The Legal Part
the georgia Marriage License
Your ceremony makes it sacred. The license makes it legal. What the Georgia probate courts publish, in plain words.
What The State Publishes
The Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia publishes the basic rules on its marriage license page.
- If one of you is a Georgia resident, the license can be issued in any county. If neither of you is, it must be issued in the county where the ceremony will be performed.
- You apply in writing, under oath, and the application states the surname each of you will use after the marriage.
- Both of you must be at least 18, with a narrow rule for 17 year olds who are emancipated. No one under 17 can be issued a license.
- Premarital blood tests have not been required since July 1, 2003.
- A couple who completes a qualifying premarital education program of at least six hours together, within 12 months before applying, is not charged the license fee, though other charges may apply. Clergy are among the providers who can give it.
Source gaprobate.gov marriage licenses. Check your county probate court for its own fee, hours, ID rules and how to return the license.
Two Ceremonies, One License
However many ceremonies you hold, one license makes you married in Georgia.
For South Asian Weddings
Most families plan the religious ceremony in detail and leave the license to the last minute. Do it a few weeks out, and decide early which officiant will sign it. For a Hindu ceremony that may be the priest. For a nikah, the imam. For a fusion wedding with two ceremonies, pick one, and tell that officiant before the day.
If premarital education with clergy fits your faith, ask your priest, imam or granthi whether they offer a program that meets the state requirement. It may save the license fee.
There is a full guide at georgiamarriagelicenses.com.
Which County
Metro Atlanta spreads across several counties, including Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Cobb, and each has its own probate court with its own hours, fee and process. If one of you lives in Georgia, the state says any county can issue the license, so many couples choose the court closest to home or work. If neither of you lives in Georgia, the license must come from the county where the ceremony will be performed, so check which county your venue or temple is in. Chateau Elan in Braselton and Lanier Islands in Buford, for example, sit outside the city.
A Simple Checklist
- Pick the officiant who will sign, and confirm they will.
- Decide your legal surnames before you apply.
- Look up your county probate court for its fee, hours, ID rules and whether you need an appointment.
- If you are doing premarital education, finish it and bring the certificate.
- Apply a few weeks before the wedding, together.
- Give the license to the officiant before the ceremony, and make sure it goes back to the court afterward.
Questions Couples Ask
Where do we get a marriage license in Georgia?
From a county probate court. If one of you is a Georgia resident, any county can issue it. If neither of you is, it must come from the county where the ceremony is performed.
Is there a blood test?
No. Georgia has not required a premarital blood test since July 1, 2003, according to the state probate court site.
Can we avoid the license fee?
The state says a couple with a certificate from a qualifying premarital education program of at least six hours, taken together within 12 months, is not charged the license fee. Other charges may apply.
Do we need the license for a religious ceremony?
For a marriage to be legal, yes. Al-Farooq Masjid, for example, publishes that it requires a valid license before a nikah.
How much is the license?
Fees are set by each county and change, so check your county probate court.
