Georgia Marriage License Laws and Requirements

Find out how to get married in GA

If you're getting married in the state of Georgia you must first apply for a wedding license at any in-state county clerk office. These offices, some of which are referred to as the "marriage license bureau," are usually located in the county probate court or circuit court. This document outlines the requirements you must adhere to in order to get a valid marriage license that can be used statewide. Let's begin…

Cost of Your License

How much does a marriage license cost?

The marriage license fee is roughly $26.00 to $30.00 dollars, although fees may vary from county to county.

Residency Requirement

Are there any special residency conditions for in-state or out-of-state residents?

If both partners are residents you may obtain your license from a Town Clerk of your residence. If only one of you is a resident go to the Town Clerk of that resident. In either circumstance, your license will be valid statewide. If neither partner are residents you must apply for your license in the county where the marriage will take place.

Waiting Period

After I submit my application how long do I have to wait before I receive my marriage license?

There is no waiting period. You will receive your marriage license immediately after you submit your application.

Is there a waiting period from the moment the license is given to me to the date I'm allowed to actually marry?

No, you can get married immediately after your marriage license is issued.

License Expiration

How long will my marriage license remain valid once it's been issued?

Your marriage license will never expire once it's been issued.

What happens if my marriage license expires before I get a chance to use it?

This scenario wouldn't apply to you because, as stated above, your license will not expire once it's been issued to you.

Age Requirement

How old must I be to get married?

You must be at least 18 years of age or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.

What if one or both of us is younger than 18?

If either partner is under 18, parental consent forms must be signed. You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you are under 16 you can not marry without a court order. A minor who is pregnant does not need parental consent as long as the pregnancy is verified in a written statement by a licensed physician.

Blood Test

Are blood tests and physical exams required?

As of July 1, 2003, blood tests are no longer required.

Divorced or Widowed Applicants

What if one or both partners have been divorced or have had a spouse die?

If you were previously married, the date of your divorce or the date of your spouse's death must be provided. If the divorce or spouse's death had taken place within the last 6 months, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. If necessary, a copy of your divorce records or spouse's death certificate can be ordered from your local vital records office and mailed to you.

Marriage Name Change

How do I legally change my name before or after I get married?

When you are married, you will receive a marriage certificate, which is a piece of paper proving that you are legally married. This document will serve as evidence of your marriage, which you'll need to complete the process of notifying several government agencies about your name change, as well as any non-government institutions that you do business with (ie, banks, employers, credit cards, memberships, etc).

There is an online marriage name change kit that you can use and complete before or after your marriage takes place. It's applicable for Georgia or any other state in the union. Completing all the necessary name change documentation prior to your wedding is recommended in order to expedite the name change process.

Proxy Marriage

What is a proxy marriage?

A proxy marriage, also known as a "proxy wedding," is when one or both partners to be married are unable to physically attend the ceremony. The missing person, or persons, will have someone "stand in" for them and serve as their "proxy."

Can I get married by proxy if I'm unable to to be present for the ceremony?

No, getting married by proxy is not allowed in Georgia. There are actually only five states left that do allow marriage by proxy.

Common Law Marriage

What is a common law marriage?

The term "common law marriage" refers to an informal marriage, based upon cohabitation and a mutual understanding by both partners, rather than getting married through a civil or religious ceremony. The latter, more common approach, would require an actual Georgia marriage license.

Is a common law marriage a legal option for me instead of undergoing a conventional marriage?

Yes, common-law marriages are allowed in Georgia. The fact that it is a viable option in this state is notable considering common law marriage is not available in four-fifths of the country.

Cousin Marriage

Can I get married to my cousin?

Yes, cousin marriages (first, second, etc) are allowed to take place.

Same Sex Marriage

Are same sex marriages legal?

No, same-sex marriages are not allowed or legally recognized in Georgia, nor are they recognized on the federal level.

Where to Go

Where do I physically need to go to get my marriage license?

Georgia has 154 offices where a marriage license can be acquired. Simply choose a location below to visit. Phone numbers as well as map and accompanying driving direction links are provided for every address.

Appling County , Probate Court

106 Tippins St
Baxley, GA 31513

912-367-8114

Atkinson County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 855
Pearson, GA 31642

912-422-3552

Bacon County , Probate Court

Corner Of 12th & Dixon
Alma, GA 31510

912-632-7661

Baker County , Probate Court

1 Baker Place
Newton, GA 31770

912-734-3007

Banks County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 337
Homer, GA 30547

706-677-6250

Barrow County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 1280
Winder, GA 30680

770-307-3000

Ben Hill County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 1104
Fitzgerald, GA 31750

912-426-5137

Berrien County , Probate Court

100 Jeff Davis St
Nashville, GA 31639

912-686-5213

Bibb County , Probate Court

601 Mulberry St
Room 216
Macon, GA 31201

912-749-6493

Bleckley County , Probate Court

306 2nd St SE
Cochran, GA 31014

912-934-3204

Brantley County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 1067
Nantucket, GA 31553

912-462-5192

Brooks County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 630
Quitman, GA 31643

912-263-5567

Bryan County , Probate Court

401 S. College St
Pembroke, GA 31321

912-653-3856

Bulloch County , Probate Court

26 S Main St
Stakesboro, GA 30458

912-489-8749

Burke County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 803
Waynesboro, GA 30830

706-554-3000

Butts County , Probate Court

26 Third St
Jackson, GA 30233

770-775-8204

Calhoun County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 68
Morgan, GA 31766

912-849-2715

Camden County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 99
Woodbine, GA 31569

912-576-5601

Candler County , Probate Court

P.O. Drawer 830
Metter, GA 30439

912-685-2357

Carroll County Clerk , Probate Court

311 Newnan St
Room 203
Carrollton, GA 30117

770-830-8540

Catoosa County , Marriage License

Catoosa County Court House
Ringgold, GA 30736

706-935-3511

Charlton County , Marriage Bureau

100 S 3rd St
Folkston, GA 31537

912-496-2230

Chatham County , Probate Court

133 Montgomery, Suite 304
Savannah, GA 31410

912-652-7270

Chattahoochee County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 120
Cusseta, GA 31805

706-989-3603

Chattooga County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 159
Summerville, GA 30747

706-857-2594

Cherokee County , Probate Court

100 North St Room 3
Canton, GA 30114

770-479-1953

Clarke County , Probate Court

325 E Washington St
Athens, GA 30601

706-613-3195

Clay County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 550
Fort Gaines, GA 31751

912-768-2445

Clayton County , Probate Court

121 South Mc Donough St
Jonesboro, GA 30236

404-477-3299

Clinch County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 433
Homersville, GA 31634

912-487-5523

Cobb Probate Court

10 East Park Square
Marietta, GA 30090

770-528-1900

Coffee County , Courthouse Annex #2

Coffee St
Douglas, GA 31533

912-384-5213

Colquitt County , Probate Court
Courthouse

1 S. Main St
Moultrie, GA 31772

912-891-7415

Columbia County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 100
Appling, GA 30802

706-541-1254

Coweta County , Probate Court

Court Square
Newnan, GA 30264

404-254-2640

Crawford County , Probate Court

Crawford County Courthouse
Hwy 341
Knoxville, GA 31050

912-836-3313

Crisp County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 747
Cordele, GA 31015

912-276-2607

Dade County , Probate Court
Courthouse

U.S Hwy 11 North
Trenton, GA 30752

706-398-1616

Dawson County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 222
Georgia, GA 30534

706-265-2525

De Kalb County Recorder , Probate Court

556 North McDonough St
Decator, GA 30030

404-371-2601

Decatur County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 336
Bainbridge, GA 31717

912-248-3016

Dodge County , Probate Court

Dodge County Courthouse
Eastman, GA 31023

912-374-3775

Dougherty County , Probate Court
Clerk Of Court

P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31703

912-431-2102

Douglas County , Probate Court

6754 Broad St
Douglasville, GA 30134

770-920-7249

Early County , Probate Court

30 Court Sq., # 8
Blakely, GA 31723

912-723-3454

Echols County , Probate Court
Courthouse

Highway 129 & 94
Statenville, GA 31648

912-559-7526

Effingham County , Probate Court

901 N Pine St
Springfield, GA 31329

912-754-2112

Elbert County , Probate Court

12 S Oliver St
Elberton, GA 30635

706-283-2016

Emanuel County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 627
Swainsboro, GA 30401

912-237-7091

Evans County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 845
Claxton, GA 30417

912-739-4080

Fannin County , Probate Court

420 W Main St
Blue Ridge, GA 30513

404-632-3011

Fayette County , Probate Court

145 Johnson Ave
Fayette, GA 30214

404-461-4703

Floyd County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 1110
Rome, GA 30162

706-291-5136

Forsyth County , Probate Court

100 Courthouse Square
Room 110
Cumming, GA 30130

770-781-2140

Franklin County , Probate Court

9592 Lavonia Rd
Carnesville, GA 30521

706-384-7214

Fulton County , Probate Court

137 Peachtree Steet
Atlanta, GA 30303

404-730-4692

Gilmer County , Probate Court

1 West Sidesquare
Ellijay, GA 30540

404-635-4763

Glascock County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 231
Gibson, GA 30810

706-598-3241

Glynn County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 1355
Brunswick, GA 31520

912-267-5626

Gordon County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 367
Calhoun, GA 30701

706-629-7314

Grady County , Probate Court

250 N Broad St
Cairo, GA 31728

912-377-2912

Greene County , Probate Court

113 N Main St, # C
Greensboro, GA 30642

706-453-3346

Gwinnett County , Probate Court

75 Langley Drive
Lawrenceville, GA 30246

770-822-8250

Habersham County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 108
Clarksville, GA 30523

706-754-2013

Hall County , Probate Court

116 Spring St
Gainsville, GA 30503

770-531-6921

Hancock County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 451
Sparta, GA 31087

706-444-5343

Haralson County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 373
Buckanan, GA 30113

706-692-2515

Harris County , Probate Court

Highway 27 Court House
Hamilton, GA 31811

706-628-5038

Hart County , Probate Court

Court House Annex
Public Square
Hartwell, GA 30613

706-376-2565

Heard County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 240
Franklin, GA 30217

706-675-3353

Henry County , Probate Court
Clerk Superior Court

1 Courthouse Square
Mcdonough, GA 30253

770-954-2303

Houston County , Probate Court

800 Carroll St
Perry, GA 31069

912-987-2770

Irwin County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 182
Ocilla, GA 31774

912-468-5138

Jackson County , Probate Court

85 Washington St
Jefferson, GA 30549

706-367-6366

Jasper County , Probate Court

Jasper County Courthouse
Monticello, GA 31064

706-468-4903

Jeff Davis County , Probate Court

100 Jeff Davis St
Hazlehurst, GA 31539

912-375-4263

Jefferson County , Probate Court

202 E Broad St
Louisville, GA 30434

912-625-3258

Jenkins County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 904
Millen, GA 30442

912-982-5581

Johnson County , Probate Court

150 Bradford St
Wrightsville, GA 31096

912-864-3316

Jones County , Probate Court

Jefferson St
Gray, GA 31032

912-986-6668

Lamar County , Probate Court

326 Thomaston St
Barnesville, GA 30204

770-358-5155

Lanier County , Probate Court

100 W Main St
Lakeland, GA 31635

912-482-3668

Laurens County , Probate Court

101 N Jefferson St
Dublin, GA 31040

912-272-2566

Lee County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 597
Leesburg, GA 31763

912-759-6022

Liberty County , Probate Court

112 N Main St
Hinesville, GA 31313

912-876-3635

Lincoln County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 340
Lincolnton, GA 30817

404-359-7595

Long County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 458
Ludowici, GA 31316

912-545-2123

Lowndes County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 1349
Valdosta, GA 31601

912-333-5103

Lumpkin County , Probate Court

279 Courthouse Hill
Dahlonega, GA 30533

404-864-3847

Macon County , Probate Court

Sumter St
Oglethrope, GA 31068

912-472-7685

Madison County , Probate Court

91 Aubany Ave
Danielsville, GA 30633

404-795-3354

Marion County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 41
Buena Vista, GA 31803

912-649-5549

Mc Duffie County , Probate Court
Courthouse

337 Main St
Thomson, GA 30834

706-595-2124

Mc Intosh County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 1661
Darien, GA 31305

912-437-6636

Meriwether County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 160
Greenville, GA 30222

706-672-4952

Miller County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 66
Colquitt, GA 31737

912-758-4110

Mitchell County , Probate Court

11 Broad St
Camilla, GA 31730

912-336-2016

Monroe County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 450
Forsyth, GA 31029

912-994-7037

Montgomery County , Probate Court

400 N Railroad Ave
Mt. Vernon, GA 30445

912-583-2681

Morgan County , Probate Court

149 E Jefferson St
Madison, GA 30650

706-342-1373

Murray County , Probate Court

P. O Box 1000
Chatsworth, GA 30705

706-695-3812

Muscogee County , Probate Court

100 10th St
Columbus, GA 31994

706-653-4333

Newton County , Probate Court

1132 Usher St
Covington, GA 30014

770-784-2045

Oconee County , Probate Court

23 N Main St
Watkinsville, GA 30677

706-769-3936

Oglethrope County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 68
Lexington, GA 30648

706-743-5350

Paulding County , Probate Court

11 Court House
Square, Rm G-2
Dallas, GA 30132

770-443-7541

Peach County , Probate Court

205 W Church St
Fort Valley, GA 31030

912-825-2313

Pickens County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 130
Jasper, GA 30143

706-692-2515

Pierce County , Probate Court

3550 US Highway 84
Blackshear, GA 31516

912-449-2029

Pike County Clerk , Probate Court

P.O. Box 10
Zebulon, GA 30295

770-567-8734

Polk County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 948
Cedertown, GA 30125

770-749-2128

Pulaski County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 88
Hawkinsville, GA 31036

912-783-2061

Putnam County , Probate Court

100 S Jefferson Ave
Eatonton, GA 31024

706-485-5476

Quitman County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 307
Georgetown, GA 31754

912-334-2224

Rabun County , Probate Court

25 Courthouse Sq., # 15
Clayton, GA 30525

404-782-3614

Randolph County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 98
Cuthbert, GA 31740

912-732-2671

Richmond County , Probate Court

530 Greene St
Augusta, GA 30901

706-821-2434

Rockdale County , Probate Court

922 Court St,Rm 203
Conyers, GA 30207

770-929-4016

Schley County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 7
Ellaville, GA 31806

912-937-2905

Screven County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 156
Sylvania, GA 30467

912-564-2783

Seminole County , Marriage Lcns
Clerk Of Superior Court

P.O. Box 672
Donalsonville, GA 31745

912-524-5015

Spalding County , Probate Court

120 E Solmon St
Griffin, GA 30224

770-467-4726

Stephens County , Probate Court

Tugalo St
Toccoa, GA 30577

706-886-2828

Stewart County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 910
Lumpkin, GA 31815

912-838-4394

Sumter County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 333
Americus, GA 31709

912-924-7693

Talbot County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 325
Talbotton, GA 31827

706-665-8868

Taliaferro County , Probate Court

13 Monument St SE
Crawfordville, GA 30631

706-456-2253

Taylor County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 248
Butler, GA 31006

912-862-5420

Telfair County , Probate Court

Courthouse Sq
Mc Rae, GA 31055

912-836-3313

Terrell County Probate Judge

P.O. Box 67
Dawson, GA 31742

912-995-5515

Thomas County , Marriage License

P.O. Box 1995
Thomasville, GA 31799

912-225-4116

Tift County , Probate Court

225 Tift Ave, N # 117
Tifton, GA 31793

912-386-7818

Toombs County , Probate Court

100 Courthouse Sq.
Lyons, GA 30436

912-526-8696

Towns County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 178
Hiawassee, GA 30546

706-896-3467

Treutlen County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 356
Soperton, GA 30457

912-529-3342

Troup County , Probate Court

118 Ridley
La Grange, GA 30240

706-883-1691

Turner County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 106
Ashburn, GA 31714

912-567-2151

Twiggs County , Probate Court

109 E Main St
Jeffersonvile, GA 31044

912-945-3390

Union County , Probate Court

Route 8 Box 8005
Blairsville, GA 30512

706-745-7007

Upson County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 469
Thomaston, GA 30286

706-647-7015

Walker County , Probate Court

Duke St, # 201
La Fayette, GA 30728

706-638-2852

Walton County , Probate Court

116 S Broad St
Monroe, GA 30655

770-267-1345

Ware County , Probate Court

800 Church St
Waycross, GA 31502

912-287-4315

Warren County , Probate Court

Main St
P.O. Box 346
Warrenton, GA 30828

706-465-2227

Washington County , Probate Court
Courthouse

P.O. Box 231
Sandersville, GA 31082

912-552-3304

Wayne County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 918
Jesup, GA 31545

912-427-5940

Webster County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 117
Preston, GA 31824

912-828-3525

Wheeler County , Probate Court

Pearl St
Alamo, GA 30411

912-568-7133

White County , Probate Court

1650 S. Main St
Cleveland, GA 30528

706-865-4141

Whitfield County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 868
Dalton, GA 30720

706-275-7400

Wilcox County , Probate Court

103 N Broad St
Abbeville, GA 31001

912-467-2220

Wilkes County , Probate Court

23 East Court St
Room 205
Washington, GA 30673

706-678-2523

Wilkinson County , Probate Court
Courthouse

100 Bacon St
Irwinton, GA 31042

912-946-2222

Worth County , Probate Court

201 Main St Room 13
Sylvester, GA 31791

912-776-8207