Seminole County Marriage License

Marriage licenses for Seminole County are processed at the Probate Court in Donalsonville. This county sits in the far southwest corner of Georgia, near both the Florida and Alabama state lines. The Probate Court serves as the only location to apply for a marriage license in the county. Both people must appear in person. Bring valid photo identification and the required fee. The process typically takes less than an hour, and staff are ready to help you complete the application from start to finish.

Seminole County Probate Court Information

The Seminole County Probate Court in Donalsonville handles marriage licenses along with other probate matters. Donalsonville is the county seat and the only place in the county to apply. The court is open on weekdays during standard hours.

Because Seminole County borders both Florida and Alabama, couples from those states sometimes come here for their license. Keep in mind that if neither person lives in Georgia, the license must be obtained in the county where the ceremony will take place. For more on how Georgia handles marriage licenses, check the state's official page.

Closed on weekends and state holidays. If you are traveling from a distance, a quick phone call can confirm that the office is open and the right staff member is on hand. Smaller courts may have limited coverage at times.

What You Need for Your Application

Both people must show up at the Seminole County Probate Court in person. No one else can apply on your behalf. Each applicant must present valid photo identification so the court can verify identity and age.

The following forms of ID are accepted:

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

If you were married before, you must bring proof that the previous marriage has ended. A certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate works. The court will not issue a license without this documentation.

Georgia does not have a waiting period. Once your application is processed and approved, the license is yours. No blood test is required. That has not been a requirement since 2003. You have to be 18 or older. There is a narrow exception for 17-year-olds who are legally emancipated and meet additional conditions, but no one under 17 can marry in Georgia.

If at least one applicant lives in Georgia, you can apply in any county. If neither of you is a Georgia resident, the application must be filed in the county where your wedding will be held.

Marriage License Fees in Seminole County

The fee for a marriage license is $56. That is the standard amount used by most Georgia counties. Couples who present a certificate of completion from an approved premarital education program pay just $16.

The premarital course has to be at least six hours. Both people attend it together. It must be done within the 12 months before the application date. A licensed professional counselor, social worker, therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or active clergy member must conduct the course.

Call the Seminole County Probate Court at (229) 524-5256 to find out which payment methods they accept. Having the right form of payment ready when you arrive makes the process smoother. The license fee is non-refundable.

After the Ceremony Is Done

The person who officiates your wedding signs the marriage license. This step is required by law. The signed license must be returned to the Seminole County Probate Court within 30 days. You can drop it off or mail it to: Seminole County Probate Court, P.O. Box 672, Donalsonville, GA 39845.

After the court records the returned license, they will send you a certified marriage certificate by mail. Allow several weeks for processing. If your certificate has not arrived within about 45 days, give the court a call.

The marriage certificate is an important document. Keep it somewhere safe. You will use it for name changes on government IDs, Social Security updates, insurance changes, and other official tasks. If you need more than one copy, the Probate Court can issue certified duplicates.

Seminole County Marriage Records Online

Fill out the marriage license application from home through the Georgia Probate Records website. Print the completed form and bring it to the Seminole County Probate Court when you visit. This can cut down on time at the office.

To search for an existing Seminole County marriage record, try the marriage search page on the same site. You can look up records by name and find results from counties across Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996. Check dph.georgia.gov for details on ordering copies. The state charges a $10 search fee and $5 per additional copy. For records outside that time period, contact the Seminole County Probate Court directly. They hold local records before 1952 and after 1996.

Genealogy researchers and those looking for older records should start at the county level. The Probate Court has the most complete collection of local marriage records over time.

Nearby Counties

Seminole County is in the southwest corner of Georgia. These neighboring counties each have their own probate court for marriage licenses.