Learn How to Find Georgia Marriage Certificate Copies and Where They Are Filed

If you are trying to track down a Georgia marriage record – be it a copy of the license, or divorce data, or whereabouts of people who figure in it – you can make it as easy or difficult for yourself as you like.

This is because the record may not be where you expect it to be but in some other county office. You may not have all the data regarding the marriage, date or place, which could make the search a lot harder. Finally, even if you have the relevant facts, you may not go about it the right way!

Get Results from Your Request

It is not enough just to send off a letter of request. There are some simple rules to follow if you want the local or state government to take notice of your request and process it quickly. At the very least, make your letter concise and to the point. Those who know how Georgia records offices respond advise against making more than two requests at one go.   

You are writing about a real person and an important civil event – be helpful for your own sake, and submit as much relevant data as you possibly can. If the person you are writing about uses or used more than one name, include them all, even nicknames and alternate spellings.

What if you cannot provide an accurate marriage date? Can you provide an approximate time span for a search? Try to narrow the search down as much as possible, because you will be charged extra for the years any search must cover.

A marriage deed may fill up many pages. Do not make the mistake of paying your service fees in advance if you do not know the number of pages. Your application isn’t going to be processed any faster. If you pay either more or less than the right amount, you’re inviting bureaucratic delays. Don’t guess. Be patient and pay when you are asked to.

If you must pay in advance however, send a signed, blank check. Under the "$__________" line of the check, write in red ink, "Not to exceed $__.00" – the maximum you expect to pay.

If you don’t know how much to pay, you will have be prepared to write two letters. The first letter should be a statement of what you need, along with all the information you can provide, and a request to be sent an inventory of charges. You can then safely enclose your check for the exact sum in your second letter.

You must always remember to enclose a stamped and self-addressed envelope along with this initial request.

State and county offices are quite often short of hands. Besides, genealogical research is not part of their job. They do it as a kindness, but in return, expect all the patience and courtesy you can extend – especially if you find their responses slower than you might want!

How Can You Apply for A Marriage License Copy?

If you request a copy of a Georgia marriage license, including the following is a must:
 
•    Husband’s full name (last name in caps)
•    Wife’s full maiden name (last name in caps)
•    Marriage date 
•    Marriage location 
•    Relationship to you 
•    Why the record is needed
•    Your name & address
•    Your driver's license number & state (some counties require it)
•    Your signature

You can access GA marriage records from 1952 to 1996 at the Georgia Division of Public Health, Vital Records, Room 217-H 47, Trinity Ave., SW Atlanta, Georgia 30334-5600, or call 404-656-4750. You'll be asked to pay just a $10 fee. For earlier or later marriages, however, you need to make contact with the county probate courts that issued the licenses.

You can get certified copies of marriage licenses, but only the bride and groom shown on the marriage license can get copies of license applications!

Get It Online: Quick And Trouble-Free!

You can now place a request to receive your copy of a Georgia marriage record through the Internet. There was a time when you had to write a letter and send it off in the hope that the postal system would carry it to the destination. Then, you had to wait for a reply. At the best of times, this was very time consuming. That is not the case any more. Now with a simple click you can place that request and save a lot of time and effort.