Marriage License

mari0225

Hello, we are getting married in Villa Rica, which I believe is in Carroll County, do we have to go to the Carroll County Courthouse to get our marriage license or could we get it at our local courthouse here in Douglas County? I am just wondering because there is a big cost difference between the two.

em01092

If at least one of you is a resident of GA, which it appears is the case, then you can get the marriage license in ANY GA county. You only have to get the license in the county in which the marriage will take place unless you are not residents of the state. 

It makes more sense to get your license in the county closer to you (and where it is cheaper), because that is where you will go to pick up copies of your marriage certificate and/or marriage license application after your license is processed, which you will need in changing your name (if you are doing so) and just to prove you are married for payroll, taxes, school/work, etc. 

Also, GA marriage licenses do not expire, but if you don't "use" it within 2 years or something crazy like that, you do have to go get a new one but it's free or a very low cost. FI and I got ours 3 weeks ago. 

Have you done premarital counseling? Be sure to bring along any proof of that if you have, because that can save you a good deal of money. A certificate of completion or typed note on a church/business letterhead with the name of program, dates, length, and topics discussed and then signed by officiant is all you need. 

All of this information I got from the Gwinnett County website and from the person we spoke with when we went. 

mari0225

Hey ring twin! Okay great yep he lives in Marietta and I live in Douglasville, I will be going to ours then, it's just much easier that way. Wow well FI and I need to get some time to go then. We thought our officiant would do that with us but he's not said anything and I have printed out that certificate of completion. I need to get with him soon so that we can get that taken care of and get our liscenes as soon as we can so we can get checked off the list.

Thanks for your help!

em01092

No problem! =D

Yeah just email him about it, should be NBD. You've got time! Ours just typed up a letter on the church letterhead, and that was fine. As long as it has all of that information about the course. Then after the ceremony, you all will sign it and he will mail it back to the courthouse it came from to be processed, then you can pick up the certificates ($10-ish each, I think) in like a week or 2. 

em01092

Don't forget to bring along your birth certificates! It needs to be a certified copy from the vital records/courthouse, with the raised seal or embossing, not a photocopy. 

Also remember cash or your checkbook, as they usually don't take cards for payment! 

mari0225

I will do that! I cannot believe how fast the wedding is approaching!

mari0225

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_georgia-atlanta_marriage-license-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:58Discussion:bf24ebf2-cb0f-4516-969f-0674e559dc6aPost:7088806d-29ca-4699-b469-7494a5186fc2">Re: Marriage License</a>:
[QUOTE]Don't forget to bring along your birth certificates! It needs to be a certified copy from the vital records/courthouse, with the raised seal or embossing, not a photocopy.  Also remember cash or your checkbook, as they usually don't take cards for payment! 
Posted by em01092[/QUOTE]

Okay! I have mine, I will make sure FI has his as well. Got it cash or checks!

jzaz903

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_georgia-atlanta_marriage-license-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:58Discussion:bf24ebf2-cb0f-4516-969f-0674e559dc6aPost:7088806d-29ca-4699-b469-7494a5186fc2">Re: Marriage License</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Don't forget to bring along your birth certificates!</strong> It needs to be a certified copy from the vital records/courthouse, with the raised seal or embossing, not a photocopy.  Also remember cash or your checkbook, as they usually don't take cards for payment! 
Posted by em01092[/QUOTE]

i think depends on the county. we got ours in cherokee and we filled out the form at home, went in with our cash, and that was that. i believe we had to show them our drivers licenses, but i don't fully remember. we got everything that day- went about 3 weeks before our wedding.

em01092

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_georgia-atlanta_marriage-license-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:58Discussion:bf24ebf2-cb0f-4516-969f-0674e559dc6aPost:9e6cd988-e3dc-4488-b868-633079752e40">Re: Marriage License</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Marriage License : i think depends on the county. we got ours in cherokee and we filled out the form at home, went in with our cash, and that was that. i believe we had to show them our drivers licenses, but i don't fully remember. we got everything that day- went about 3 weeks before our wedding.
Posted by jzaz903[/QUOTE]

<div>Yeah we got ours in Gwinnett, so I was just going off of that.</div><div>
</div><div>Mari, check Douglas county's website for what you need or call them. </div>

HYDROPHILE

We went into Paulding, brought cash and our driver's license and got our marriage license three months before our wedding.  No birth certificate, etc. needed. 

Marriage licenses in Georgia DO expire: they expire at 12:01 a.m. the day after the date of your wedding (printed on your license.)