Schley County Marriage Records
Schley County marriage records are kept at the Probate Court in Ellaville, Georgia. The court manages all marriage license applications, ceremony records, and certified copies for this small county in southwest Georgia. Staff at the Schley County Probate Court can help you search for past records or start the process of getting a new license. Whether you need a copy of an old certificate or plan to apply for a license, the Probate Court on Main Street is where all of that work happens. Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours.
Schley County Quick Facts
Schley County Probate Court
The Schley County Probate Court handles all marriage-related filings in the county. This is the only office where you can apply for a marriage license, request certified copies, or search for old marriage records in Schley County. The court sits on Main Street in Ellaville, and the staff can walk you through the process from start to finish. Both people who want to get married must come to the office together. You can not send just one person to fill out the forms.
The office is open Monday through Friday. Call ahead if you want to make sure the clerk is free when you arrive, though walk-ins are fine for most visits to the Schley County Probate Court.
| Address | 48 Main Street Ellaville, GA 31806 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (229) 937-2905 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Marriage License Fees in Schley County
Georgia sets the fee range for marriage licenses by statute. In Schley County, you can expect to pay between $56 and $77 for a standard license if you have not done premarital counseling. If both people finish a qualifying course before they apply, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. That is a big cut. The state allows this discount under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The course must be at least six hours long and done within a year of the date you apply at the Schley County Probate Court.
Bring cash or a money order to the office. Many smaller courts in Georgia do not take credit cards, so plan for that. The exact amount may vary, so calling ahead to confirm is a good idea before you make the trip to Ellaville.
Note: License fees are non-refundable in Schley County even if the license goes unused.
How to Search Schley County Marriage Records
The best way to find a marriage record in Schley County is to visit the Probate Court in person. Give the clerk the full names of both people and the approximate date of the marriage. The staff will search the files and pull up what they have. For records that are on file at the Schley County courthouse, this usually takes just a few minutes. The fee for a certified copy is $10. If you need more than one copy, each extra costs $5 when ordered at the same time.
You can also try to search online. The Georgia Probate Records portal has a marriage search tool that covers many counties across the state. It is worth checking there first to see if the Schley County record you need shows up in the index. This can save you a trip to Ellaville.
The Georgia Probate Records portal allows you to look up marriage applications and license records from participating counties across the state.
Keep in mind that not all records show up in the online system. Older records from Schley County may only exist in paper form at the courthouse. For anything before the 1990s, an in-person visit or phone call is your safest bet.
Schley County Marriage License Requirements
Georgia law sets clear rules for who can get a marriage license. Both people must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old may apply only if they have been legally emancipated by a court, and at least 15 days must have passed since that order. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, there are no exceptions below age 17. Both applicants must show up at the Schley County Probate Court in person with valid photo ID.
Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. If either person was married before, you need to bring proof that the prior marriage ended. That means a certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. All documents must be in English. If they are in another language, you will need a certified translation before the Schley County court can accept them.
- Valid photo ID for both applicants
- Social Security number for each person
- Certified divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
- Premarital counseling certificate for the reduced fee
- Both parties must appear in person at the Schley County Probate Court
There is no waiting period in Georgia. No blood test is needed either. That rule ended on July 1, 2003. Once approved, the Schley County license stays valid for 60 days.
State Marriage Records for Schley County
The Georgia Department of Public Health holds some marriage records at the state level. Their files cover marriages from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Schley County marriage you need falls in that window, you can request a copy from the state Vital Records office in Atlanta. The search fee is $10 and is not refundable. Extra copies cost $5 each when ordered at the same time.
You can visit the state office in person at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Same-day service is possible if the record is found. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks to process. For Schley County marriages outside the 1952 to 1996 range, the Probate Court in Ellaville is the only source. The state does not keep those files.
The Georgia Department of Public Health website shows the fee schedule and request process for vital records including marriage records.
You can also call the state office at (404) 679-4702 to ask about the status of a request or to check if a Schley County record is on file there.
Marriage Ceremonies in Schley County
After you get the license, you need someone to perform the ceremony. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30 lists who can officiate. Judges, ministers, and ordained clergy all qualify. The Schley County Probate Court may perform civil ceremonies as well, but call first to see if the judge is available on the day you want. Not every court in Georgia does ceremonies on a regular basis, and smaller counties like Schley may have limited days for this service.
The officiant must sign the marriage license after the ceremony. They then have 30 days to return the signed license to the Schley County Probate Court. Once it comes back, the court records the marriage and sends a certified certificate to the couple by mail. This step takes about 30 days from the date the license is returned. If you need the certificate sooner, you can go to the courthouse in Ellaville and ask for a copy once the record is in the system.
Additional Schley County Marriage Record Resources
Several online tools can help with Schley County marriage record research. The Georgia Probate Records site lets you fill out a marriage application online before your visit to the courthouse. This can save time at the window. The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms that every county in Georgia uses, and those forms are free to download.
For historical records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow may have older Schley County marriage records on microfilm. FamilySearch also maintains an index of Georgia marriages going back to the 1800s that could include Schley County entries. The Georgia.gov marriage page gives a plain-language overview of the whole process from start to finish.
Note: Always confirm details with the Schley County Probate Court directly, as fees and procedures can change.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Schley County. If the marriage took place outside of Schley County, you may need to check with one of these Probate Courts for the correct records.