Find Stephens County Marriage Records

Stephens County marriage records are housed at the Probate Court in Toccoa, Georgia. This office in northeast Georgia handles every part of the marriage process, from license applications to certified copies of past records. Toccoa sits near the South Carolina border, and the Stephens County Probate Court serves residents and visitors alike. If you need a marriage license or want to look up an old record, the court on North Alexander Street is the right place to go. The staff there deals with these requests every day.

Stephens County Probate Court

The Stephens County Probate Court manages all marriage license applications and marriage record requests in this part of northeast Georgia. The office is located at 70 North Alexander Street, Suite 108, in Toccoa. Both people who want a license must visit together. You cannot have one person apply alone. The clerk checks your IDs, collects the fee, and handles the paperwork. If everything is correct, the Stephens County Probate Court will issue the license during that visit.

The office accepts walk-ins during regular hours. Toccoa is a small city, and the court staff know the process well. If you have questions about what to bring, a quick call to (706) 886-2828 before your trip can clear things up.

Getting Stephens County Marriage Records

To get a copy of a marriage record in Stephens County, visit the Probate Court in Toccoa. Provide the full names of both spouses and the date of the marriage. The clerk searches the files and can provide a certified copy on the spot for most records. The fee is $10. Additional copies cost $5 each when ordered with the first. Most in-person requests at the Stephens County courthouse are handled quickly.

You can also request copies by mail. Send a letter with the names, date, and a $10 check or money order to the Stephens County Probate Court at 70 N. Alexander Street, Suite 108, Toccoa, GA 30577. Make sure to include a return address. Phone calls to the office can confirm if a Stephens County record is on file before you send your request.

For a faster start, try the online tools. The Georgia Probate Records marriage search tool covers many counties across the state. The record you need from Stephens County may already be in the online index.

Note: Not all older Stephens County records appear in the online system, so an in-person visit may still be needed.

Stephens County Marriage License Fees

The cost of a marriage license in Stephens County is between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. With a qualifying counseling course, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. That is a real savings. O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 sets the rules for this discount. The course must last at least six hours and be completed within 12 months of the date you apply. Bring the completion certificate to the Stephens County Probate Court when you go in.

Cash and money orders are the safest payment options. Some courts accept debit or credit cards, but it varies. Call the Stephens County office at (706) 886-2828 to check before your visit. Fees are non-refundable once paid, regardless of whether you use the license.

Stephens County License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old under Georgia law. The one exception is for an emancipated 17-year-old who has waited at least 15 days since the court order. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-2, no one younger than 17 can get a marriage license. Both applicants must show up at the Stephens County Probate Court with a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID all work fine.

If either person was married before, bring proof the prior marriage is over. A certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse is required. All documents must be in English or come with a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, both people must be of sound mind and free from any existing marriage.

• Valid photo ID for each applicant
• Social Security number
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Both applicants present at the Stephens County Probate Court
• Counseling certificate for the reduced fee

Georgia has no waiting period. No blood test is needed. The license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date.

State Marriage Records for Stephens County

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Stephens County marriage falls in that window, you can order a copy from the state Vital Records office in Atlanta at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The search fee is $10 and is not refundable. Additional copies are $5 each.

The Georgia Archives maintains historical vital records including older marriage records on microfilm.

Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person visits to the Atlanta office can get same-day results. For marriages in Stephens County before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Toccoa is the only source. The Georgia Archives may also have older Stephens County records on microfilm for genealogy research.

Ceremonies in Stephens County

Once you have the license from the Stephens County Probate Court, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30 allows judges, ministers, and ordained clergy to officiate. The Probate Court may also perform civil ceremonies. Call ahead to arrange this, as the schedule varies. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Stephens County Probate Court within 30 days.

The court then records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This takes about 30 days after the signed license is received. If you need the certificate sooner, visit the Toccoa courthouse and ask for a copy once the record is in the system. The Georgia Probate Records site also lets you fill out a marriage application online before your visit, which saves time at the window.

Additional Stephens County Resources

Several free tools can help with Stephens County marriage records. The Council of Probate Court Judges has general information about probate courts statewide. The Georgia.gov marriage page gives a clear overview of the process. FamilySearch maintains a free index of Georgia marriages going back to the 1800s. These resources can help you plan your visit or do research from home.

For questions about specific Stephens County records, always contact the Probate Court in Toccoa directly at (706) 886-2828. They can tell you what is on file and how to get copies.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Stephens County in northeast Georgia. If the marriage was filed somewhere else, one of these Probate Courts may have the record you need.