General Information
Age Requirement
Residence
Blood Test
Premarital Education Program
Proof of Age
Name After Marriage
Pregnancy or Child Born Out of Wedlock
Restrictions
Costs
Marriage Ceremonies
Parental Consent
Hours
Contact Us

General Information

• There are two sets of fees for obtaining a marriage license. One set of fees if the couple seeking the license presents a certificate of completion of a qualifying premarital education program, and another set of fees if the couple does not. If the couple has the certification, the total cost is $26.00. Without certification, the total cost is $67.00. Included in the costs is one certified copy of the marriage license. Additional copies cost $10.00 each. Often the Social Security Administration requires a certified copy of the license application when name changes are sought.
• The court cannot accept personal checks, credit cards, or debit cards. Payment for a marriage license must be in the form of cash, certified check, or money order.
• To get a marriage license without parental consent, you must be 18 years old.
• You must present proof of age: driver's license, birth certificate, draft card, or Baptismal Certificate.
• A marriage license may be issued in any county if one of the persons to be married is a resident of the State of Georgia. If neither the bride nor the groom is a resident of the state of Georgia, the license must be purchased in the county in which the ceremony is to be performed.
• If either applicant is 16 or 17 years of age, they must get parental consent. No marriage license can be issued to anyone under 16 years of age. As of July 1, 2006, pregnancy is no longer a waiver of the age requirement.

Age Requirement

To get a marriage license in Georgia without parental consent, the applicants must be 18 years of age. If either applicant is 16 or 17 years of age, they must get parental consent.

Residence

Both the bride and groom must apply in person in any county in Georgia, as long as one is a resident of Georgia. If neither one is a resident of Georgia, then the couple must apply in the county where the ceremony will be performed.

Blood Test

Marriage licenses issued after July 1, 2003 do not require a blood test.

Premarital Education Program

In order to qualify for the reduced fee, the couple must provide the court a signed and dated certificate of completion of a qualifying premarital education program.

Under House Bill 78 (O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1), a qualifying premarital education program shall includeat least six hours of instruction involving marital issues, which may include but not be limited to conflict management, communication skills, financial responsibilities, child and parenting responsibilities, and extended family roles. The program must have been completed within twelve months prior to the application and the couple must have undergone the premarital education together. To qualify, the premarital education must have been performed by:

1. a professional counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist;
2. a psychiatrist;
3. a psychologist;
4. an active member of the clergy when in the course of his or her service as clergy, or the designee of such active member of the clergy, provided the designee is skilled and trained in premarital education.

Proof of Age

Georgia law requires proof of age to be presented at the time of making application. By law, acceptable proof of age is any of the following: birth certificate, drivers' license, baptismal certificate, certificate of birth registration, selective service card, court record, passport, immigration papers, alien papers, citizenship papers, armed forces discharge papers, armed forces' identification card or hospital admission card, containing the full name and date of birth. In the event an applicant does not possess any of the above but appears to be at least 25 years of age, the applicant may then give an affidavit on a form available at the Marriage Bureau stating the applicant's age.

Name After Marriage

Georgia law requires each applicant to designate the legal surname he or she will use after marriage. The applicant may choose:
• His or her present surname,
• Spouses' surname or
• A combination of the two.

Pregnancy or Child Born Out of Wedlock

Effective July 1st 2006, pregnancy or having a child born out of wedlock is not a waiver of the age requirement. The applicants must be 18, or if they are 16 or 17 they must get parental consent. No marriage license can be issued to anyone under 16 years of age.

Restrictions

The applicants must be of sound mind and cannot have any undissolved marriages. Any person who marries a person to whom he knows he is related, either by blood or by marriage, as set forth in this paragraph, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than three years:

• father and daughter or stepdaughter
• mother and son or stepson
• brother and sister of the whole blood or the half blood
• grandparent and grandchild
• aunt and nephew
• or uncle and niece.

Costs

There are two sets of fees for obtaining a marriage license. One set of fees if the couple seeking the license presents a certificate of completion of a qualifying premarital education program, and another set of fees if the couple does not. If the couple has the certification, the total cost is $26.00. Without certification, the total cost is $67.00.

Included in the costs is one certified copy of the marriage license. Additional copies cost $10.00 each. Often the Social Security Administration requires a certified copy of the license application when name changes are sought.

Marriage Ceremonies

Once you have obtained your marriage license, a Magistrate Judge is available Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to perform wedding ceremonies. Magistrate Judges are located in Room 1200 of the courthouse annex. An appointment is not required.

Parental Consent

The parents or guardians of each 16 or 17 year old, applicant is to come before the judge and consent to the marriage license. If a parent or guardian cannot attend because of illness, he/she must provide an affidavit signed by a licensed attending physician stating that the parent is physically incapable of attending.

If parents or guardians live in a different county or state, they may appear before the Probate Judge or other official authorized to issue marriage licenses in their jurisdiction and obtain a certificate stating that the parents or guardians consent to the marriage.

Hours

The Marriage Bureau is open Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The marriage recording number is (404) 37l-2601.