Applying for and Obtaining a Georgia Marriage License

Marriage license regulations are not the same in all US states, nor necessarily the same in all counties of the same state. This is true of Georgia. These regulations are also subject to change. This is why you are advised right at the start to verify all data with the appropriate County Clerk’s office before you submit your application.

What You Will Have to Provide to Get Your Marriage License in Georgia

To begin with, to get your marriage license in the State of Georgia you will need to provide proof of your identity and age and certain other personal data relating to you both. This can be done quite easily. Basically you will have to provide two valid forms of ID. You can choose from the driver’s license, birth certificate, US passport, Armed Forces ID card or a Resident Alien ID card. All applicants are also asked to fill out a brief form.

The State of Georgia does not require you to be a state resident to be married in it. If you are not a resident however, you are required to apply in the county where the marriage ceremony is to be performed, and not in any other.

Both the bride and the groom are required to appear in person at the time of submitting the application for a Georgia marriage license. If either of you has been divorced within the previous six months, it is required that you produce a copy of the divorce decree to prove you can legally be married.

Happily, the state does not subject applicants to any waiting period before a Georgia marriage license can take effect.

Georgia is in equal parts liberal and traditional in as much as it recognizes cousin marriages and common law marriages. Like most other states though, the State of Georgia does not permit either proxy marriages or same-sex marriages. As a matter of fact, while certain states such as California have made limited provision for civil partnership deeds, Georgia is most unlikely to follow this lead.

Here’s a Program to Help Those Applying for a License in Georgia

The state has a unique and enlightened pre-requirement program for those applying for a Georgia marriage license. This program has been designed to give stability and durability to the institution of marriage. It is optional, but is armed with a very substantial incentive for accepting it because it reduces your marriage license fee from $65 down to $30.

This incentive is Georgia’s "Qualifying Pre-marital Education program." Under House Bill 378, this program aims to give the intending couple a short and basic course of training in the responsibilities of married life – communication, conflict resolution, financial management, parenting, etc. The program, conducted by professionals, must be completed within twelve months prior to the application, and the couple must undergo the premarital education together and provide the court a certificate of completion.

As of July 1st 2003, blood tests are no longer required in Georgia as part of the procedure of issuing marriage licenses. If you are about to apply, you may also be happy to know that a marriage license in the state has no specified time frame. That is, it is not time-bound. It can of course be used only within the State of Georgia.

The State of Georgia is enormously liberal on questions of marriage age and validation of teenage pregnancies. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may apply for a marriage license. You need however be accompanied by both parents who have given their written consent.

If the bride is pregnant, not even parental consent is required. All that is needed is for the applicants to submit a statement from a licensed physician certifying that the bride is pregnant. If you are an underage applicant who already has a child, you are required to present a certified copy of the birth certificate of the child at the time of application.

Where parental consent is not required, the court notifies parents or legal guardians by a letter that you have been issued a marriage license. You must pay an additional fee of $1.00 per letter.

Anyone authorized by his or her church or other recognized religion, as well as designated county officials may perform marriages. They must complete the license and send it to the appropriate county or state office within 30 days of the ceremony, and that office will then send you a completed certificate of marriage.