Stewart County Marriage Record Search

Stewart County marriage records are kept on file at the Probate Court in Lumpkin, Georgia. This rural county in southwest Georgia has a small population, but the Probate Court still handles all marriage license applications and record requests just like any other county in the state. If you need to search for a marriage record in Stewart County or plan to apply for a license, the court on Franklin Street is your starting point. The staff there can assist with copy requests, searches, and new applications during regular weekday hours.

Stewart County Probate Court

The Stewart County Probate Court is the sole office responsible for marriage licenses and marriage records in this county. It is located at 176 Franklin Street in Lumpkin, a small town in the western part of the state. Both people applying for a marriage license must visit the Stewart County Probate Court in person. One person cannot apply on behalf of both. The clerk reviews your identification, collects the fee, and processes the application. If all paperwork is in order, the license is issued during that same visit.

Stewart County is one of the least populated counties in Georgia. The office may have limited staffing on certain days, so calling ahead before you make the drive to Lumpkin is a smart move. The phone number is (229) 838-4944.

How to Search Stewart County Marriage Records

The primary way to search for marriage records in Stewart County is to visit the Probate Court in Lumpkin. Bring the names of both spouses and the date or approximate date of the marriage. The clerk will look through the files and pull up the record if it is on file. A certified copy costs $10. Extra copies ordered at the same time are $5 each. Most searches at the Stewart County courthouse take only a few minutes when the record is available.

If you cannot make the trip to Lumpkin, mail requests are possible. Write a letter with the names, the date, and a check or money order for $10. Send it to the Stewart County Probate Court at 176 Franklin Street, Lumpkin, GA 31815. Include your return address so the office can send the copy back to you. You can call (229) 838-4944 to check if a record is on file before you mail anything.

You can also try searching online before reaching out to the Stewart County courthouse.

The Georgia Probate Records marriage search tool covers many counties statewide. Check there first to see if Stewart County records show up in the online index. Older records may not appear, but newer ones sometimes do.

Stewart County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Stewart County costs between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. If both people complete a qualifying six-hour course before they apply, the fee drops to $16 to $37. This is set by O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The course must be finished within one year of the application date. Bring the certificate of completion to the Stewart County Probate Court to get the discount.

Cash and money orders are the safest payment methods. Smaller courts in Georgia do not always accept cards. Call the Stewart County office before your visit to check. All fees are non-refundable, even if the license is never used.

Note: If you are not sure about the exact fee, call the Stewart County Probate Court to confirm the current amount.

Stewart County License Requirements

Under Georgia law, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old can apply only with a court-issued emancipation order, and at least 15 days must have passed since the ruling. O.C.G.A. 19-3-2 sets this rule. Both people must appear at the Stewart County Probate Court together with valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work.

If either person was previously married, bring proof the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse is required. All documents must be in English. Papers in other languages need a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free from any current marriage to get a license in Stewart County.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Social Security number for each person
• Proof of prior marriage dissolution if applicable
• Both parties present at the Stewart County Probate Court
• Premarital counseling certificate for reduced fee

Georgia requires no blood test. There is no waiting period. Once the Stewart County Probate Court issues the license, it is valid for 60 days.

State-Level Stewart County Marriage Records

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 Stewart County marriage you need falls in that range, you can request a copy from the state Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The search fee is $10. Extra copies are $5 each. The phone number is (404) 679-4702.

Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person visits may get same-day results. For Stewart County marriages outside the 1952 to 1996 period, the Probate Court in Lumpkin is the only source. The state does not keep those records.

Stewart County Marriage Ceremonies

After the Stewart County Probate Court issues your license, you need an authorized person to perform the ceremony. Judges, ministers, and ordained clergy all qualify under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30. The Probate Court may also do civil ceremonies, but call ahead to arrange this since the Stewart County office is small and may have limited availability. The officiant signs the license after the ceremony and has 30 days to return it to the Stewart County Probate Court.

Once the signed license comes back, the court records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This process takes about 30 days. If you need it faster, go to the courthouse in Lumpkin after the record is in the system and request a copy at the window.

Additional Stewart County Marriage Resources

The Council of Probate Court Judges standard forms page has downloadable forms used by every county in Georgia. The Georgia Probate Records site lets you start a marriage application online. For historical research, the Georgia Archives in Morrow may have older Stewart County marriage records on microfilm. FamilySearch also has an index of Georgia marriages from the 1800s to the mid-1900s.

The Georgia.gov marriage license page gives a simple overview of the steps to get a license in any Georgia county. These free resources can help you prepare for your visit to the Stewart County Probate Court in Lumpkin.

Nearby Counties

Stewart County borders several other counties in southwest Georgia. If the marriage you need was filed somewhere else, try one of these neighboring Probate Courts.