Are Georgia Marriage Records Public?
Yes, Georgia Marriage Records are public. However, they are significantly more difficult to obtain than most public records because of the personal records and sensitive information they usually contain. Government organizations often offer marriage verification letters rather than original marriage records to requestors because marriage records must remain intact and unchanged with regard to the people involved in the marriage. If changes need to be made, these records are critical to that procedure.
Family Court Records can include marriage records and dissolution of marriage records. These records contain the personal information of those involved, and their maintenance is critical should anyone wish to make changes. Because of this, both marriage and divorce records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records and may not be available through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How to Find Georgia Marriage Records
Matrimony or wedlock, commonly known as marriage, is refers to a ceremony in which two individuals commit to sharing their lives with each other. In Georgia, this ceremony is a legal contract and the act of marriage culminates into shared benefits and obligations. Marriage records are created following the ceremony, and according to state law, it is deemed a Georgia public record accessible to interested members of the public. These records are maintained and disseminated by the State Office of Vital Records as well as Probate Court Clerk in the County where the marriage license was issued. While these records are typically available to the public on request, only couples or their attorneys can access certified copies of some of the marriage records.
Georgia marriage records include all documentation pertaining to the marriage proceeding including marriage license applications, marriage certificates, and verifications can be accessed and used for different purposes. The availability of a marriage record is therefore determined by the nature of the information contained within.
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in Georgia
Georgia Public Records Law permits the dissemination of marital information in the state. Persons seeking to find out if someone is married may send a marriage verification request to the Vital Records Office in their judicial district.
Typically, requestors are required to pay a search fee of $10 for all marriage records requests. This covers the cost of one copy of the document if the document is found, but if not found, the fee is non-refundable. An additional $5 applies to each extra copy requested at the time of purchase. Payments can be made via cash or money order payable to the clerk of the office being queried.
How to Check Marriage Status Online in Georgia
Interested members of the public may check marriage status online by utilizing the website of the county clerk or probate court in the judicial district where the marriage was likely to have held. Usually, these custodians maintain online searchable databases with which interested persons can verify the marital status of an individual using their name, birth date, the marriage dates or the marriage license number.
Alternatively, requestors may search through the search tools provided by third-party agencies for a fee to establish the marital status of any individual of interest. These tools are independent of government sources, but offer an expedited means to confirm information pertaining to public records. Finally, requestors may check marriage status online by conducting independent research using search engines and available social media.
What is Considered a Marriage Record in Georgia?
A Georgia marriage record is a document that provides legal evidence that a marriage occurred. These records comprise both Marriage Licenses and Marriage Certificates. A marriage record may be requested as proof of a name change, for genealogical research, or during divorce proceedings. Summarily, they are documents that state a legal marriage has taken place between two people.
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. But because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and dissolution of marriage records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
Where to Find Free Georgia Marriage Records
Requestors may be able to find free marriage records or marriage-related information by using the self-service computers available in the county courthouse where the marriage license was issued. These computers allow requestors to view marriage license information by searching with the subjects name, the marriage dates and the license issuance date. However, not all counties provide this service. However, if the requesting party requires a certified copy of the marriage record with a raised seal, they will be required to pay a fee in cash or by money order payable to the probate court clerk.
For requestors who can pay a nominal fee, a Georgia marriage record can be accessed by paying a relatively inexpensive fee. Interested persons may request a marriage record from the Georgia Department of Public Health State Office of Vital Records or the county Probate Court where the marriage occurred. The State Office of Vital Records has maintained records from June 1952 to August 1996. Records from before 1952 and after 1996 can only be accessed from the county Probate Court. It is recommended to ensure that the requesting party is requesting access to the correct record to fulfill the purpose of the request.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Georgia
Newlyweds must wait to get certified copies of a marriage license before changing their name after marriage in Georgia. The local county probate court, responsible for issuing the certificates, charges $10 for the first copy and $5 for additional copies. While turnaround times vary by county, most Georgia marriage licenses are ready within two weeks.
Once the marriage certificate is ready, Georgia residents that wish to effect a name change after marriage must first visit the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA is a priority as most agencies will only let a person change their name to whatever the SSA has on file. To change their name with the SSA, interested persons must download and fill out an SS-5 form and return it to their local SSA office in person or by mail. The SSA will process the application and return a new social security card in two weeks at no charge.
Next, the person changing their name after marriage in Georgia must visit their local DMV to change their driver's license. Georgia's DMV allows license-holders to get one free name or address change during each license term. However, if the license is close to expiry, they will need to renew the license and pay the renewal costs. Applicants must present their old license, marriage certificate, and SSA card. After changing their SSA card and driver's licenses, newlyweds may visit their local passport office to update their passports. They may also contact their financial institution to change their bank details.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in Georgia?
A Georgia Marriage Certificate is a document that is provided to each member of a marriage after the marriage has been finalized. Unlike a marriage license, they do not give legal permission to marry, but they offer proof that a marriage occurred.
How Do I Get My Marriage Certificate in Georgia?
It is recommended that to access a Georgia marriage certificate within 6 months after a marriage happens, the requesting party should contact the Probate Court where the marriage happened because the Vital Records Office may not have it on file yet. If requesting from the Vital Records Office and they do not have the file, a search fee will still be charged. To begin the process of accessing a Georgia Marriage Certificate, fill out a Request for Search of Marriage application available on the Georgia Vital Records webpage. The requesting party must also provide a photocopy or physical copy (if in person) of vail photo identification, such as:
- A state driver’s license that is unexpired or expired for no more than a year
- State identification card unexpired or expired for no more than a year
- Georgia Weapons Carry License card
- Passport
- U.S. Military or Veteran’s Identification card
- Consulate Card
- Debit Card with Picture
- ID Card from employer
- School ID Card
- DMV ID Card
- Department of Corrections Identification Card
It is possible to submit a mail-in request or request these records in person. For a mail-in request, submit all information to:
State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349
Response time for mail-in requests is typically 8-10 weeks. To make an in-person request, visit the State Office of Vital Records at:
State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349
It is also possible to visit any County Vital Records Office. Response time for in-person requests is the same day. All Georgia Vital Records Offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. It is necessary to pay for a request before service can be provided for requesting parties. The search fee for a Georgia Marriage Certificate is $10.00, and every additional copy is $5.00. Requesting parties may pay by check or money order. In-person request fees can be paid by cash, credit card, or debit card.
One can order Georgia marriage certificates online, however, other information pertaining to vital statistics documents like birth, death, and divorce certificates may require in-person queries to the vital records office or the county clerk.
How Do I Obtain a Copy of My Marriage Certificate in Georgia
Parties that wish to access copies of their own Goergia marriage certificates must follow state law in requesting these records. They must fill out a Request for Search of Marriage application available on the Georgia Vital Records webpage and provide photo identification and other information, including fees. To order online marriage certificates as a third-party, the requestor may be required to provide information regarding the subjects of the record as well as evidence of their eligibility to access the record. In most case, certified copies or records bearing a raised seal are not provided to third-party requestors unless they have a court order.
What is Considered a Marriage License in Georgia?
A Georgia marriage license is a document that gives legal permission for a couple to be married. The public can access copies of Marriage Licenses, but certified copies are only available to spouses. These are not accessible through the Office of Vital Records but through the probate court clerk.
The cost for a marriage license in Georgia is $56.00 without Premarital Education. With Premarital Education, the cost is only $16.00. When the certified copy is given to the parties, they will be charged $10.00 for each copy. There is an additional $10.00 fee for the Social Security Administration.
Are Prenups Public Records in Georgia?
Whether or not a prenup is public information is primarily dependent on the parties involved and the prevailing probate laws of the jurisdiction. A Prenuptial agreement, or premarital or antenuptial agreement, is a contract between two people about to be married. The contract explains how the couple intends to handle certain aspects of their lives, such as properties, debts, and other financial matters during their marriage. Also, the contract can specify how all these will be handled in case of divorce.
Notably, Georgia does not have a Uniform Prenuptial Agreement Act. However, the state specifies that the contract should be in writing and must be witnessed by at least two people who will equally endorse the document. The state enjoins the couple to file the agreement with the clerk of the superior court in the county where any spouses live.
Once the agreement is recorded with the court clerk, it may be accessible to interested and eligible persons. However, the dissemination of such information may be impacted by the couples preferences.
