Laurens County Marriage License

Laurens County marriage licenses are available through the Probate Court in Dublin, Georgia. Dublin is the county seat and the largest city in the county. The Probate Court is the place to go for all marriage license applications. Both parties must come in together with valid ID. The fee is $56 for a standard license. Couples who bring a premarital education certificate pay just $16 instead. Georgia does not require a blood test, and there is no waiting period before you can use the license.

Laurens County Probate Court Information

The Laurens County Probate Court in Dublin handles all marriage license requests for the county. Dublin is in central Georgia, and the court serves a fairly large area. The staff processes marriage licenses on a regular basis and can answer any questions you have about the process.

Call (478) 277-5020 to reach the Probate Court. Staff can help you prepare for your visit. Walk-ins are generally welcome, but it never hurts to call first. Laurens County is one of the larger counties in the area, and the court sees a good amount of traffic.

What You Need to Get a Marriage License

Both applicants must appear at the Laurens County Probate Court in person. There are no exceptions to this rule. Each person must bring a valid photo ID. The court checks both your identity and your age before issuing the license.

Types of ID the court will accept:

• State-issued driver's license or photo ID
• Valid U.S. passport
• Certified birth certificate
• Current military ID

Previously married? You need proof the marriage ended. A certified copy of the final divorce decree is the standard document. A death certificate works if your former spouse has passed. Without this proof, the court will not process your application. Both people must be at least 18 years old. Georgia law no longer permits marriage for anyone under 18.

You do not need to live in Laurens County. Georgia residents can apply for a marriage license in any county in the state. If neither person lives in Georgia, you can still apply in Laurens County, but the ceremony must take place here. Your Social Security number is required on the application.

Laurens County Marriage License Fees

The standard fee is $56 for a marriage license in Laurens County. This is the standard rate across most of Georgia. Couples who complete an approved premarital education course only pay $16. That is a savings of $40. The course has to be at least six hours and completed within 12 months of applying.

Bring the course certificate with you on the day you apply. The court needs to see it before they can apply the lower rate. The fee is due at the time of application. It is not refundable once paid, even if you decide not to use the license.

After the marriage is recorded, certified copies of the marriage certificate are available for a fee. You will likely need at least one or two copies. Ask the court about the current price per copy when you visit or call.

After the Ceremony

The officiant signs the marriage license once the ceremony is complete. The signed license must then be returned to the Laurens County Probate Court within 30 days. Do not let this deadline slip by. If the license is not returned in time, the marriage may not be recorded.

Once the Probate Court has the signed license, they record the marriage. This takes a bit of time. After recording, certified copies are available. These copies serve as your legal proof of marriage. Use them for name changes, adding a spouse to insurance, or any other official purpose.

The Georgia Department of Public Health at dph.georgia.gov has marriage records on file from June 1952 to August 1996. For records before or after that range, contact the Laurens County Probate Court.

Online Application for Laurens County

You can begin the marriage license application online at georgiaprobaterecords.com. Fill in the required fields, print the form, and bring it to the Laurens County Probate Court. This saves time at the office but does not replace the in-person visit. Both people still need to show up with their ID and pay the fee.

To search for existing Laurens County marriage records, use the marriage record search tool. The state page at georgia.gov has general info about marriage licenses in Georgia.

Officiants in Laurens County

Georgia law allows a variety of people to officiate weddings. Judges of any state or federal court in Georgia can perform the ceremony. Ordained ministers and clergy of any religion are also authorized. Magistrates and justices of the peace qualify as well.

No pre-registration is needed in Laurens County. The officiant just needs to sign the license after the ceremony and ensure it is returned to the court. Check with the Probate Court if you are not sure whether your chosen officiant qualifies under Georgia law.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Laurens County in central Georgia. You can apply for a marriage license in any county if you are a Georgia resident.