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Georgia Marriage Laws
State of Georgia Marriage Laws and Georgia Marriage License Requirements
Are you looking to have the perfect wedding in the Peach State? Many couples choose to elope in Georgia because GA does not require any sort of waiting period. Besides just elopements in Georgia many couples have chosen Georgia as the place to conduct their destination wedding. Atlanta, which is located in Fulton county, and Stone Mountain are extremely popular destinations for those planning their honeymoon. Whether your Georgia wedding is going to be downtown Atlanta, located on top of Pine Mountain, or nestled somewhere on the Georgia coast you must first meet the Georgia Marriage License Requirements and laws set fort by the State of Georgia. Once you have read through the laws below and have settled on the Georgia County you wish to marry in, then follow up that decision with a call to the County Clerks office just to make sure you have everything in place before getting to the County Clerks Office.
Valid US ID
In the state of Georgia you must bring identification so that your age can be validated. Acceptable forms of identification are your driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, military ID or some other form of legal documentation. Both the bride and groom will be required to bring one form of identification.
Residency
There is no residency requirement in Georgia, but if you are not a resident then you will have to obtain your Georgia marriage license from the county in which you are going to marry.
Waiting Period
There is no waiting period in Georgia. Once the County Clerk’s Office has issued you your marriage license you may marry immediately afterwards.
Length Marriage License is Valid
Unlike most states, once a Georgia marriage license is issued it will not expire.
Medical and Other Tests
At one point the state of Georgia did require that both the bride and groom get a blood test, but as of mid 2003 that requirement was official dropped by the Georgia State legislator.
Age Requirements
You must be at least 16 years of age in order to obtain a marriage license in the state of Georgia. If you are 16 or 17 years of age, both parents and legal guardians must give their consent in person. If wedding applicants are underage and they have either already had a child together or either the bride is pregnant then parental consent is not needed. All that will be needed is either a copy of their child’s birth certificate or a letter from a certified Georgia physician stating that the bride is pregnant.
Marriages by Proxy
There are no proxy marriage allowed.
Previously Married
If either the bride or groom has been divorced in the last six months then a copy of the divorce decree will have to be brought to the County Clerk’s Office. Also, whether the marriage ended in death or a divorce you will have to be able to provided exact dates as to when your last marriage ended.
Fees and Taxes
The marriage license fee is normally $51.00 cash. As with most states only cash is an acceptable form of payment. If you have completed premarital counseling then the license is only $16.00, again cash only.
Marrying a Cousin
Yes you may marry a first cousin the Georgia.
Common Law
If you have a common law marriage from another state then it will be legally recognized in Georgia because of the full faith and credit requirement. Thought, Georgia itself does not recognize common law marriages unless it was officially recognized before Jan 1, 1997.
Same Sex Marriages
A constitutional amendment was passed in late 2004, which official band persons of the same sex to marry.
Wedding Officiants
The officiant can be a judge, city recorder, justice of the peace or a minister.
Miscellaneous
Please remember that marriage laws very from county to county, so make sure you contact the particular county you wish to marry in for exact details. Also make sure you ask if you have any questions because chances are the county clerk will only give you the very basics as far as requirements go. If you have any questions or concerns then you will have to ask some very direct question.
Obtaining a Copy of Marriage Certificate
To receive a copy of your marriage certificate you will need to write the Georgia department of Pubic Health in Atlanta requesting a copy.
Georgia Vital Records
2600 Skyland Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30319-3640
Phone: (404) 679-4701
Premarital Counseling
Though it is not officially required, premarital counseling is official endorsed by the state of Georgia. If you choose to get pre-marriage counseling then you will receive a discount of the marriage license. See “Fees and Taxes” above. Also, the premarital education must be completed within 12 months prior to the application for a marriage license and the couple must undergo the education together.
Surrounding State’s Marriage Laws and Requirements
If the Georgia marriage laws do not provided what you need to satisfy the requirements of your marriage then try checking the surrounding states. You can do so by looking at our marriage law write ups located here: Florida marriage laws, Tennessee marriage laws, North Carolina marriage laws, and Alabama marriage laws.
Topics: Georgia |
February 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am
proxy marriages are allowed in ga now, i am getting one while serving in iraq!
February 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Thanks for letting me know Joel, and thank you for your service!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:39 am
It is not true that a person under 18 in ga can get married if the bride is pregnant or they have a child together without parental consent. That law was changed a few years ago, when that 35 yr old woman got pregnant by a 15 yr old boy.
March 19th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
In Obtaining a copy of marriage certificate,in Georgia is there a mistake as to what city to obtain it? I believe Montgomery is the capital of Alabama. I think you meant Atlanta.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Ron thank you. You are correct!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:10 am
As of july 1 2006 it became illigal for a pregnant fifteen year old to get married. i got married june 30 2006 for that reasonthe (35yo and 15yo)my wife was 15 i was 16