Madison County Marriage Records

Madison County marriage records are kept at the Probate Court in Danielsville, Georgia. This northeast Georgia county handles all marriage license applications at one office on Albany Avenue. Whether you need to search for an existing marriage record or apply for a new license in Madison County, the Probate Court staff can help you through the process. Call (706) 795-6310 to check hours and confirm what forms of ID you need to bring. Both people must appear in person together at the Madison County courthouse.

Madison County Probate Court Office

The Probate Court at 91 Albany Avenue in Danielsville is where all marriage records are handled in Madison County. The court issues new licenses, stores signed certificates, and provides copies. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Madison County sits between Athens and the South Carolina border. Many residents work in the Athens area but live in Madison County for the rural setting. When it comes to marriage licenses, you go to the Probate Court in Danielsville. The court handles a steady number of license applications and can usually process them the same day if you have all the right documents with you. Staff are familiar with the process and can tell you exactly what you need before you make the trip to the Madison County courthouse.

You can learn about the statewide process on the Georgia.gov marriage license page. That site covers rules that apply in every Georgia county.

The Council of Probate Court Judges oversees all probate courts in Georgia, including the one in Madison County.

Marriage Licenses in Madison County

To get a marriage license in Madison County, both people must visit the Probate Court in Danielsville. You cannot send someone in your place. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or military ID. If you were married before, bring the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse.

The fee for a marriage license in Madison County is within the standard Georgia range of $56 to $77. Couples who finish at least six hours of premarital counseling pay a reduced fee of $16 to $37. This discount is set by O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 and requires the education to be done within 12 months of the application. The counseling must come from a licensed therapist, counselor, or active clergy member. Bring the proof to the Madison County Probate Court when you apply.

Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. Georgia has no waiting period at all. You can marry the same day you get the license in Madison County. If the 60 days pass with no ceremony, the license goes void.

How to Search Madison County Marriage Records

Call the Madison County Probate Court at (706) 795-6310 to search for a marriage record. Give the clerk the names and rough date. They can look through the files and tell you what they have. You can also go to the courthouse in Danielsville in person.

Marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996 may also be at the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta. The state search fee is $10. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Records outside that time frame exist only at the Madison County Probate Court. Historical records going back further are at the Georgia Archives in Morrow on microfilm.

The Georgia Probate Records online system is used by some counties for marriage applications and record searches. Check with the Madison County court to see if they participate.

Note: Marriage records after 1996 are held only at the county level in Madison County.

Madison County Marriage Record Fees

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 each at the Madison County Probate Court. You can get them in person or by mail. Mail requests go to 91 Albany Avenue, Danielsville, GA 30633. Include payment and the names and date of the marriage you need.

Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, each county sets its own license fee in the range that state law allows. Madison County follows the standard Georgia rates. The state vital records office has a separate $10 search fee for records from 1952 to 1996. That fee is not refundable. Extra copies from the state cost $5 each.

Marriage Requirements in Madison County

Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both people need to be 18 or older. A 17-year-old may marry only with proof of court-ordered emancipation. The older party cannot be more than four years older per O.C.G.A. 19-3-36. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia.

If one person is a Georgia resident, you can apply at any county in the state. If neither person lives in Georgia, apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. The Madison County clerk checks all ID before issuing the license. Documents not in English need a certified translation.

After the Wedding in Madison County

Your officiant must sign the marriage license and file it with the Madison County Probate Court within 30 days. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, this recording step makes the marriage official. If it is not filed, the marriage may not be in the county records. The couple gets a certified marriage certificate by mail within about 30 days of recording.

That certificate is needed for name changes, insurance, bank accounts, and other legal updates. The Georgia Probate Court standard forms page has paperwork you might need for matters related to your marriage in Madison County.

Cities in Madison County

Danielsville is the county seat of Madison County. Other towns include Colbert, Comer, Carlton, and Hull. No cities in Madison County have a population over 25,000. All marriage records go through the Probate Court in Danielsville.

Nearby Counties

Madison County borders several other counties in northeast Georgia. Make sure you are in the right county before applying for a marriage license.