Search Charlton County Marriage License

Marriage licenses for Charlton County are issued at the Probate Court in Folkston. Both people must visit the court together to fill out the application. Charlton County is in the far southeast corner of Georgia, bordering Florida and home to part of the Okefenokee Swamp. The standard license fee is $56, or $16 with a premarital education certificate. Georgia has no waiting period and no blood test requirement. You can get the license and hold your ceremony the same day if everything is in order. Folkston is the county seat and the only location for marriage license applications in Charlton County.

Charlton County Probate Court Location

The Probate Court in Folkston is the sole office for marriage licenses in Charlton County. It is a small court in a small town. Call ahead to make sure staff is available when you plan to visit.

The P.O. Box is for mail. Call (912) 496-2569 if you need the physical address. Folkston is a small community and the courthouse is in the center of town. Free parking is available.

Requirements for a Marriage License

Both people must come to the court at the same time. Each brings a valid photo ID:

• State driver's license or ID card
• Valid U.S. passport
• Certified birth certificate
• Military identification

If either applicant was previously married, bring a certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. The court will not issue a new license without confirming the prior marriage ended.

Applicants must be 18 or older. OCGA 19-3-2 allows a 17-year-old to marry with emancipation documentation and a premarital education certificate. The other party must be within four years of age. Under 17 is not permitted in any situation.

The application requires full names, birth dates, current addresses, and parents' names. Both sign under oath per OCGA 19-3-33. Each person also acknowledges the HIV/AIDS brochure per OCGA 19-3-35.1.

Charlton County Marriage License Fees

The fee is $56 without premarital education. With the certificate, it is $16. The course must be at least six hours, done within 12 months before applying, and led by a licensed professional or clergy member. OCGA 19-3-30.1 allows the reduced rate.

Bring the certificate when you apply. No certificate, no discount. All fees are non-refundable. Ask the court what payment methods they take.

After the Wedding Ceremony

Your officiant signs the license right after the wedding. Return it to the Charlton County Probate Court within 30 days under OCGA 19-3-30. Mail it or bring it in person.

The court records the signed license and sends you a marriage certificate by mail. This takes roughly 30 days. If you do not get it in 45 days, call (912) 496-2569 to check. Keep the certificate in a safe place for name changes and legal updates.

Georgia Marriage License Resources

For an overview that applies to all Georgia counties, visit georgia.gov.

This state page covers the general process. The Charlton County Probate Court in Folkston can answer local questions.

Apply Online or Search Records

Start the application at the Georgia Probate Records portal. Print the form and bring it when you visit. The in-person requirement still applies.

For existing records, try the marriage record search. The Georgia Department of Public Health has state records from June 1952 to August 1996. For all other years, contact Charlton County directly.

Who Can Perform the Wedding Ceremony

Georgia law gives you plenty of choices for an officiant. Ordained ministers and clergy of any denomination can perform weddings. Judges, magistrates, and justices of the peace are also authorized. The officiant does not have to live in Charlton County or in Georgia at all.

Friends and family members can get ordained online and legally perform a ceremony. Georgia does not require officiants to register with any state office. The main thing to remember is that the person who marries you has to sign the license. Then it needs to go back to the Charlton County Probate Court within 30 days. Do not let this step slip through the cracks.

Getting Married at the Folkston Courthouse

Some couples prefer to keep things simple and marry at the courthouse. The Charlton County Probate Court may be able to accommodate this. Call (912) 496-2569 to ask. Not every judge does ceremonies, so confirm before you make plans. If available, you can get your license and have the wedding in the same trip to Folkston.

Nearby Counties

Charlton County is in the far southeast of Georgia near the Florida line. Georgia residents can get a marriage license from any county.