Johnson County Marriage Records

Johnson County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in Wrightsville, Georgia. This is the only local office that issues marriage licenses and stores the records for the county. Both applicants must appear together to get a license. You can search for a marriage record at the Johnson County courthouse or call the clerk to ask about what is available. The staff handles requests for copies of filed licenses and certificates. If your search comes up empty at the county level, the state Vital Records office may have files for marriages in a limited date range.

Johnson County Probate Court

The Johnson County Probate Court is on East Elm Street in Wrightsville. This is where all marriage license applications are processed and where records are kept. Both people must come in person. You can not send someone else or apply by mail. Staff reviews everything, takes the fee, and hands over the license once it all checks out.

Walk-ins are accepted during business hours. No appointment is needed, though calling (478) 864-3316 first can save time. The Johnson County Probate Court may perform ceremonies too. Ask the clerk about available days. Probate judges in Georgia can officiate marriages under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30, so this is an option if you want a quick courthouse wedding in Johnson County.

Marriage License Fees in Johnson County

A marriage license in Johnson County costs between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. That is the standard rate set by Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. Couples who take a qualifying course before applying pay between $16 and $37 instead. This savings comes from O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. The course must last at least six hours and must be done within 12 months of the date you apply at the Johnson County Probate Court. Bring the completion certificate with you.

Cash is always accepted. Money orders and certified checks work as well. Personal checks are not accepted at most Georgia probate courts. Call the Johnson County office before your visit to ask about card payments. All fees are non-refundable, even if the license goes unused.

Note: If both people take the premarital course, the savings can be $40 or more at the Johnson County Probate Court.

Getting Johnson County Marriage Records

To get a copy of a marriage record in Johnson County, go to the Probate Court in Wrightsville. Give the clerk the names and date of the marriage you are looking for. Certified copies cost $10 each. The staff will search the files and print the record if it is on hand. Most in-person requests take only a few minutes at the Johnson County courthouse.

If you can not make the trip, try sending a mail request. Write to the Johnson County Probate Court at 2557 E Elm St, Wrightsville, GA 31096. Include the full names of both spouses, the marriage date, a money order for $10, and your return address. Call (478) 864-3316 if you need more details about making a request from Johnson County.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. The state search fee is $10 and is non-refundable. For Johnson County marriages outside that window, the Probate Court in Wrightsville is the only source.

Johnson County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 to get a marriage license in Johnson County. That is the rule under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can apply only with proof of legal emancipation, and at least 15 days must pass after the court order. Both parties must appear in person at the Johnson County Probate Court.

You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all work. If you have been married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Documents in a language other than English must have 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 has not required blood tests for marriage since July 1, 2003.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Social Security numbers for both parties
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Premarital counseling certificate for the reduced fee

After the Ceremony in Johnson County

Once you pick up the license, any authorized officiant can perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and other clergy are all able to officiate under Georgia law. The license is valid for 60 days. If it is not used in that time, it expires and you need to reapply at the Johnson County Probate Court.

The person who performs the ceremony must sign the marriage license and return it to the Johnson County Probate Court within 30 days. Once the court has 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 Wrightsville courthouse after the record has been entered. Each copy costs $10 at the Johnson County Probate Court.

Johnson County Marriage Record Sources

The Council of Probate Court Judges manages all 159 Georgia probate courts and provides standard forms on their website. The Georgia Probate Records site lets you fill out a marriage application online before visiting the Johnson County Probate Court.

For older records, the Georgia Archives has marriage files on microfilm for many counties. FamilySearch offers a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967. The DPH fee schedule lists costs for state-level requests. The Georgia.gov marriage license page walks you through the whole application process step by step.

State Records for Johnson County

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Johnson County marriage you need is in that range, you can request a copy from the state Vital Records office in Atlanta. The fee is $10, and extra copies are $5 each. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person visits to the state office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 may get same-day results.

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

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Johnson County. If the marriage was in a nearby area, reach out to the right Probate Court for that county's records.