Seminole County Marriage Record Access

Seminole County marriage records are on file at the Probate Court in Donalsonville, Georgia. Located in the far southwest corner of the state near the Florida border, this court handles all marriage license applications and record requests for the county. Staff at the Seminole County Probate Court can help you find older records, get certified copies, or begin a new license application. The office on South Knox Avenue serves as the single point of contact for all marriage-related documents in Seminole County.

Seminole County Probate Court Details

The Seminole County Probate Court is where all marriage licenses are issued and records are stored for this county. The office is on South Knox Avenue in Donalsonville, a small town in southwest Georgia. Both people who want to get married must come to the court in person. The clerk will check your IDs, review the application, and collect the fee. If all the paperwork is in order, you will get the license that same visit. The whole process at the Seminole County Probate Court is fairly quick for most couples.

The court is open weekdays. Calling ahead is smart since this is a small office. Staff may be tied up with other court matters on some days, so a quick phone call can help you avoid a wasted trip.

Seminole County Marriage License Fees

Marriage license fees in Seminole County follow the state schedule set by Georgia law. Without premarital counseling, expect to pay between $56 and $77. Couples who take a qualifying counseling course before they apply get a reduced rate of $16 to $37. The savings are significant. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1, the counseling must last at least six hours and be completed within 12 months of the application date. You will need to bring a certificate of completion to the Seminole County Probate Court to qualify for the lower fee.

Cash and money orders are the most reliable payment methods. Check with the office about card payments before your visit, since not all small Georgia courts accept them. Once paid, the fee is not refundable.

How to Find Seminole County Marriage Records

The fastest way to get a Seminole County marriage record is to visit the Probate Court in Donalsonville. Give the clerk the names of both spouses and the date of the marriage. The staff will search the local files and provide a certified copy if the record is found. The fee is $10 per copy. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost $5 each. In-person searches at the Seminole County courthouse usually take just a few minutes for records that are on file.

If you can not visit in person, you may request records by mail. Send a written request with the full names, approximate marriage date, and a $10 check or money order to the Seminole County Probate Court at 200 S. Knox Avenue, Donalsonville, GA 39845. Include a self-addressed envelope or your return address so the clerk can mail the record back to you.

The online Georgia Probate Records portal offers a way to search for marriage records from home.

The Georgia Probate Records website lets you search marriage applications from participating counties. It is a good first step before making the trip to Donalsonville. Not all Seminole County records will appear online, especially older ones, but it can save you time if the record you need is in the system.

Seminole County License Requirements

Georgia law requires both people to be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license. The only exception is for a 17-year-old who has been emancipated by court order, with at least 15 days having passed since the ruling. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, no one under 17 can get a license in Georgia. Both people must appear in person at the Seminole County Probate Court with valid photo identification.

A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID all work as valid photo ID. If either person has been married before, you must show proof the prior marriage is over. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse is needed. All documents should be in English. Foreign-language papers must come with a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and not already married.

• Valid photo ID for each applicant
• Social Security numbers for both people
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Counseling certificate for the reduced license fee

There is no waiting period and no blood test requirement. The Seminole County license is good for 60 days after it is issued.

Note: The license must be used within 60 days or it becomes void and you will need to reapply.

State-Level Seminole County Marriage Records

The Georgia Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from 1952 to 1996 at its Vital Records office in Atlanta. If the Seminole County marriage happened during those years, you can request a copy from the state. The search fee is $10 and is non-refundable. Additional copies cost $5 each. The state office is located at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, and can be reached at (404) 679-4702.

For marriages in Seminole County before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Donalsonville is the only source. The state does not have those records. Mail requests to the state office take about 8 to 10 weeks to process. Walk-in requests at the Atlanta office may be filled the same day if the record is found in the system.

Seminole County Ceremony and Recording

After the Seminole County Probate Court issues your license, you need an authorized person to perform the ceremony. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30, judges, ministers, and ordained clergy can officiate. The Probate Court may also do civil ceremonies, though you should check with the office first. Smaller counties like Seminole may not offer this every day.

The officiant signs the license after the ceremony and must return it to the Seminole County Probate Court within 30 days. Once received, the court records the marriage and sends a certified marriage certificate by mail. That mailing usually takes about 30 days. If you need it faster, go to the courthouse in Donalsonville after the record has been entered and ask for a copy at the window.

More Seminole County Marriage Resources

The Georgia.gov marriage license page has a clear summary of the process that applies to all counties, including Seminole. The probate court standard forms page lets you download blank forms ahead of time. For genealogy work, the Georgia Archives in Morrow may have older Seminole County marriage records on microfilm.

FamilySearch also maintains a marriage index that goes back to the early 1800s for many Georgia counties. These free tools can help you locate Seminole County records that are no longer available through the Probate Court or state office.

Nearby Counties

Seminole County sits at the southwest tip of Georgia. If the marriage you are looking for was filed in a neighboring county, try one of these Probate Courts.