Marion County Marriage Records Search

Marion County marriage records are on file at the Probate Court in Buena Vista, Georgia. This west-central Georgia county processes all marriage license applications through one courthouse on West Broad Street. If you want to look up a marriage record or apply for a license in Marion County, the Probate Court is the place to go. Call (229) 649-2601 to check on hours and what documents to bring. The Marion County court handles marriage licenses during regular business hours on weekdays.

Marion County Probate Court

The Probate Court at 100 West Broad Street in Buena Vista is the sole office that handles marriage records in Marion County. It issues new licenses, keeps completed certificates on file, and gives out copies. The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Marion County is one of the smaller counties in Georgia. The Probate Court covers many duties beyond marriage records. Wills, estates, firearm permits, and other matters all go through the same office. Marriage licenses are a regular part of the work, but the low volume means you might want to call ahead to make sure staff is available for your visit. The clerk at the Marion County Probate Court can tell you exactly what you need to bring and whether you should set up a time.

The Georgia DPH marriage records page explains how state and county offices share duties when it comes to marriage records across Georgia.

The standard forms page from the Council of Probate Court Judges has documents used across all Georgia counties for marriage applications.

Getting a Marriage License in Marion County

Both people must come to the Marion County Probate Court in Buena Vista at the same time. You cannot send a representative. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or military ID will work. If either person was married before, bring the final divorce decree or death certificate for the prior spouse.

The license fee in Marion County follows the Georgia standard of $56 to $77 without premarital counseling. With at least six hours of premarital education, the fee drops to $16 to $37 under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The program must be from a licensed counselor or clergy member and done within 12 months of the application. Bring the signed certificate to the Marion County court.

Once you get your license, it is good for 60 days. Georgia has no waiting period. If the ceremony does not happen in 60 days, the license expires and you reapply in Marion County.

Note: No blood test has been required for a marriage license in Georgia since July 2003.

Find Marion County Marriage Records

Call (229) 649-2601 to search for a marriage record in Marion County. The clerk can look up records by name and date. You can also visit the courthouse in Buena Vista in person to search.

Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 may also be available through the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta. The search fee is $10 and mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Records outside that range exist only at the Marion County Probate Court. For older historical records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow has microfilm copies of marriage documents from many Georgia counties going back to the 1800s.

Marion County Marriage Record Fees

Certified copies of marriage certificates from the Marion County Probate Court cost $10 each. You can get them in person or by mail. Mail requests go to 100 W. Broad Street, Buena Vista, GA 31803. Include payment and the names and date of the marriage. Call the court to check what forms of payment they take.

The state vital records office charges $10 for a search fee that is not refundable. Extra copies cost $5 each at the same time. Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, each county sets its own license fee. Marion County uses the standard Georgia rates for marriage licenses.

Marriage Rules in Marion County

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2 requires both parties to be 18 or older. A 17-year-old can marry only with court-ordered emancipation, and the older person cannot be more than four years older per O.C.G.A. 19-3-36. No one under 17 can get a marriage license in Georgia.

If at least one person is a Georgia resident, you can apply at any county probate court. You do not have to live in Marion County to get a license there. If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must apply in the county where the ceremony takes place. The clerk reviews all documents before the license is issued in Marion County.

After the Ceremony in Marion County

The officiant must sign the marriage license and return it to the Marion County Probate Court within 30 days. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, the marriage must be properly recorded. If the signed license is not filed, the marriage may not show in Marion County records. Make sure your officiant files it at the court in Buena Vista.

Once the court records the signed license, you get a certified marriage certificate by mail within about 30 days. This certificate is needed for name changes with Social Security and the DMV. The Council of Probate Court Judges site has standard forms for all Georgia counties including Marion County.

Cities in Marion County

Buena Vista is the county seat and main city in Marion County. No cities in the county have a population over 25,000. All marriage records are handled at the Probate Court in Buena Vista.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Marion County. Check which county you live in before applying for a marriage license.