, collects the fee, and gives you the license if your paperwork is in order.

Walk-ins are accepted during business hours. The office does not require an appointment, but calling first is a good idea to confirm someone is available. Marriage ceremonies may be performed at the Jeff Davis County Probate Court by the judge, though availability varies. Ask the clerk which days work best when you call.

Jeff Davis County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Jeff Davis County costs between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60 sets this range for all counties. If both applicants finish a qualifying premarital education course of at least six hours, the fee drops to $16 to $37. That discount comes from O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. You must show a certificate of completion at the time you apply at the Jeff Davis County Probate Court. The course needs to have been done within the last 12 months.

Cash is accepted. Money orders and certified checks work too. Personal checks are not taken at most Georgia probate courts. Call ahead to see if the Jeff Davis County office takes credit or debit cards before you make the drive. The fee is non-refundable no matter what.

Getting Jeff Davis County Marriage Records

To get a copy of a marriage record from Jeff Davis County, visit the Probate Court in Hazlehurst. Tell the clerk the names and date of the marriage. Certified copies cost $10 each. If the record is on file, the process takes just a few minutes. This is the fastest way to get what you need from Jeff Davis County.

For mail requests, send a letter to the Jeff Davis County Probate Court at 14 Jeff Davis St, Hazlehurst, GA 31539. Include the full names of both people, the date of the ceremony, and a money order for $10. Do not forget your return address. You can also call (912) 375-6615 to ask about other ways to request records from the Jeff Davis County office.

The Georgia Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. If the Jeff Davis County marriage you need is from that time period, the state may have it. Their search fee is $10 and is non-refundable. For anything before 1952 or after 1996, the Jeff Davis County Probate Court is your only option.

Marriage License Requirements in Jeff Davis County

Georgia law sets out clear rules for marriage licenses. Both people must be at least 18 under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may apply only with a court order of emancipation, and 15 days must have passed since the order. Both applicants must appear in person at the Jeff Davis County Probate Court. There is no way around this.

You need to bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. If either person was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. All documents must be in English or come with 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 marriage that has not been dissolved. No blood test has been required in Georgia since July 1, 2003.

• Valid photo ID for both people
• Social Security numbers
• Certified divorce decree or death certificate if applicable
• Premarital counseling certificate for the lower fee

The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. If you do not use it in that window, it expires and you must start over at the Jeff Davis County Probate Court and pay the fee again.

Ceremonies and Recording in Jeff Davis County

After the license is issued, any authorized person can officiate. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30 allows judges, ministers, and clergy to perform weddings. The Jeff Davis County Probate Court judge may also do ceremonies on certain days.

The officiant must sign the license and return it to the Jeff Davis County Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony. Once the court has the signed license, the marriage is recorded and a certified certificate is sent to the couple by mail. This takes roughly 30 days. If you need it faster, go to the Hazlehurst courthouse once the record is entered and request a copy for $10.

Note: The officiant, not the couple, is responsible for returning the signed license to the Jeff Davis County Probate Court.

Jeff Davis County Record Sources

The Georgia Probate Records site offers an online marriage application that some Georgia counties use. This can save time before your visit to the Jeff Davis County Probate Court.

For older records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow keeps marriage records on microfilm for many counties across the state. The Council of Probate Court Judges provides standard forms for all 159 Georgia probate courts. FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Jeff Davis County records. The Georgia.gov marriage license page has a helpful rundown of the whole process.

State Records for Jeff Davis County

The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. You can request a copy from the state Vital Records office for any Jeff Davis County marriage in that range. The fee is $10, and extra copies cost $5 each at the same time. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Going to the Atlanta office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 can get you same-day results if the record is found.

For Jeff Davis County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Hazlehurst is the only place to go. You can also get a marriage verification from the state for any marriage on or after January 1, 2014, using the verification request form.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Jeff Davis County. If you are not sure where the marriage took place, one of these nearby Probate Courts may hold the record you need.