Marriage Licenses are administered through Catoosa County Probate Court.

License Fee

Payable with cash or card (3% credit card processing fee applies)

• $75 without counseling
• $31 with 6 hours of counseling

Application Process

1. Submit a Marriage License Application online OR fill out an application in person at the Probate Court office located inside the Catoosa County Courthouse, 875 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA. If you choose to fill out the application online, you have 2 weeks after the information is submitted to complete the application process at Probate Court.

2. You must bring ONE of the following with you if you are filling out the application in person OR have submitted the application online and need to complete the process:

• Valid Driver's License
• Valid State Issued ID
• Certified Birth Certificate (any country)
• Valid Passport
• Proof of Dissolution of Prior Marriage

Requirements

• Proof of Dissolution of Prior Marriage
  If either applicant has been previously married and the marriage was dissolved by divorce or annulment, a copy of the decree of divorce or annulment must be presented at the time of application. Applicants who have been married and divorced more than once need only provide a certified copy of the decree dissolving the last previous marriage. (Effective January 1, 2020)

• Residency Requirement
  If one of the parties is a resident of Georgia, the license can be issued in any county. If neither party is a resident of Georgia, the license must be issued in the county in which the marriage ceremony is to be performed.

• Application
  A marriage license is issued based upon a written or online application made by the applicants, verified by oath of the applicants. No blood test required.

• Surname
  The applicants must designate on the application the legal surname that will be used after the marriage. An applicant may choose his or her given surname or his or her surname as changed by order of the superior court, the surname from a previous marriage, the spouse's surname, or a combination of the spouse's surname and the applicant's given or changed surname or surname from a previous marriage.

• Legal Requirements
  The parties must be of sound mind, must have no living spouse from an undissolved prior marriage, and must not be related in a degree prohibited by law. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

• Death Certificate required if most recent marriage ended with the passing of spouse.

*Persons related by blood or marriage, falling within the following relationships may not be married in Georgia: (1) father and daughter or stepdaughter, (2) mother and son or stepson, (3) brother and sister of the whole blood or half blood, (4) grandparent and grandchild, (5) aunt and nephew, and (6) uncle and niece.

Marriage of a Minor

A 17-Year-Old may be issued a marriage license IF ALL THE FOLLOWING ARE MET:

1. A petition is granted in Juvenile Court for Emancipation and a Certified Copy of such order is presented. (See 15-11-720)
2. 15 Days have Passed since the date the order granting Emancipation was granted.
3. The Older Party to the marriage is no more than 4 years older than the younger party.
4. Applicants have completed Premarital Education according to 19-3-30.1 (There are Additional counseling requirements for those 17 Years Old).

Please Note: In July of 2019, minor marriage law changes were made excluding any 16 year old from applying for a marriage license

Premarital Education Program

The Premarital Education shall include at least six hours of instruction involving marital issues, which may include but not be limited to conflict management, communication skills, financial responsibilities, child and parenting responsibility, and extended family roles. The premarital education 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:

• A professional counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist who is licensed pursuant to Chapter 10A of Title 43
• A psychiatrist who is licensed as a physician pursuant to Chapter 34 of Title 43
• A psychologist who is licensed pursuant to Chapter 39 of Title 43
• 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.