Access Sumter County Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Sumter County are issued by the Probate Court in Americus. Americus is the county seat and the largest city in the county. The Probate Court processes marriage license applications on a walk-in basis during normal hours. Both applicants must appear together with valid photo identification and the correct fee. The court staff can help you through the application. Sumter County sits in southwest Georgia and draws applicants from the surrounding area as well.

Sumter County Probate Court

The Sumter County Probate Court is in Americus and handles all marriage license applications for the county. The office also manages estates, guardianships, and other probate matters. Americus has a larger population compared to some nearby county seats, so the court processes more marriage applications than the surrounding rural counties.

Under Georgia law, all marriage licenses are issued through county probate courts. The basic requirements are the same across the state, though payment options and specific office procedures can differ from one county to the next.

The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. Arrive with enough time for the staff to process your application before closing. If you plan to visit in the afternoon, getting there by 4:00 PM is a safe bet. Call ahead with questions at (229) 928-4532.

Requirements for a Sumter County Marriage License

Both people who want to marry need to come to the Sumter County Probate Court in person. There is no option to send someone else or do it by mail. Each applicant must bring a valid form of photo identification.

Valid forms of ID include:

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

Anyone who has been through a previous marriage needs to bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Georgia will not issue a new marriage license while a prior marriage still exists on record. This rule is firm and applies to both applicants.

There is no blood test and no waiting period. The state dropped the blood test rule in 2003. Once your application is approved, the license is issued right then. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old may qualify if they have been emancipated and completed premarital education, but nobody under 17 can get a license.

Georgia residents can apply for a marriage license at any county probate court in the state. If neither person is a Georgia resident, you must file in the county where the ceremony will happen. For weddings in Sumter County, this is your office. The application is made under oath, and each person states that there is no legal reason they cannot marry.

Sumter County Marriage License Fees

A standard marriage license in Sumter County is $56. If you and your partner complete a qualifying premarital education program, you pay $16 instead. That saves $40.

The program has to be at least six hours long and finished within 12 months of the date you apply. Both people take the course together. The instructor must be a licensed professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or active member of the clergy. Bring the certificate with you when you file.

Call the court at (229) 928-4532 to confirm what payment methods they accept. Some Georgia courts take cards, while others only accept cash or money orders. The license fee is non-refundable once paid.

After the Wedding Ceremony

Your officiant signs the marriage license after the wedding. This is a required step. The signed license must go back to the Sumter County Probate Court within 30 days. Mail it to: Sumter County Probate Court, P.O. Box 333, Americus, GA 31709. You can also drop it off at the office.

The court records the license and sends you a marriage certificate by mail. Expect this to take a few weeks. If your certificate has not arrived within about 45 days, call the court to follow up.

Your marriage certificate is the official proof of the marriage. Keep it in a secure location. You will need it for things like changing your name on your driver's license, updating your Social Security card, modifying insurance, and other legal tasks. The Sumter County Probate Court can provide additional certified copies if you need them.

Searching Marriage Records in Sumter County

You can start the application process online at the Georgia Probate Records portal. Fill out the form from home and print it. Bring it with you to the Sumter County Probate Court when you visit. This speeds things up at the counter.

Search for existing Sumter County marriage records on the marriage record search page. It allows you to look up records by name for many Georgia counties.

The state vital records office at dph.georgia.gov has marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. Records before or after that range are held by the county Probate Court. The state charges a $10 search fee and $5 for extra copies. Sumter County may have different fees for local copies, so ask when you call.

For genealogy research or historical records, the Probate Court in Americus is the place to start. They hold the county's marriage records and can help with specific requests. Fees may apply for searches of older records.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County is in southwest Georgia. These counties surround it and each has a probate court that can issue marriage licenses.