Search Monroe County Marriage Records

Monroe County marriage records are filed at the Probate Court in Forsyth, Georgia. The courthouse on Courthouse Square issues marriage licenses and keeps all completed certificates on record. If you need to search for a marriage record in Monroe County or want a new license, the Probate Court is the place to start. Monroe County sits right along I-75 between Atlanta and Macon. Call (478) 994-7033 to check hours and ask what documents you need to bring when you visit the courthouse in Forsyth.

Monroe County Probate Court

The Probate Court at 1 Courthouse Square in Forsyth handles all marriage record matters for Monroe County. The court issues new licenses, stores signed certificates, and provides copies. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Forsyth is the county seat and sits right off Interstate 75. Many people pass through Monroe County on the way between Atlanta and Macon. The Probate Court is in the downtown area near the square. Staff can help you with the full marriage license application and answer any questions about what you need. If you want a certified copy of a past marriage record from Monroe County, the court can look it up while you wait in most cases.

The Georgia.gov marriage license page covers the statewide requirements that apply in all Georgia counties including Monroe.

The state fee schedule shows what the Georgia Department of Public Health charges for marriage record searches and copies.

Monroe County Marriage License Process

Both people must appear at the Monroe County Probate Court in Forsyth together. You cannot send someone in your place. Bring a 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 death certificate for the former spouse.

The standard license fee in Monroe County is in the Georgia range of $56 to $77. Couples who finish at least six hours of premarital counseling pay a reduced fee of $16 to $37 per O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The counseling must come from a licensed therapist, counselor, or active clergy member. It has to be done within 12 months of the application. Bring the signed certificate to the Monroe County courthouse.

Your license is 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 expires and you have to apply again in Monroe County.

Find Monroe County Marriage Records

Call (478) 994-7033 to search for a marriage record in Monroe County. Give the clerk the names and a rough date. They can check and tell you what they have. In-person visits to the Forsyth courthouse also work well.

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 is not refundable. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Records outside those years are only at the Monroe County Probate Court. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds historical marriage documents on microfilm from many Georgia counties.

Note: Marriage records from after August 1996 are only at the Monroe County Probate Court in Forsyth.

Monroe County Marriage Record Fees

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 each at the Monroe County Probate Court. Request them in person or by mail. Mail requests go to 1 Courthouse Square, Forsyth, GA 31029. Include a check or money order with the names and date of the marriage.

The state office has a separate $10 search fee for records from 1952 to 1996. Extra copies cost $5 each. Under O.C.G.A. 15-9-60, each county probate court sets its own license fee within the range that state law allows. Monroe County uses the standard Georgia rates.

Monroe County Marriage Requirements

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

Georgia residents can apply at any county. You do not have to live in Monroe County to use the Forsyth court. If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. The clerk checks all documents before issuing the license in Monroe County.

After the Wedding in Monroe County

The officiant must sign the license and return it to the Monroe County Probate Court within 30 days. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, the marriage must be properly recorded. The couple gets a certified certificate by mail within about 30 days of recording. This is needed for name changes, insurance, and other legal updates.

If the signed license is not returned, the marriage may not be in Monroe County records. The Georgia Probate Court standard forms page has documents for related matters after your wedding.

Cities in Monroe County

Forsyth is the county seat and largest community in Monroe 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 Forsyth.

Nearby Counties

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