McIntosh County Marriage Records

McIntosh County marriage records are held at the Probate Court in Darien, Georgia. This coastal county on the Georgia coast handles all marriage license applications at one small office on North Way Street. If you need a marriage record from McIntosh County or want to apply for a license, the Probate Court is your only option. Both people must show up in person together. Call (912) 437-6673 to ask about hours and what you need to bring to the McIntosh County courthouse in Darien.

McIntosh County Probate Court

The Probate Court at 310 North Way Street in Darien handles all marriage records for McIntosh County. Staff issue licenses, store signed certificates, and give out copies. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Darien is a small town on the Georgia coast. McIntosh County draws visitors for destination weddings near the marshes and barrier islands. If you plan to marry in the area, you can get your license at the McIntosh County Probate Court. Georgia allows residents to apply for a marriage license in any county, so you do not have to live in McIntosh County to use this court. The staff handles a modest number of applications and can usually process yours the same day if you have all your documents.

The Georgia Department of Public Health vital records page covers how to get marriage records from both state and county offices.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds historical marriage records from counties all across the state including McIntosh County.

Marriage Licenses in McIntosh County

Both people must come to the McIntosh County Probate Court in Darien to apply for a license. Bring valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or military ID all work. If either person had a prior marriage, bring the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse.

The license fee in McIntosh County falls in the standard Georgia range of $56 to $77 without premarital counseling. With at least six hours of premarital education, the fee drops to $16 to $37 per O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The education must come from a licensed counselor or active clergy member and be completed within 12 months of the application. Bring the proof to the McIntosh County courthouse.

Once issued, the license stays valid for 60 days. Georgia has no waiting period. You can marry the same day you get the license. If the ceremony does not happen within 60 days, the license is void and you must start over in McIntosh County.

How to Search McIntosh County Marriage Records

Call the McIntosh County Probate Court at (912) 437-6673 to search for a marriage record. Give the clerk the names and a rough date. They can look through their files and let you know what they have. You can also visit the courthouse in Darien in person to search and get copies.

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

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

McIntosh County Marriage Record Fees

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 each at the McIntosh County Probate Court. You can get them in person or by mail. Mail requests go to 310 N. Way Street, Darien, GA 31305. Include a check or money order with the names and date of the marriage.

The state vital records office charges a separate $10 search fee that is not refundable. Extra copies cost $5 each when ordered at the same time. Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, each county sets its license fee within the range Georgia law allows. McIntosh County follows the standard rates for marriage license applications.

Marriage Requirements in McIntosh County

Both people must be 18 under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2. A 17-year-old can marry only with court-ordered emancipation. At least 15 days must pass after the order. The older person cannot be more than four years older per O.C.G.A. 19-3-36. Nobody under 17 can marry in Georgia.

Georgia residents can apply at any probate court in the state. You do not have to live in McIntosh County to get a license in Darien. If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. The clerk reviews all documents before issuing the license in McIntosh County.

After the Wedding in McIntosh County

Your officiant must sign the license and return it to the McIntosh County Probate Court within 30 days. This is required under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1. If the signed license is not filed, the marriage may not appear in McIntosh County records.

Once the court records it, you get a certified marriage certificate by mail within about 30 days. This is what you need for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal matters. The Council of Probate Court Judges site has standard forms for follow-up matters after a marriage in McIntosh County.

Cities in McIntosh County

Darien is the county seat and main community in McIntosh County. No cities in the county have a population over 25,000. All marriage license applications and record requests go through the Probate Court in Darien.

Nearby Counties

McIntosh County sits on the coast. These counties are nearby. Make sure you know which county you live in before applying.