Oconee County Marriage Records

Oconee County marriage records are stored at the Probate Court on Main Street in Watkinsville, Georgia. This court handles all marriage license applications and keeps the official record of every marriage performed in the county. Whether you want to apply for a new license, look up an old marriage record, or get a certified copy, the Oconee County Probate Court is your only local option. Watkinsville sits just south of Athens, and the small courthouse serves all residents and visitors who need marriage record services in Oconee County.

Oconee County Probate Court

The Probate Court in Oconee County is located on North Main Street in Watkinsville. This is a smaller court, and the staff handles marriage licenses along with other probate matters like estates and guardianships. The office is open on weekdays during standard business hours. Both parties must appear in person to get a marriage license. Walk-ins are accepted, but calling ahead can help you avoid a long wait.

Oconee County follows the standard Georgia fee schedule for marriage licenses. The fee is $56 without premarital counseling, or $16 with proof of at least six hours of approved counseling. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1, the counseling must be from a licensed professional or active clergy member and completed within the past 12 months. Bring the signed, notarized certificate when you visit the Oconee County court. Cash and money orders are generally accepted. Call the court to confirm what other forms of payment they take.

You can check the Georgia.gov marriage license page for the general process that applies in all Georgia counties, including Oconee.

The Council of Probate Court Judges sets the standard forms and guidelines used by every county Probate Court in Georgia.

Oconee County Marriage License Process

To apply for a marriage license in Oconee County, both people must visit the Probate Court together. Bring valid photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or military ID. If you were married before, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. That means a final divorce decree with the judge's signature and a filed stamp, or a death certificate. The clerk checks all documents before issuing the license.

Many couples fill out the online application at the Georgia Probate Records portal before they visit. This step is not required in Oconee County, but it does save time. The system lets you enter names, dates, and other details from home. When you arrive at the courthouse, the clerk pulls up your application and finishes the process.

Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, both applicants must be 18 or older. Georgia law allows a 17-year-old to apply only with proof of emancipation, and at least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation order. The older party cannot be more than four years older than the minor. These rules are strict and apply the same way in Oconee County as they do everywhere else in the state.

Note: No blood test is required for a marriage license in Oconee County.

After Your Oconee County License

Once you pick up your marriage license from the Oconee County Probate Court, it stays valid for 60 days. There is no waiting period in Georgia, so you can hold the ceremony the same day. If the 60 days run out without a ceremony, the license becomes void. You would need to apply again and pay the fee once more.

The officiant must sign the license after the ceremony. Then they have 30 days to return it to the Oconee County Probate Court. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30, this return is what makes the marriage a matter of public record. The court records the signed license and mails a certified marriage certificate to the couple. That mailing usually takes about 30 days from when the court gets the signed form back. If the officiant does not return it on time, the marriage may not be recorded. Check with the court if you have not received your certificate after six weeks.

Search Oconee County Marriage Records

The Oconee County Probate Court has marriage records on file going back many years. To look up a record, call (706) 769-3951 and provide the names of both parties and the approximate date. Staff can search their files. Certified copies cost $10 each. You can get them in person or by mail. For mail requests, send a money order for $10, the full names, marriage date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the court.

For Oconee County marriages between June 1952 and August 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health also holds records. The state charges a $10 search fee. That fee is not refundable. For marriages before 1952 or after 1996 in Oconee County, the Probate Court is your only option. Historical records may also be available through the Georgia Archives in Morrow, which keeps microfilm from many Georgia counties.

The DPH fee schedule shows the $10 charge for marriage record searches at the state level.

Oconee County Residency Rules

You do not need to live in Oconee County to get a license there. If at least one person is a Georgia resident, you can apply at any Probate Court in the state. Oconee County is a popular choice for couples who live in the greater Athens area but prefer the smaller courthouse in Watkinsville. If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. So if you plan a wedding at a venue in Oconee County, you would need to get your license from the Watkinsville office.

Georgia also recognizes marriages from other states under O.C.G.A. 19-3-43. But you cannot leave the state to get around Georgia's own marriage rules. If you want your marriage on the Oconee County record, make sure the license is issued from and returned to the Oconee County Probate Court after the ceremony.

Note: Oconee County marriage records are public and open to anyone who asks for them.

Cities in Oconee County

Oconee County includes Watkinsville, Bogart, Bishop, and North High Shoals. All marriage licenses in Oconee County are issued from the Probate Court in Watkinsville. There are no separate city offices for marriage records in the county.

Oconee County sits next to Clarke County, which holds Athens. Many people in the Athens area live in Oconee County and commute into the city. All of them file for marriage licenses at the Oconee County Probate Court on Main Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Oconee County. If you are not sure which court to use, check the address where you live or where your ceremony will be.