Sumter County Marriage Records

Sumter County marriage records are maintained by the Probate Court in Americus, Georgia. As one of the larger towns in southwest Georgia, Americus serves as the hub for all marriage license applications and record requests in Sumter County. The Probate Court on West Lamar Street handles new licenses, stores completed marriage certificates, and provides certified copies to anyone who asks. Whether you are researching family history or need an official copy of a marriage certificate, the Sumter County Probate Court is the office to contact.

Sumter County Probate Court Information

The Sumter County Probate Court is where all marriage records are filed and stored. The office sits at 500 West Lamar Street in Americus. Both people who want to get married must visit the Sumter County Probate Court in person. You cannot send one person to fill out the forms for both. The clerk checks identification, reviews the application, takes the fee, and issues the license on the same visit if everything is correct. The process is straightforward and usually takes less than an hour.

Americus is a good-sized town for this part of Georgia, and the Sumter County Probate Court sees a steady number of license applications. Walk-ins are accepted. If you want to avoid any wait, call ahead to (229) 928-4551 and let them know you are coming.

Getting Copies of Sumter County Marriage Records

There are a few ways to get copies of marriage records from Sumter County. The fastest method is to visit the Probate Court in Americus in person. Give the clerk the full names of both people and the date of the marriage. Staff will search the files and provide a certified copy if the record is on file. The cost is $10 per certified copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $5 each. Most in-person requests at the Sumter County courthouse take just minutes to fill.

You can also make a request by mail. Write a letter that includes the full names of both spouses, the marriage date, and a check or money order for $10. Send it to the Sumter County Probate Court at 500 W. Lamar Street, Americus, GA 31709. Be sure to include your return address. If you just need to check whether a Sumter County record exists, call the office first at (229) 928-4551.

The Georgia Probate Records website has an online marriage search tool that covers many counties.

The Georgia Probate Records website covers marriage applications from participating counties across the state. It is worth checking there before making the trip to Americus to see if the Sumter County record you need shows up in the online system.

Sumter County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Sumter County falls between $56 and $77 without premarital counseling. Couples who complete a qualifying six-hour course before applying can get the reduced rate of $16 to $37. O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 allows this discount. The course must have been completed within 12 months of the application date. Bring the certificate of completion to the Sumter County Probate Court when you apply.

Plan to pay with cash or a money order. Not every court in Georgia accepts cards, so check with the Sumter County office before you visit. Fees are non-refundable, regardless of whether the license is used.

Note: Certified copy fees are separate from the license fee and must be paid each time you request a copy.

Sumter County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be 18 or older to get a marriage license in Georgia. The only exception is a 17-year-old who has been emancipated by a court, with 15 days having passed since the order. O.C.G.A. 19-3-2 sets this age rule. Both applicants must appear at the Sumter County Probate Court in person with valid photo identification. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID are all accepted.

If either person has been married before, bring proof the earlier marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate for the prior spouse works. All documents must be in English. Papers in other languages need a certified translation before the Sumter County court will accept them. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-1, both people must be of sound mind and not currently married to someone else.

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Social Security numbers
• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Counseling completion certificate for the discounted fee
• Both applicants present in person at the Sumter County Probate Court

No waiting period. No blood test. The license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued by the Sumter County Probate Court.

State Records for Sumter County Marriages

The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains marriage records from 1952 to 1996 at the state Vital Records office. If the Sumter County marriage you are looking for happened during those years, you can request a copy from the state. The search fee is $10 and is not refundable. Extra copies are $5 each. The office is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call (404) 679-4702 for details.

For Sumter County marriages before 1952 or after 1996, the Probate Court in Americus is the only place to get records. The state does not hold files outside that date range. Mail requests to the state office take 8 to 10 weeks. In-person visits can get same-day results if the record is found. The Georgia Archives may also have older Sumter County records on microfilm for genealogy research.

Marriage Ceremonies in Sumter County

Once you have a license from the Sumter County Probate Court, you can have the ceremony done by any authorized person. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30, judges, ministers, and ordained clergy are all allowed to officiate. The Sumter County Probate Court may also perform civil ceremonies. Call the office to check on availability since not every day works for this. The officiant must sign the license and return it to the Sumter County Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony.

After the court receives the signed license, the marriage is recorded. A certified certificate is then mailed to the couple. This takes about 30 days. If you need it sooner, go to the courthouse in Americus and ask for a copy once the record is in the system. The standard probate forms page has documents you might need during this process.

More Sumter County Marriage Record Tools

The Georgia.gov marriage license page provides a plain overview of how to apply for a license in any county. The Council of Probate Court Judges has information about how probate courts handle marriage records across the state. FamilySearch keeps a free index of Georgia marriages going back to the 1800s. These tools can help with both current applications and historical research in Sumter County.

For direct answers about Sumter County records, contact the Probate Court in Americus at (229) 928-4551. They can tell you what files they have and how to get copies.

Nearby Counties

These counties neighbor Sumter County. If the marriage was filed in a different county, one of these Probate Courts may have the record.