Access Jones County Marriage Records

Jones County marriage records are maintained by the Probate Court in Gray, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses and keeps copies of all recorded marriages on file for the county. You can search for a past marriage record by visiting the Jones County courthouse or calling the clerk's office for help. Staff are able to pull copies of older licenses and certificates from the county files. If you also need to check state-level records, the Georgia Department of Public Health holds a limited set of files for a specific date range. For most Jones County searches, the Probate Court is the best place to begin.

Jones County Probate Court

The Jones County Probate Court sits on South Jefferson Street in Gray. This is where you handle all marriage license and marriage record matters. Both people who want to marry must show up together in person. No one can apply for the other. The clerk checks your documents, takes the fee, and issues the license right there if everything is good.

You do not need an appointment to visit the Jones County Probate Court. Walk-ins are fine during normal business hours. A phone call before your trip can make sure things go smoothly. The probate judge may also perform marriage ceremonies. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30 gives probate judges this power. Ask the clerk about scheduling when you call or come in to the Jones County Probate Court.

Gray is a small town right off I-75, which makes the Jones County courthouse easy to reach from Macon and other nearby areas.

Jones County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Jones County costs between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. This is the standard Georgia range set under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. If both people complete a qualifying premarital education course of at least six hours, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. That savings is set by O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1. The course must be done within 12 months of the application date, and you need to bring the completion certificate when you visit the Jones County Probate Court.

Cash, money orders, and certified checks are accepted. Personal checks are generally not taken at Georgia probate courts. Call (478) 986-6668 to ask about credit and debit card options before making the trip to Jones County.

Note: License fees are non-refundable at the Jones County Probate Court even if you never hold the ceremony.

How to Search Jones County Marriage Records

Visit the Probate Court in Gray for the fastest results. Give the clerk the names of both parties and the date of the marriage. Certified copies cost $10. If the record is on file at the Jones County courthouse, the clerk can pull it in just a few minutes.

For mail requests, write to the Jones County Probate Court at 110 S Jefferson St, Gray, GA 31032. Include the full names of both spouses, the marriage date, a money order for $10, and your return address. Call (478) 986-6668 if you need more info about making a request from the Jones County office.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. The state search fee is $10 and is non-refundable. For Jones County marriages outside that range, the Probate Court in Gray is the only local source for certified copies.

Jones County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 to get a marriage license in Jones County under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may apply only if they have a court order of emancipation and at least 15 days have passed since the order. Both people must be present in person at the Jones County Probate Court.

Bring a valid photo ID. Driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all qualify. If either person was married before, you need a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Any document in another language needs 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. Blood tests have not been required in Georgia since 2003, so you do not need one to apply in Jones County.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Social Security numbers
• Certified divorce decree or death certificate if applicable
• Premarital counseling certificate for the lower fee
• Certified translation for any foreign documents

The license is good for 60 days. If it is not used in that time, it expires. There is no waiting period in Georgia, so the ceremony can happen on the same day you get the license from the Jones County Probate Court.

Ceremony and Recording in Jones County

Any authorized officiant can perform the wedding after the license is in hand. Georgia allows judges, ministers, and clergy to officiate under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30. The Jones County Probate Court judge may also be available for ceremonies on certain days.

The officiant signs the license and sends it back to the Jones County Probate Court within 30 days of the wedding. Once received, the court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This mailing takes roughly 30 days. For a faster copy, visit the Gray courthouse after the record is entered and pay $10 for a certified copy.

Jones County Marriage Record Resources

The DPH fee schedule shows current prices for state-level vital record requests. This is useful if you plan to request records from the state rather than the Jones County Probate Court directly.

The Council of Probate Court Judges provides standard forms for all Georgia probate courts, including Jones County. The Georgia Probate Records website has an online application that some counties use. For historical records, the Georgia Archives keeps microfilm copies for many Georgia counties. FamilySearch has a free index covering Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jones County. If the marriage happened outside Jones County, one of these Probate Courts may have the record you need.