Newton County Marriage Records Search

Newton County marriage records are held at the Probate Court on Usher Street in Covington, Georgia. The court issues new marriage licenses and stores all past marriage records for the county. If you need to look up a previous marriage, apply for a license, or get a certified copy, the Newton County Probate Court is the place to go. An online application is available to help you get started before your visit. Both people must still appear in person, but the online form can save time at the counter in Newton County.

Newton County Probate Court Office

The Probate Court in Newton County sits on Usher Street in Covington. This office handles all marriage license work for the county. Staff can help with new applications, record searches, and certified copies. The court is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Newton County offers an online application option. You can start the process from home and then visit the court to finish up. This cuts down on wait time. Both people must be present when the license is issued. Bring valid photo ID and any proof of prior marriage dissolution if it applies. The staff in Newton County are used to walking couples through the steps and can answer most questions on the spot.

The Georgia.gov marriage license guide covers the basic rules that apply across all counties, including Newton County.

That state page breaks down the age rules, ID requirements, and what happens after the ceremony for all Georgia counties.

Getting a Newton County Marriage License

Start by filling out the online application through the Georgia Probate Records portal. This system lets you enter your details ahead of time. Then both applicants go to the Newton County Probate Court together. Bring your order or confirmation number if the system gives you one. The clerk will review your info and finish processing the license.

The standard fee in Newton County is $56 without premarital counseling. Couples who complete at least six hours of approved counseling pay just $16. That savings of $40 comes from O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The counseling must come from a licensed professional or active clergy member and be done within 12 months of the application. Bring the signed, notarized certificate to the Newton County court as proof.

Valid ID includes a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If you were married before, you must bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A final divorce decree with the judge's signature and filed stamp works. So does a death certificate for a former spouse. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both people must be 18 or older. A 17-year-old needs proof of emancipation and cannot marry someone more than four years older.

After the Newton County License

Your Newton County marriage license is valid for 60 days. There is no waiting period. You can have the ceremony the same day if you want. If 60 days pass and you have not used it, the license is void. You would have to apply again and pay the fee a second time.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the Newton County Probate Court within 30 days. This step is what puts the marriage on the public record. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30, the officiant has that 30-day window. Once the court records the signed license, a certified marriage certificate is sent to the couple by mail. That typically takes about 30 days from recording in Newton County.

Keep that certified copy in a safe place. You will need it for name changes at the Social Security office and the DMV. Banks, insurance companies, and employers may ask for it too. If you need extra copies later, the Newton County Probate Court charges $10 per certified copy.

Look Up Newton County Marriage Records

The Newton County Probate Court stores marriage records going back many years. Call (770) 784-2025 to ask about a specific record. Staff can look up records by name and date. Certified copies cost $10 each. You can pick them up in person or request them by mail. Mail requests need a money order for $10, the full names of both parties, the marriage date, and a return address with a stamped envelope.

For marriages in Newton County between June 1952 and August 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health also keeps copies. The state charges a $10 search fee that is not refundable. For any Newton County marriage before 1952 or after 1996, you must go through the local Probate Court. The state office does not have those records.

The online portal at Georgia Probate Records lets you check for recorded marriage licenses from participating counties. See if Newton County records show up there.

Newton County Marriage Record History

People doing family research often need old marriage records from Newton County. The Probate Court has records that go back to the early 1800s for this county. Some older records may be on microfilm or in paper ledgers. The staff can help you search, but it may take longer for very old entries. Call first to check what they have and how to access it.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds microfilm copies of marriage records from many counties, including Newton. FamilySearch has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Newton County entries. Ancestry.com also carries Georgia marriage records from select counties that go back to the 1820s. These resources can fill in gaps when the local court's records do not cover the time period you need.

Note: Printed copies from online portals are not certified and may not be accepted for legal use.

Newton County License Requirements

You do not have to live in Newton County to get a marriage license there. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, if at least one person is a Georgia resident, the couple can apply at any county Probate Court in the state. That means someone living in Covington could just as easily get a license in another county if it is more convenient. However, if neither person lives in Georgia, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will happen.

Georgia does not require a blood test. That rule ended on July 1, 2003. There is also no waiting period once you get the license. The license is good for 60 days. Georgia recognizes marriages from other states under O.C.G.A. 19-3-43, but you cannot leave Georgia to avoid the state's own marriage laws. For your marriage to be part of the Newton County public record, the license must come from and be returned to the Newton County Probate Court.

Cities in Newton County

Newton County includes Covington, Porterdale, Mansfield, Newborn, and Oxford. All marriage licenses in Newton County come from the Probate Court in Covington. No city in Newton County has its own marriage license office.

Covington is the county seat and the most well-known city in Newton County. All residents, regardless of which city they live in, file for marriage licenses at the same Newton County Probate Court on Usher Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Newton County. If you live close to a county line, check which Probate Court is closest. Georgia residents can apply for a marriage license in any county in the state.