Destination Couples
Out Of State And International Couples
Georgia welcomes couples from anywhere. One rule decides where you apply.
The One Rule
Apply Where You Marry
If neither of you is a Georgia resident, the license must be issued in the county where the marriage ceremony will be performed. Council of Probate Court Judges. If just one of you lives in Georgia, any county works.
Glynn County shows how it plays out on the coast. A Glynn license for out of state residents is only valid in Glynn County, so a destination couple marrying on Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island or Sea Island gets the license in Brunswick.
Where Destination Weddings Happen
Which Court For Which Place
| Wedding In | County | Court |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah or Tybee Island | Chatham | Chatham County |
| Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, Sea Island | Glynn | Glynn County |
| St. Marys or Cumberland Island | Camden | Camden County |
| Darien or Sapelo Island | McIntosh | McIntosh County |
| Richmond Hill | Bryan | Bryan County |
| Most of Atlanta | Fulton | Fulton County |
| Decatur | DeKalb | DeKalb County |
| Newnan or Senoia | Coweta | Coweta County |
Planning From Far Away
Make One Trip Count
Both of you have to appear in person, so plan the court visit into your arrival. Book the appointment early where one is required. Chatham, DeKalb, Glynn and Effingham require them. Bring passports if you have them, and certified translations for any foreign divorce decree or death certificate.
International Couples
Courts ask for a certified translation of any legal document not in English. Gwinnett adds that it must be complete, signed by the translator and notarized by someone other than the translator. After the wedding, an apostille makes the certificate usable in Hague Convention countries. See certified copies and apostille.
Two Examples
How The Rule Works
A couple from Charlotte marrying at a Savannah church, neither living in Georgia, gets the license from the Chatham County Probate Court, because the ceremony is in Chatham County. A couple where the bride lives in Atlanta and the groom lives in Chicago, marrying on Jekyll Island, can get the license in Fulton, Cobb or any other Georgia county, because one of them is a Georgia resident.
What Residence Means
The Council of Probate Court Judges frames the rule around whether one of the parties is a resident of Georgia. If you have just moved or split time between states, ask the court before you book which county it will issue in for you.
Time In Georgia
Plan a weekday for the court. Probate offices keep weekday hours, so a couple flying in on a Friday for a Saturday wedding should land early enough to reach the court before it closes.
Questions
Questions Couples Ask
Can out of state couples marry in Georgia?
Yes. There is no residency requirement. If neither of you lives in Georgia, you get the license from the probate court in the county where the ceremony will be.
Can we use a Georgia license in another state?
No. DeKalb and Liberty County both say a Georgia license is only valid for ceremonies performed in Georgia.
We live in Georgia but are marrying in another state. Do we get a Georgia license?
No. A Georgia license only works for a ceremony in Georgia. Get the license in the state where you will marry.
What ID should international visitors bring?
A valid passport is accepted as proof of age by most of the courts in this guide. Any legal document not in English needs a certified translation.
How do we use our Georgia certificate abroad?
Order a certified copy from the probate court and get an apostille from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, or a Great Seal certification from the Secretary of State for countries outside the Hague Convention.
Coming To Georgia
I photograph destination weddings on the Georgia coast and in Atlanta. Tell me where.