Washington County Marriage Records

Washington County marriage records go through the Probate Court in Sandersville, Georgia. The court issues marriage licenses and keeps records of all marriages filed in the county. Washington County sits in the middle part of the state and has served as a center for local government since the late 1700s. The Probate Court on West Haynes Street is where you go to apply for a license, search old records, or get a certified copy of a marriage certificate. Staff there handle these requests every weekday. If you have questions about a Washington County marriage record, a quick phone call can usually get you pointed in the right direction.

Washington County Probate Court Details

The Washington County Probate Court is the only office that handles marriage licenses in the county. Every couple must appear in person at this court. No exceptions. The clerk checks your IDs, takes the application, and collects the fee. The whole process can be done in one visit if you bring what you need. Staff are used to walking people through the steps, so do not worry if it is your first time dealing with a marriage license.

The courthouse is in Sandersville. Hours are standard weekday business hours. Call ahead if you want to confirm the judge is available for any questions.

Marriage License Fees in Washington County

The cost for a marriage license in Washington County ranges from $56 to $77 without premarital counseling. Couples who complete an approved counseling course before they apply pay between $16 and $37 instead. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 spells out the requirements for the discount. The course needs to be at least six hours long and taken within one year of the application date. Many churches and community groups offer courses that qualify.

Bring cash or a money order. Not all Georgia probate courts accept cards. The Washington County court staff can tell you what payment methods they take if you call (478) 552-3304 before you drive to Sandersville. Fees are set by state law, so there is little room for them to change from one year to the next.

How to Find Washington County Marriage Records

The most direct way to find a Washington County marriage record is to ask the Probate Court in Sandersville. Give the clerk the names of both spouses and the rough date. They will search the files. A certified copy runs $10. Extra copies cost $5 each if you order them at the same time.

Online searches are also an option. The Georgia Probate Records marriage search tool lets you search by name and may have Washington County records in the index. This can help you confirm a record exists before you make a trip or send a written request.

The online portal at Georgia Probate Records provides a search tool for marriage license records filed across Georgia counties.

Older Washington County records may not show up online. If you need a record from before the digital era, the courthouse in Sandersville is your best bet. They keep paper records going back many decades.

Note: The online index may be incomplete for Washington County, so an in-person search is the most thorough option.

Washington County Marriage License Requirements

Under Georgia law, both people must be at least 18 to apply. A 17-year-old may apply only with a court-ordered emancipation, and 15 days must have passed since that order per O.C.G.A. 19-3-2. No one under 17 can get a marriage license in the state. Both applicants must come to the Washington County Probate Court together. No proxy applications are allowed.

You each need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID all work. Social Security numbers are needed for both people. If either person was married before, the court will want to see a certified divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse. Documents in a language other than English need a certified translation.

• Valid photo ID for each applicant
• Social Security numbers for both parties
• Certified divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Premarital counseling certificate for the lower fee
• Both applicants present in person at the court

Georgia has no waiting period. Blood tests are not needed. Once issued, the Washington County marriage license is valid for 60 days.

State Records and Washington County Marriages

The Georgia Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. If the Washington County marriage you are looking for falls in that window, you can get a copy from the DPH Vital Records office. The search fee is $10 and is not refundable. Additional copies are $5 each.

The state office is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Walk-in service can be same-day if the record is on file. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. For Washington County marriages outside the 1952 to 1996 range, the Probate Court in Sandersville is the only place to look.

Georgia's vital records request page explains how to order marriage certificates from the state office.

You can also call the state office at (404) 679-4702 to check on the status of a request or confirm that a Washington County record is in their files.

Washington County Marriage Ceremonies

Once you have the license, you need someone to officiate. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30 allows judges, ministers, and ordained clergy to perform the ceremony. The Washington County Probate Court may do civil ceremonies as well, but call first to check the schedule. Not every judge performs ceremonies on a regular basis.

After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Washington County Probate Court within 30 days. The court then records the marriage. A certified certificate is mailed to the couple, usually within 30 days of when the signed license comes back. If you need the certificate faster, visit the courthouse in Sandersville once the record shows up in the system.

More Washington County Marriage Resources

The Georgia Probate Records site lets you start a marriage application online, which can cut down your time at the Washington County courthouse window. The Council of Probate Court Judges offers standard forms used across Georgia. These are free to download and print. The Georgia.gov marriage license page gives a step-by-step guide to the process.

For old records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow may have Washington County marriage records on microfilm. FamilySearch also has indexes of Georgia marriages going back many years. These resources can help fill in gaps for records the Washington County Probate Court may not have in its current files.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Washington County. If the marriage happened outside of Washington County, check with one of these Probate Courts instead.