Acquire Free Cobb County Marriage Records on Anyone

Perform your own free Cobb County marriage records search for any reason.

Marital records can assist with a genealogy search or prove a marriage for a business or legal reason. You can even look up marriage records just to learn more about someone and satisfy your curiosity.

Access to marriage records is afforded under the Georgia Open Records Act. While this law allows citizens to view or obtain these records, it does not dictate how they must be provided to the public. Also, there are different requirements for accessing certain marriage records (certificates and applications).

Depending on the age of a marriage record, it may be held by a different custodian. This resource offers guidance for accessing all available marriage records in Cobb County.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Search Cobb County Marriage Records for Free

If a citizen is looking to perform a marriage records search, they can do so through the Cobb County Probate Courts Online Records Repository.¹ This online tool is the quickest way to access marriage record information.

Select “marriage license” under the Court Types drop-down menu to conduct a search. Under that is the cause of action drop-down menu, which includes an option to focus on marriage or historic licenses.

For more recent marriage records, deselect the historic marriage license option. A record seeker can then enter a person’s name and conduct their search.

The search results will provide all matching records with the party’s names, year of marriage, case number and status. To review additional information, click on the “+” icon on the far left-hand side of the results. The full record will include the filing date, identifying information of each party and the case docket.

The case docket will allow a citizen to view both the marriage license and the original application form. Either of these documents can be saved or printed for informational purposes at no additional cost.

If you need a certified copy of a marriage license or application, you can submit a request online for records from May 1973 to the present.² You must provide both parties’ names and the date of marriage. You can also provide the same information via mail or in person at the address below:

Cobb County Probate Court
32 Waddell St.
Marietta, Georgia 30060

The cost is $10.00 per certified copy (an additional $2.50 service fee for an online request). For additional information, you can contact the Cobb County Probate Court by email at [email protected] or by phone at 770-528-1921.³ They are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Note: Unlike some states, Georgia has no restrictions on who can request a certified marriage record.

Marriage records are not available at the city level in Cobb County. Additional information on how to access archived marriage records when performing a genealogy search will be provided below.

How To Look Up Historical or Archived Marriage Records in Cobb County

If you want to perform a genealogy search, you will need access to archived records, including marriage information. Accessing archived Cobb County marital records may require you to check through various resources to find what you seek.

One option is to check with the Cobb County Genealogy and History Resources.⁴ They have certain resources such as microform and other options to access archived marriage records.

For additional information or to make a reservation to view records in person, contact the Georgia Room front desk at 770-528-2333 or 770-528-2326. You can also send an email to [email protected] or go to the location listed below:

Cobb County Georgia Room
266 Roswell St.
Marietta, Georgia 30060

In addition, you can also check with the Cobb County Probate Court and follow the process outlined earlier, as they are the record custodian for marriage records. For questions on the availability of archived marriage records, you can contact the Cobb County Probate Court by phone at 770-528-1900 or by email at [email protected]. Their office is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

As part of your search for archived records, you should also check with public libraries, local historical societies and religious institutions. Many such religious institutions kept track of the marriages they performed. You may find marriage records in old newspapers, indexes and other documents.

A citizen may also want to look with the Georgia Archives for marriage records.⁵ They have marriage records throughout the state available starting in 1805.

For information on accessing these records, you can contact the Georgia Archives from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.⁶ You can call them at 678-364-3710 or visit them at the address below:

Georgia Archives
5800 Jonesboro Rd.
Morrow, Georgia 30260

You may also want to look for records that are not traditional marriage certificates, such as common-law marriages. Common law marriages are no longer recognized in Georgia except those before 1997. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are not authorized by Georgia law.

How To Locate Georgia Marriage Records Outside of Cobb County

With the above information, you have all the tools to access Cobb County marital records. However, you may have a need to locate Georgia marriage records outside Cobb County. While, if you have the information, you can search with another county agency, there is a more comprehensive option.

The broadest option for accessing marriage records throughout the state is by making a request with the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Office of Vital Records.⁷ You can request a certified marriage record, application or verification through this state agency.

At the state level, marriage applications and certificates are available from June 1952 to August 1996. A record seeker must complete the Request for Search of Marriage Form to obtain a certified copy.⁸ The form requires the full name of both parties to the marriage and the date and location where the parties were married.

You must also provide your contact and shipping information as well as your relationship with the people listed on the record.

Marriage verifications, which can be used for informational purposes, are available from 2014 to the present. A person can receive this information by completing a Marriage Verification Request Form.⁹ This form requires the same information as marriage applications and certificates.

The finalized form for either type of request, along with the fee and copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, can be mailed or brought to the address below:

State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Ste. 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30349

The cost for a certified marriage certificate, application or verification is $10.00. This will include the non-refundable search fee regardless of whether the record you are requesting is found or not. A requester will be charged $5.00 for each additional copy requested.

If by mail, payment can only be made by certified check or money order made payable to the GA State Office of Vital Records.

For additional questions, you can contact the Georgia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records by phone at 404-657-2700.¹⁰ They are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. They are located at the following address:

Georgia Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
200 Piedmont Ave., SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Note: Marriage certificates and verifications are available to anyone; however, certified applications are only available to the people listed on the record.

How To Request a Cobb County Georgia Marriage License

If you and your partner are considering getting married, you will need to get acquainted with the process of applying for a marriage license in Cobb County. Marriage licenses are granted by the Cobb County Probate Court.¹¹

Marriage licenses are available to both residents as well as nonresidents of Georgia. However, for nonresidents, they must obtain a license in the county where the marriage ceremony is going to be performed.

Marriage licenses must be requested at their office, and both parties must be present at the same time. While walk-ins are accepted, it is preferred that you schedule an appointment online.¹² You can also schedule an appointment by calling the Probate Court at 770-528-1931.

When requesting your marriage license, you will have to provide proof of how old you are, which can be done with a valid government-issued identification. This includes the following:

• Passport
• Driver’s License
• Military ID
• Original or Certified Copy of Birth Certificate

Prior to you and your partner going to the probate court, you must complete the Cobb County Marriage License Application.¹³ The marriage license application requires detailed information about each party, including their name, gender, date of birth and race. You also are required to provide your contact information and details of any previous marriage.

Lastly, you are required to provide information about your parents, including their birthplace and address.

The cost to purchase a marriage license in Cobb County is $56.00. That fee is reduced to $16.00 if a couple provides a completion certificate for an approved premarital education program. The education must be completed by both parties, and it must be within twelve months of the marriage license application.

More information on qualified courses can be obtained by calling the Probate Court at 770-528-1931.

If you are not planning your own wedding ceremony, you can request that one be conducted by the Magistrate Court, which you can schedule by calling them at 770-528-8900.¹⁴ Unlike other states, Georgia marriage licenses do not have an expiration date, so there is no pressure to get married within a certain timeframe.

For additional information, you can contact the Cobb County Probate Courts Marriage Department by phone at 770-528-1931 or at the address below:¹⁵

Cobb County Probate Court
32 Waddell St.
Marietta, Georgia 30090

You are now equipped with the resources for applying for a marriage license in Cobb County; you can also perform a thorough search of Cobb County marriage records with the tools and resources provided in this article.