Georgia Marriage License

Georgia marriage license
How to apply for one

Are you looking to get married in the U.S. state of Georgia? If you are then you couldn’t have chosen a more scenic backdrop to hold your wedding ceremony, nicknamed the ‘peach state’ it is a quaint, quiet area with a rich southern charm that captures many visitors hearts.

To obtain a Georgia marriage license you don’t have to be an actual resident of the state, but if one of you is then you can apply from any other U.S. state by mail or online.

If both members of the couple are from other areas, then you will have to physically be in Georgia in order to apply for and receive your marriage license.

Every state has a different set of rules and regulations when it comes to applying for a marriage license and Georgia has their own requirements; here are a few points that you might want to bear in mind when organizing your wedding plans.

Waiting period and cost of marriage license

In Georgia there is no waiting period for licenses, though the pricing works on different system, this state like many others in the U.S. has started to encourage newly weds to take part in a pre-marital training course, which covers skills on how to deal with a number of marriage issues.

At the end of the 6 hour course you are given a certificate, which you can present to the registry clerk to receive a discount on your license fee.

Without the certificate you will be asked to pay $61 and if you have completed the course you will only nee to pay $21 for everything.

Georgia Marriage License Requirement

Requirements and regulations of a Georgia marriage license:

You will need to present the registry office clerk with 2 valid forms of identification; these can include a birth certificate, military forces ID card, U.S. Passport or a driver’s license. Apart from this you may also be asked to fill out a form regarding your family history, it might also ask for some brief details about your close family members.
If you have been divorced or separated from and ex-partner within the previous 6 months prior to your marriage, then you will be asked to present the clerk with a copy of either the divorce papers or in the case of your spouses passing, you should bring the death certificate with you.
In regards to minors wanting to marry, couples under the age of 16 cannot obtain a Georgia marriage license. Some counties will allow 16 – 17 year old apply with the consent of their legal guardians, though they will have to be present and hold valid identification. A judge would also have to hear from both parties and make a decision as to whether the marriage is valid or not.
Couples that take a 6-hour pre-marital education course before applying for their license will by law entitle them to a lower marriage license fee. To be entitled to the government subsidized discount the course needs to be taken together with your partner, no more than 12 months before the date of your application.