Morgan County Marriage Records

Morgan County marriage records are managed by the Probate Court in Madison, Georgia. The courthouse on Hancock Street issues new marriage licenses and stores all past certificates. Madison is the county seat and a well-known small town east of Atlanta. If you need to search for a marriage record or apply for a new license in Morgan County, the Probate Court is where all of it happens. Call (706) 752-3340 to ask about hours and what to bring. Both people must appear together at the Morgan County courthouse.

Morgan County Probate Court Office

The Probate Court at 384 Hancock Street in Madison handles every kind of marriage record matter in Morgan County. The court issues licenses, holds signed certificates, and provides copies. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Madison is a popular destination for weddings in the Georgia Piedmont region. The town has historic homes and event venues that draw couples from across the state. Because of this, the Morgan County Probate Court handles a good number of marriage license applications. Georgia allows residents to apply for a license in any county, so couples who plan to marry in Madison can get their license right at the local courthouse. Staff are familiar with the process and can usually handle the application the same day you visit.

The Georgia.gov marriage license application page explains the rules that apply in all 159 Georgia counties including Morgan County.

Some Georgia counties let you fill out the marriage application online before your in-person visit to the courthouse.

Getting a Marriage License in Morgan County

To get a marriage license in Morgan County, both people must visit the Probate Court in Madison. You cannot send a representative. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or military ID. If either person was married before, bring the final divorce decree or death certificate for the prior spouse. The clerk reviews everything before processing the application.

The standard fee for a license in Morgan County is within the Georgia range of $56 to $77. Couples who finish at least six hours of premarital counseling pay $16 to $37 under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The counseling has to come from a licensed professional or active clergy member and must be done within 12 months of the application date. Bring the signed certificate to the Morgan County court.

Once issued, your license is good for 60 days. Georgia has no waiting period at all. If the ceremony does not happen within 60 days, the license expires and you start over at the Morgan County Probate Court.

Note: Georgia law stopped requiring blood tests for marriage licenses as of July 1, 2003.

Search Morgan County Marriage Records

Call the Morgan County Probate Court at (706) 752-3340 to look up a marriage record. Give the clerk the names and an approximate date. They can search their files and tell you what they find. You can also visit the courthouse in Madison 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 before 1952 or after 1996 are only at the Morgan County Probate Court. For very old records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds historical marriage documents on microfilm from across Georgia.

The Georgia Probate Records portal is an online system some counties use for marriage applications and searches. Check with the Morgan County court to see if they participate in this system.

Morgan County Marriage Record Fees

Certified copies of marriage certificates from the Morgan County Probate Court cost $10 each. You can request them in person or by mail. Mail requests go to 384 Hancock Street, Madison, GA 30650. Include payment and the names and date of the marriage. Call the court to confirm what payment methods they accept.

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

Marriage Requirements in Morgan County

Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both people need to be at least 18 to marry. A 17-year-old may 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 can marry in Georgia.

Georgia residents can apply at any county probate court in the state. You do not have to live in Morgan County to get a license in Madison. If neither person is a Georgia resident, apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. The clerk checks all ID and documents before issuing the license in Morgan County. Documents not in English require a certified translation.

After the Wedding in Morgan County

Your officiant must sign the marriage license and return it to the Morgan County Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, the recording step is what makes the marriage official in county records. If the signed license is not filed, the marriage may not appear in Morgan County records.

Once recorded, you get a certified marriage certificate by mail within about 30 days. This is the document you need for name changes, insurance updates, and bank account changes. The Georgia Probate Court standard forms page has additional paperwork you might need for matters related to your marriage in Morgan County.

Cities in Morgan County

Madison is the county seat and largest city in Morgan County. Bostwick, Buckhead, and Rutledge are other small communities. No cities in Morgan County have a population over 25,000. All marriage records go through the Probate Court in Madison.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Morgan County. Verify which county you are in before applying for a marriage license.