Access Macon County Marriage Records

Macon County marriage records are managed at the Probate Court in Oglethorpe, Georgia. This small county in central Georgia handles all marriage license applications through one office on South Sumter Street. If you need to look up a marriage record in Macon County or apply for a new license, the Probate Court can help. Call (478) 472-7661 to confirm hours and ask what to bring. The county seat of Oglethorpe is the only place where Macon County issues marriage licenses, and both parties must come in together.

Macon County Probate Court

The Probate Court at 121 South Sumter Street in Oglethorpe handles every type of marriage record matter in Macon County. The court issues licenses, keeps signed certificates, and provides certified copies. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Macon County is a smaller county, so the Probate Court staff handles many different duties. Marriage licenses are one part of the work alongside wills, estates, and other probate matters. Because the office is small, it is a good idea to call ahead and make sure someone is available to help with your marriage license application in Macon County. The clerk can walk you through the steps and answer questions about what you need to bring to the courthouse in Oglethorpe.

The Georgia.gov marriage license page has an overview of statewide rules that apply to all 159 counties including Macon County.

The state site explains how to request vital records from county offices and the state Department of Public Health.

Getting a Marriage License in Macon County

Both people must appear at the Macon County Probate Court together. Bring valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or military ID will work. If either person had a prior marriage, bring the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. The clerk reviews everything before processing the application.

The standard license fee in Macon County is in the Georgia range of $56 to $77. Couples who do at least six hours of premarital education pay $16 to $37 under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The program must come from a licensed counselor or active clergy member and be finished within 12 months of the application date. Bring the signed certificate to the courthouse in Oglethorpe.

The license is good for 60 days. There is no waiting period in Georgia. If the ceremony does not happen within 60 days, the license expires and you must apply again in Macon County.

Search Macon County Marriage Records

The fastest way to search for a marriage record is to call the Macon County Probate Court at (478) 472-7661. Give the clerk the names and a rough date. They can check and tell you what they have on file. You can also visit the office in Oglethorpe to search in person.

For records from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health may have copies at their office in Atlanta. The search fee is $10. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Records before 1952 or after 1996 are only at the Macon County Probate Court. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds historical marriage documents on microfilm from across the state, including records from Macon County.

Note: The state vital records office does not hold Macon County marriage records from after August 1996.

Macon County Marriage Record Fees

Certified copies of marriage certificates from the Macon County Probate Court cost $10 each. You can request them in person or by mail. Mail requests go to 121 S. Sumter Street, Oglethorpe, GA 31068. Include a check or money order with the names and marriage date. Call the court first to check which payment types they accept.

The state office charges a separate $10 search fee that is not refundable if no record turns up. Extra copies cost $5 each when ordered at the same time. Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, each county sets its own license fee within the range Georgia law allows. Macon County uses the standard rates.

Macon County Marriage Rules

Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both people need to be at least 18 to marry. A 17-year-old can only marry with court-ordered emancipation, and 15 days must pass since the order. The older person cannot be more than four years older per O.C.G.A. 19-3-36.

Georgia residents can apply at any county probate court in the state. You do not have to live in Macon County to apply there. If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must apply in the county where the wedding will happen. The Macon County clerk checks all ID and documents before issuing the license. Foreign documents need a certified English translation.

After Getting Married in Macon County

The officiant must sign the marriage license and return it to the Macon County Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony. This is required under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1. If it is not filed, the marriage may not appear in the records. Once recorded, the couple gets a certified certificate by mail within about 30 days.

That certificate is what you need for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal matters. The Council of Probate Court Judges website has forms and information for all Georgia counties including Macon County. Make sure your officiant files the signed license at the Probate Court in Oglethorpe so your marriage is properly on record.

Cities in Macon County

Oglethorpe is the county seat of Macon County. There are no cities in the county with a population over 25,000. All marriage license applications and record requests go through the Probate Court in Oglethorpe.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Macon County. Verify which county your address is in before applying for a marriage license.