How to Get Married in Georgia (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Georgia · Last updated 2026-05-18
In Georgia, a wedding is not just a personal milestone but a series of state-law steps with their own deadlines. Between license issuance and the ceremony itself, the rule is: None. A license may be issued immediately. The window during which the license remains usable: The license does not have an expiration date. Common-law-marriage status: Recognized only if established before January 1, 1997. This guide lays out the Georgia-specific sequence and the documents and rules that govern it.
Key Considerations
License timing in Georgia has two pieces. The waiting period sets when the ceremony can lawfully happen: None. A license may be issued immediately. The validity window sets when the license stops being usable: The license does not have an expiration date. See the state agency website. Ceremonies are scheduled inside the intersection of those two rules.
Beyond the license itself, two Georgia rules shape what counts as a legally completed marriage. The first is whether Georgia still permits common-law marriage at all: Recognized only if established before January 1, 1997. The second is the list of people who may lawfully perform the ceremony: state law fixes the officiant categories; in nearly every state these include ordained or credentialed religious clergy and current judicial officers, with additional state-specific categories for civil celebrants and ministerial designees (consult the state code). Both are settled by statute.
License fee and age eligibility are the two threshold Georgia marriage questions. the license fee is collected by the local clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office, depending on the state) and the dollar amount varies across issuing offices (consult the state code). 17. A couple that has not confirmed both before appearing at the clerk's office risks a delayed or denied application.
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Relevant Documents
Documents commonly produced at a Georgia marriage-license appointment: the marriage-license application form, identification for each applicant, and (where relevant) the certificate of completion of an approved premarital preparation course. shall not be charged a fee for a marriage license. Payment of the marriage-license fee is handled at the counter when the Georgia application is filed.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Marriage License Requirements (O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30)
In Georgia, couples must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must appear in person at the probate court in any county in Georgia (not just the county where you'll marry). You'll need to provide identification (driver's license, birth certificate, or passport), and pay a fee (typically $56-67, though reduced if you complete premarital counseling). There is no waiting period in Georgia, so you can get married the same day you receive your license.
Marriage Age Requirements (O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2)
In Georgia, the minimum age to marry is 18. Previously, 16 and 17-year-olds could marry with parental consent, but as of July 1, 2019, Georgia law was changed to prohibit anyone under 18 from marrying, with no exceptions. This is relevant for couples to ensure both parties meet the legal age requirement.
Premarital Counseling Discount (O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1)
Georgia offers a significant discount on marriage license fees for couples who complete premarital counseling. If you complete at least 6 hours of counseling with a qualified provider (minister, psychologist, professional counselor, etc.), you can receive a discount of around $40 on your marriage license fee. The counseling must include topics like conflict management, communication skills, financial responsibilities, and child-rearing expectations.
Who Can Perform Marriages (O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30)
In Georgia, marriages can be performed by judges (including retired judges), magistrates, city recorders, ministers, or other religious officials. The person performing your ceremony must complete and return the marriage license to the probate court within 30 days of the ceremony for your marriage to be officially recorded. This is important to ensure your marriage is legally recognized.
Covenant Marriage Option (O.C.G.A. § 19-3-3.1)
Georgia offers couples the option of entering into a 'covenant marriage,' which is a legally distinct type of marriage that demonstrates a stronger commitment to the marriage relationship. Couples who choose this option must receive premarital counseling, sign a declaration of intent, and agree to seek marital counseling if problems develop. Covenant marriages also have more limited grounds for divorce, making the dissolution of marriage more difficult.
Regional Variances
Marriage License Requirements in Georgia
Fulton County requires both parties to appear in person at the Probate Court. The marriage license fee is $56, with a discount to $16 if couples complete a premarital education program. Fulton County offers a unique online pre-application system to expedite the in-person process.
Cobb County requires a $40 marriage license fee (reduced to $0 with premarital education). They specifically require certified birth certificates for applicants under 25 and have stricter identification requirements than some other counties.
DeKalb County charges $56 for marriage licenses and requires appointments for marriage license applications. They have a specific policy allowing marriage ceremonies to be performed at the courthouse immediately after license issuance for an additional $10 fee.
Chatham County has special provisions for non-resident military personnel stationed in Georgia, waiving certain waiting periods. They also offer extended hours on Thursdays for marriage license applications.
Clarke County has a unique policy regarding marriage licenses for UGA students, accepting student IDs as secondary identification. They also have specific guidelines for international students getting married in Georgia.
Waiting Periods and Blood Tests
Georgia has no statewide waiting period between obtaining a license and getting married. However, marriage licenses are valid for only 6 months from issuance. Georgia eliminated blood test requirements statewide in 2003.
Same-Sex Marriage Policies
Same-sex marriage is legal throughout Georgia following the 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. All counties must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples under the same terms as opposite-sex couples.
While legally required to issue licenses to all couples, some rural probate courts have different practical procedures. Some smaller counties may have limited experience with same-sex marriages, potentially resulting in inconsistent application processes.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Apply for the Georgia marriage license at the issuing clerk's office
Before the ceremony days after startingthe license fee is collected by the local clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office, depending on the state) and the dollar amount varies across issuing offices (consult the state code). Bring valid government-issued photo identification for each applicant and any documentation the clerk requires (proof of termination of any prior marriage, for example).
Bring the identification stack the clerk expects: current photo ID for each applicant and, for applicants who have been.
Before the ceremony days after startingThe clerk verifies these on the spot.
Calendar the post-license waiting period (if any) before the ceremony
Before the ceremony days after startingNone. A license may be issued immediately. Scheduling the ceremony inside the waiting window will make the marriage unenforceable, so the date must fall on or after the earliest lawful day.
Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period.
Before applying days after startingshall not be charged a fee for a marriage license. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later.
Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date
Before the ceremony days after startingThe license does not have an expiration date. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply.
Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes
At the ceremony days after startingstate law fixes the officiant categories; in nearly every state these include ordained or credentialed religious clergy and current judicial officers, with additional state-specific categories for civil celebrants and ministerial designees (consult the state code). Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively.
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office
After the ceremony days after startingThe officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply for the Georgia marriage license at the issuing clerk's office | the license fee is collected by the local clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office, depending on the state) and the dollar amount varies across issuing offices (consult the state code). Bring valid government-issued photo identification for each applicant and any documentation the clerk requires (proof of termination of any prior marriage, for example). | - | Before the ceremony |
| Bring the identification stack the clerk expects: current photo ID for each applicant and, for applicants who have been. | The clerk verifies these on the spot. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Calendar the post-license waiting period (if any) before the ceremony | None. A license may be issued immediately. Scheduling the ceremony inside the waiting window will make the marriage unenforceable, so the date must fall on or after the earliest lawful day. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period. | shall not be charged a fee for a marriage license. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later. | - | Before applying |
| Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date | The license does not have an expiration date. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes | state law fixes the officiant categories; in nearly every state these include ordained or credentialed religious clergy and current judicial officers, with additional state-specific categories for civil celebrants and ministerial designees (consult the state code). Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively. | - | At the ceremony |
| Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office | The officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
Recognized only if established before January 1, 1997. Where a state does still recognize common-law marriage, the elements (present-tense agreement to be married, cohabitation in the state, holding out as married) vary in detail, and a couple relying on the doctrine should document each element.
None. A license may be issued immediately. Couples planning a Georgia ceremony should calendar the earliest lawful date from license issuance and book the ceremony on or after that day; a ceremony performed before the period runs is not a lawful marriage.
the license fee is collected by the local clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office, depending on the state) and the dollar amount varies across issuing offices (consult the state code). Pricing is best confirmed against the issuing clerk's published fee schedule. In states with a premarital-course discount, the course-completion certificate is presented at the application appointment to claim the reduction.
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