MARRIAGE LICENSES
Marriage License Eligibility
Persons must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a marriage license. If either person is age 17, there are additional requirements pursuant to O.C.G.A. 19-3-36, effective July 1, 2019.
17 year old may be issued a marriage license if all of the following are met:
- A petition is granted in Juvenile Court for emancipation and a certified copy of such Order is presented.
- 15 days have passed since the date the Order granting the emancipation was issued. Affidavit for Underage Marriage Applicant (PDF) is required to be completed and presented to the Court as proof of the emancipation order.
- The older party to the marriage is no more than 4 years older than the younger party.
- Each applicant aged 17 has completed premarital education pursuant to O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1. Certificate of Completion of Qualifying Premarital Education (PDF) is required to be completed for each 17 year old applicant and presented to the Court as proof of that education.
- $16.00 fee will be charged.
Applications
Marriage License Applications must be submitted online. Applicants will complete the application and answer all questions online before coming to the court to sign the application. Completed applications remain in the queue for 30 days. Both applicants must come to the court together within the 30 days to complete the process. You do not need to print your application so you may do this step from any device that is connected to the internet. The clerk of the Probate Court will print your application and witness your signature.
License Requirements
IDENTIFICATION
When applying for a Marriage License, applicants must present either a valid driver’s license, other identification card with photo and birth date, or valid passport.
PRIOR MARRIAGES
If either applicant has had a prior marriage they will need to produce, at the time of application, a copy of the Final Judgment or Decree of Divorce signed by the Judge of Superior Court, or if either applicant’s former spouse is deceased a death certificate will be required.
BLOOD TEST
As of July 1, 2003, blood tests are no longer required to obtain a marriage license.
Both Parties Must Be Present
Both parties will be required to be present at the Chattooga County Probate Court at the time of application in order to sign the application.
Fees
You may qualify for a waiver of the application fee if you attend a qualifying premarital education program pursuant to Georgia House Bill 378 which entails a minimum of 6 hours of counseling.
| Fees | Without Certification of Premarital Counseling | With Certification of Premarital Counseling |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $40 | $0 |
| Vital Records Recording Fee | $1 | $1 |
| Children’s Trust Fund Fee | $15 | $15 |
| Total | $56 | $16 |