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Making It Legal

The Grown-Up Stuff

I’m happy to also assist you in navigating the “grown up” stuff to ensure that your wedding is officially recognized. It isn’t super complicated, but you will have to follow the letter of the law for a legally recognized wedding. Here’s what you need to know:

Georgia Residents

If at least one of the couple being married is a resident of Georgia, a marriage license can be issued at a probate court in any county. That means you can obtain the license in your home county, or here in Blue Ridge at the Probate Court of Fannin County.

Non-Georgia Residents

If neither person is a resident of Georgia, the license must be issued in the county where the ceremony is taking place. The good news here is that Blue Ridge is a small town, so it’s easy to breeze in and out of the courthouse.

Here in Fannin County, marriage licenses are issued Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at the Probate Court of Fannin County. All applicants must fill out the application online before going to the office. APPLY ONLINE HERE FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE.

Within two weeks, applicants must go to the Probate Court to complete the application process. In this case, both applicants must appear in person to complete the application. A picture ID is required for both applicants. A divorce decree or death certificate from the former spouse is required from any applicant that has had a prior marriage.

Fees for marriage licenses:

  • $36 for couples with a certificate of pre-marriage counseling
  • $76 for couples without a certificate of pre-marriage counseling

Fees are payable by cash, check, money order or credit card (Visa/MasterCard). Certified copies of the marriage license are an additional $10 per copy.

The signed marriage license should be returned to the probate court within 30 days of the ceremony. You will then receive your marriage certificate in the mail within 30 days.

For further information, please visit the Fannin County government website.

Questions? Contact me to talk through the grown-up stuff.