Search Webster County Marriage License

Webster County marriage licenses are processed at the Probate Court in Preston. Both people planning to marry must show up together at the courthouse. Webster County is one of the smallest counties in Georgia by population, but the probate court still handles all marriage license work for the area. You will need valid photo ID and the standard fee. There is no blood test and no waiting period under Georgia law. Once you get your license, you can hold the ceremony right away. The license is valid across the entire state.

Webster County Probate Court

The Webster County Probate Court in Preston is the only office that issues marriage licenses in the county. Because the county is very small, the office may have limited staffing. Calling ahead is strongly recommended before making the trip.

Reach the office at (229) 828-5775. The mailing address is P.O. Box 117, Preston, GA 31824. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The court is closed on weekends and all state holidays.

Since Webster County has such a small population, the probate court may not process many marriage licenses each year. This can work in your favor since wait times are usually very short. Ask the clerk about ceremony options when you visit. The probate judge may be able to perform a wedding at the courthouse.

Requirements for a Webster County Marriage License

Each applicant must appear in person. You cannot send someone else. Both of you need valid photo identification. Georgia does not require a blood test for marriage. That requirement ended in 2003. There is also no waiting period, so the license works immediately.

The court accepts these IDs:

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

Both applicants must be at least 18. Anyone who was previously married must bring documentation that the earlier marriage is over. A certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate will satisfy this rule. The clerk will check before issuing a new license.

Residents of Georgia can apply in any county. You are not limited to Webster County just because you live there. Similarly, you can come from another county to apply here. Non-Georgia residents must use the county where the wedding will take place.

Webster County Marriage License Fees

A standard marriage license costs $56 in Webster County. This is the same base fee used in most Georgia counties. If you and your partner finish a premarital education course of at least six hours, the fee goes down to $16. The course must be done within 12 months before you apply.

Bring the course certificate with you to the courthouse. The clerk needs to see it before granting the reduced fee. Payment is due at the time of application. Fees are non-refundable. Check with the clerk about what payment methods they take.

You can get certified copies of your marriage certificate after the license is recorded. Contact the Webster County Probate Court for pricing on copies. In-person pickup and mail requests are both options in most cases.

After You Get Married

The officiant signs your license right after the ceremony. It must be returned to the Webster County Probate Court within 30 days. Mail it to P.O. Box 117, Preston, GA 31824, or drop it off at the courthouse in person.

Once recorded, the marriage becomes part of the public record. You can then order certified copies of the certificate. The court may mail you a copy, but check with the clerk to make sure.

Georgia's state vital records office at dph.georgia.gov maintains marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. For records outside that range, the county probate court is the right place. Contact the Webster County court for records that fall before or after those dates.

Georgia Marriage License Overview

The state provides marriage license details on the Georgia.gov marriage license page. What you read there applies in Webster County and in every other county in the state.

Georgia's system is uniform. The laws are the same across all 159 counties. Both people come in with ID, pay, and get the license on the spot. The only county-level differences are office hours, available payment types, and whether the judge will do a ceremony.

Start Your Application Online

Begin filling out your marriage license application at the Georgia Probate Records portal. Complete it at home, print it, and bring the printout to the court in Preston. You will still need to appear in person with ID and payment to finalize everything.

Search existing marriage records from Webster County at the online marriage search tool. Not all historical records may be available online. The court can help with records not in the system.

Nearby Counties

Webster County is surrounded by these Georgia counties. You can apply in any of them as a Georgia resident.