Marriage licenses may be obtained at the Gwinnett County Probate Court - Vital Records Division Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please check for holiday closings. Gwinnett County Probate Court - Vital Records Division is located in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, Georgia. If you do not read or write English, please bring a translator, as there are none in the Probate Court. Both the bride and groom must appear in person to apply for the marriage license. If either party is a resident of Georgia, application for the marriage license can be obtained in any Georgia county and the marriage can take place in any county of Georgia. However, if neither party is a resident of Georgia, the application must be made in the county where the marriage ceremony is to be performed. The Georgia marriage license is good indefinitely for marriage ceremonies performed only in the state of Georgia. We would ask that you try to use the license within one year from the date of purchase.

Effective May 1, 2007, an applicant for a Marriage License shall provide to the court at the time of application one of the following: (a) a certified copy of your birth certificate and photo identification issued by a state or federal government entity that has not expired; or (b) a valid passport from any country. In the event a person requests that the name on their marriage license be different than what is disclosed above, he/she must bring legal documentation, which shows his/her name has been legally changed. If the applicant presents a certified copy of his/her birth certificate and the birth certificate is in a language other than English, then the applicant shall attach to the certified copy of his/her birth certificate a copy of the birth certificate translated to English by a certified translator, i.e. the applicant shall present to the court a certified copy of the birth certificate in German and a translated version of the birth certificate in English indicating that the translation was done by a certified translator. The certified translator shall include on the translated document the certified translator's name, address, phone number, and certification credentials.

If either party has been previously married and divorced within the last 12 months, they must present an original certified copy of their divorce decree. Women who have had their maiden name restored to them in a divorce must have their name changed on their I.D. before coming to Probate Court.

Georgia code reads that in applying for a marriage license, a man and woman who certify on the application for a marriage license that they have successfully completed a qualifying premarital education program shall only have to pay a $16.00 fee for the marriage license. The premarital education shall include at least six hours of instruction involving marital issues, which may include, but not be limited to conflict management, communications skills, financial responsibilities, child and parenting responsibilities, and extended family roles. The premarital education classes shall be completed within 12 months prior to the application for a marriage license and the couple shall undergo the premarital education together. The premarital education shall be performed by: (1) A professional counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist who is licensed pursuant to Chapter 10A of Title 43; (2) A psychiatrist who is licensed as a physician pursuant to Chapter 34 of Title 43; (3) A psychologist who is licensed pursuant to Chapter 39 of Title 43; or (4) An active member of the clergy when in the course of his or her service as clergy or his or her designee, including retired clergy, provided that a designee is trained and skilled in premarital education. Each premarital education provider shall furnish each participant who completes the premarital education required by this Code section a notarized Certificate of Completion, which the original must be presented at the time of application. This certificate can be obtained by the Probate Court if needed. The premarital education provider can also issue the couple a letter on the facility letterhead, with complete name (both signed and printed), address, telephone number, and all pertinent information that would appear on the Certificate of Completion (Couple's Name, Beginning and Ending Date of classes, and Total Number of Hours). There will be no exceptions. If the couple chooses not completed a premarital education class, the cost of a marriage license will be $51.00. Marriage licenses can be paid for in the form of cash, personal check, or money order.

Sixteen and seventeen year olds may receive a marriage license only when either the biological or adoptive parents of the underage applicant appears in person and presents a certified birth certificate of the underage applicant showing both parents names on the birth certificate. They also must provide valid identification and consent in writing to the marriage. Marriage licenses are issued when the consent is obtained. The cost of the marriage license will be $16.00 with the certificate of completion for the premarital education classes or $51.00 should the couple choose not to attend these classes.

A certified copy of your marriage certificate may be obtained at the Gwinnett County Probate Court as soon as the marriage license has been returned to the Probate Court by the officiant. You may come into the office any time Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please check for holiday closings. Or, you may send in a written request to the Gwinnett County Probate Court, Vital Records Division, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046, ATTN: Marriage License Department. Your written request should include the full name of both the bride and groom as they appear on the marriage license and the date of the marriage. Indicate also, how many marriage certificates you need. If one of the parties will be changing their last name to their spouse's last name, you will also need to purchase a certified copy of the Marriage Application. The Social Security Administration requires this. If you will be filing for naturalization or citizenship status through INS, please indicate on your request that you need one blue signature certificate. The cost for each certified marriage certificate is $5.00. The cost for each certified application is $5.00. Payment can be in the form of cash, personal check or money order. You may send cash at your own risk. You must also include a stamped, self-addressed envelope back to yourself with your request.

If you should have further questions, please call the Probate Court at 770-822-8250; or for an actual marriage information recording call 770-822-8265 and follow the prompts for Marriage License or Marriage Certificates.

You can get married at the courthouse Monday to Friday from the hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with no appointment necessary in the Magistrate Court.

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