How to get a marriage license in Henry County, Georgia

Four steps to your license

1. Apply online. Fill in the court's online application before you arrive.
2. Book an appointment. Book an appointment online and choose the "Marriage License" appointment type. The court can answer questions at 770-288-7600.
3. Go in together. Both of you go to the court together, in person, to finalize and sign the application. You must be signed in before 4:00 PM.
4. Pay and receive your license. Pay $76, or $36 with a qualifying premarital education certificate. There's no waiting period, so the license can be issued right away.

Where and when to apply

The court

The Henry County Probate Court is in the George C. Alexander Building (formerly the McDonough Library) at 99 Sims Street, McDonough, GA 30253. Call 770-288-7600 with any question about your application.

Application hours

Marriage license applications are taken Monday–Friday, 8:00–11:30 AM and 1:00–4:00 PM. Because the application takes a while, you must be signed in before 4:00 PM. Check the court's page for holiday closings before you pick a day.

Who can apply

Both of you must be at least 18. A 17-year-old may marry only if emancipated and other conditions are met, so if that applies to you, call the court before you make any plans.

You don't need to live in Henry County, or in Georgia: Georgia has no residency requirement. If at least one of you lives in Georgia, you can apply at any county probate court in Georgia, not just your home county. If neither of you lives in Georgia, the license must come from the county where your ceremony will take place. Our guide for out-of-state couples covers that case step by step.

What to bring

Proof of age

Each of you needs proof of age that shows your full name and date of birth: a driver's license, certified birth certificate, baptismal certificate, certificate of citizenship papers, armed forces discharge papers, identification card or hospital admission card. If you're not sure your document will be accepted, call the court before you go.

Social Security numbers

Be ready to give each applicant's Social Security number. If one of you doesn't have one, call the court before you apply.

If either of you was married before

Bring a copy of the decree that ended your most recent marriage, by divorce or annulment, or the death certificate if your last marriage ended when your spouse died. Ask the court which kind of copy it needs.

Your married name

You choose your married surname on the application itself, so decide before you go.

What you don't need

You don't need a blood test; Georgia stopped requiring one on July 1, 2003.

What it costs and how to pay

The license fee

The license costs $76. It costs $36 if you bring a properly completed premarital education certificate, a saving of $40. Our premarital education discount guide explains how to qualify.

Paying at the court

The court accepts cash (no bills over $50 unless you have exact change), Visa, MasterCard, American Express, local Henry County checks numbered over 500, and money orders. A card processing fee applies, so ask the court for the amount if you plan to pay by card.

Extra copies

Extra certified copies are $10 each.

After you have your license

The Probate Court does not perform marriage ceremonies, so you arrange your own ceremony and officiant. The court publishes a short list of local officiants. If you're getting your license well before your wedding date, ask the court whether it has an expiration date.

Who can marry you

Georgia law lets these people perform a marriage: the Governor or a former Governor, a judge (including state and federal judges in Georgia), a city recorder, a magistrate, or a minister or other person authorized by the rules of their religious society. If you have a question about whether a particular person qualifies, ask the court.

Returning the signed license

After the ceremony, your officiant must return the signed license to the probate court within 30 days. If a license is never returned, Georgia law lets the sworn statements of two witnesses to the ceremony establish the marriage. Whether you need witnesses at the ceremony itself is a question for the court.

Your certificate and copies

Your marriage certificate then arrives by mail, typically within 30 days. One set of certified copies is mailed to you. You can order more later, online, by mail or in person, at $10 each.