Find Wilkes County Marriage Records
Wilkes County marriage records are kept at the Probate Court in Washington, Georgia. The county is one of the original Georgia counties and has a long history of keeping vital records. The Wilkes County Probate Court on East Court Street is the place to apply for a marriage license, request certified copies of old marriage certificates, or search for a past marriage record. Staff at the court are familiar with the process and can help with most requests in a single visit. If you are looking for a Wilkes County marriage record, this is the office to contact.
Wilkes County Quick Facts
Wilkes County Probate Court Details
All marriage licenses in Wilkes County are issued by the Probate Court. This is the only office that can do it. Both people who want to marry must show up at the same time. The clerk reviews your paperwork, takes the application, and collects the fee. If you bring everything you need, the visit is quick. The Wilkes County court staff handle marriage applications often and know the process well.
The courthouse is in the city of Washington, right on the town square. Weekday hours are standard. Call ahead if you have a tight schedule to make sure the office is open when you plan to arrive.
| Address | 23 E. Court Street Washington, GA 30673 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (706) 678-2423 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Marriage License Fees in Wilkes County
A standard marriage license in Wilkes County costs between $56 and $77. That is the fee for couples who have not completed premarital counseling. If both people finish an approved counseling course before applying, the fee drops to between $16 and $37. This discount is allowed under Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. The course must be at least six hours long and done within a year of your application at the Wilkes County Probate Court.
Cash and money orders are the safest way to pay at smaller Georgia courts. Call (706) 678-2423 to check what the Wilkes County Probate Court accepts before you go.
Note: Wilkes County marriage license fees are not refundable after the license has been issued.
How to Search Wilkes County Marriage Records
To find a marriage record in Wilkes County, the Probate Court in Washington is your first stop. Give the clerk the names of both people and a rough date of the marriage. The search usually takes just a few minutes for records on file. A certified copy costs $10. Extra copies are $5 each when ordered at the same time.
You can search online as well. The Georgia Probate Records marriage search portal has an index that may include Wilkes County records. It is free to search and can confirm whether a record exists before you make the trip to Washington.
The Georgia Probate Records online portal allows users to search marriage license records from counties across the state.
Keep in mind that older records may not appear in the online index. Wilkes County, being one of the oldest counties in the state, has records going back many years. Paper files at the courthouse may be the only source for older entries. An in-person visit or phone call is best for those.
Wilkes County Marriage License Requirements
Georgia law sets the rules. Both people must be 18 or older. A 17-year-old may apply only if they have been legally emancipated by a court, with at least 15 days having passed since the order per O.C.G.A. 19-3-2. No one under 17 is eligible. Both applicants must appear at the Wilkes County Probate Court in person with valid photo ID.
Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. Social Security numbers are required for both applicants. If either person was married before, you need a certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. All documents must be in English. Certified translations are required for documents in another language.
- Valid photo ID for each applicant
- Social Security numbers for both
- Proof that any earlier marriage has ended
- Counseling certificate for the lower fee
- Both applicants present at the Wilkes County court
No waiting period in Georgia. No blood test needed. Once issued, the Wilkes County license is valid for 60 days.
State Marriage Records for Wilkes County
The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996 at the state level. If the Wilkes County marriage you need falls in that period, you can get a copy from the state Vital Records office. The search fee is $10. Extra copies cost $5 each. The fee is not refundable.
The state office is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Walk-in visitors may get same-day service. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks to process. For Wilkes County marriages outside the 1952 to 1996 window, the Probate Court in Washington is the only source.
Georgia's Archives website provides information on researching historical vital records.
The Georgia Archives in Morrow may also have older Wilkes County marriage records on microfilm, which can be useful for genealogy research or locating records from the 1800s and early 1900s.
Wilkes County Marriage Ceremonies
After the Wilkes County Probate Court issues the license, you can hold the ceremony anywhere in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30, judges, ministers, and ordained clergy may officiate. The Wilkes County Probate Court may also perform civil ceremonies, though you should call ahead to find out. Some county judges do this only on certain days.
The officiant must sign the license after the ceremony and return it to the Wilkes County Probate Court within 30 days. The court then files the marriage record and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This takes about 30 days from the return date. If you need the record sooner, visit the courthouse in Washington to check if it has been entered into the system.
Additional Wilkes County Marriage Resources
Several tools can help with Wilkes County marriage record research. The Georgia Probate Records site has online marriage applications. The Council of Probate Court Judges keeps standard forms that all Georgia counties use, available for free. The Georgia.gov marriage license page gives a clear overview of the full process.
For historical records, the Georgia Archives is a good resource. FamilySearch and other genealogy platforms also maintain indexes of Georgia marriages that may include Wilkes County records from past decades and centuries.
Nearby Counties
Wilkes County borders several other counties in northeast Georgia. If the marriage record is not from Wilkes County, one of these Probate Courts may have it.