Lanier County Marriage Records

Lanier County marriage records are stored at the Probate Court in Lakeland, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses and keeps all resulting records on file for the county. You can search for a past marriage record at the Lanier County courthouse or phone the clerk for help. Staff handle copy requests for filed licenses and certificates going back many years. Both applicants must appear in person to get a new license. If the Lanier County office does not hold what you need, the state Vital Records office in Atlanta may have records for a limited date range.

Lanier County Probate Court

The Lanier County Probate Court is in Suite 10 on Main Street in Lakeland. This is the office that processes all marriage license applications and stores the records for the county. Both people must show up in person to apply. You can not do this by mail or have someone else go for you.

Walk-ins are welcome during regular hours. No appointment is needed at the Lanier County Probate Court, but calling (229) 482-3668 first is a good idea. It lets you confirm the office is open and that someone is free to help. The probate judge may perform marriage ceremonies too. Georgia law gives probate judges this authority under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30. Check with the clerk about which days work best for a ceremony at the Lanier County Probate Court.

Lanier County is one of the smaller counties in south Georgia. The courthouse in Lakeland is easy to find right on Main Street.

Marriage License Fees in Lanier County

The standard fee for a marriage license in Lanier County is between $56 and $77. This is set by O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60. If both applicants complete a premarital education course of at least six hours, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1 provides for this discount. Bring the course completion certificate when you apply at the Lanier County Probate Court. The course must have been completed within 12 months before the application date.

Cash, money orders, and certified checks are accepted. Personal checks are not taken at most Georgia probate courts. Call the Lanier County office to ask about credit and debit card options.

Note: All marriage license fees at the Lanier County Probate Court are non-refundable regardless of whether you use the license.

Getting Lanier County Marriage Records

To get a copy of a marriage record from Lanier County, visit the Probate Court in Lakeland. Tell the clerk the names of both parties and the date of the marriage. A certified copy costs $10. Staff will search the files and give you the record if it is on hand. Most in-person requests at the Lanier County courthouse take just a few minutes.

For mail requests, send a letter to the Lanier County Probate Court at 56 Main St, Suite 10, Lakeland, GA 31635. Include both names, the marriage date, a money order for $10, and your return address. Call (229) 482-3668 if you have questions about the process.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. Their search fee is $10 and is non-refundable. For Lanier County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Lakeland is the only local source. You can request a marriage verification from the state for any marriage that took place on or after January 1, 2014, by using the verification request form.

Lanier County Marriage License Requirements

Both applicants must be 18 or older under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2 to get a marriage license in Lanier County. A 17-year-old may apply only with a court order of emancipation, and 15 days must have passed since the order was signed. Both people must come to the Lanier County Probate Court in person.

You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all count. If either person was previously married, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. All documents must be in English or have a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free from a prior un-dissolved marriage. Georgia dropped the blood test requirement for marriage on July 1, 2003.

• 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 foreign language documents

After the Ceremony in Lanier County

Once the license is issued, 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 valid for 60 days from the date it was issued at the Lanier County Probate Court. If not used in time, it expires and you must start over.

The officiant signs the license and returns it to the Lanier County Probate Court within 30 days. After the court receives the signed license, the marriage is recorded and a certified certificate is mailed to the couple. That mailing takes about 30 days. Need it sooner? Visit the courthouse in Lakeland once the record is in the system and request a copy at $10 each.

Lanier County Marriage Record Sources

The Georgia.gov marriage license page covers the whole application process for all counties, including Lanier County. It is a good starting point for understanding the requirements and what to bring.

The Council of Probate Court Judges provides standard forms used by all 159 Georgia probate courts. The Georgia Probate Records site has an online marriage application for participating counties. For historical research, the Georgia Archives has microfilm records for many counties. FamilySearch offers a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Lanier County entries.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Lanier County. If the marriage took place in a neighboring area, contact the Probate Court in that county for the right records.