Atlanta Courthouse Wedding: Your Complete Guide to Getting Married at Fulton County Probate Court

At a Glance

What Makes Atlanta Special

Most couples don’t realize this: the City of Atlanta doesn’t actually handle marriages. All marriage licensing and civil wedding ceremonies in Atlanta run through Fulton County government offices, specifically the Fulton County Probate Court in downtown Atlanta. Once you know that, everything else falls into place.

What sets Atlanta apart from cities like New York City or Boston is the “Forever Fridays” program. Every Friday, the Fulton County Probate Court performs free wedding ceremonies from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No appointment needed. You and your partner walk in, say your vows in front of a court-provided officiant, and walk out married. Georgia has no waiting period on marriage licenses, so Atlanta is one of the few major U.S. cities where you can get your license and get married on the same day.

The practical side is just as appealing. No blood tests. No residency requirement. No witnesses legally needed. Georgia keeps the marriage process simple, and Fulton County keeps it affordable. If you take a qualifying premarital education course beforehand, your total cost for the marriage license drops to just $28.50, making an Atlanta courthouse wedding one of the most affordable options in the country.

Step by Step: How to Get Married at the Atlanta Courthouse

1. Gather your documents

Before anything else, make sure both of you have a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID). Know your Social Security numbers. If either of you was previously married, bring the certified divorce decree, annulment papers, or death certificate from your former spouse. Photocopies won’t be accepted.

2. Complete the Fulton County online application

The Fulton County Probate Court offers an online marriage license application form. Fill it out before your visit. This cuts your in-person wait time to roughly 10 to 30 minutes instead of starting from scratch at the counter.

3. Visit the Probate Court together

Both of you must appear in person at the same time. Head to 136 Pryor Street SW, Suite C-230, in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

4. Pay the marriage license fee

The standard Georgia marriage license costs $68.50 in Fulton County. If you completed a qualifying premarital education course, bring the certificate and the fee drops to $28.50. Credit and debit cards are accepted (no American Express). Cash is only accepted at the downtown location. The fee is non-refundable.

5. Receive your marriage license

Your Fulton County marriage license is issued on the spot. There is no waiting period in Georgia, so it’s valid the moment you receive it.

6. Choose your ceremony option

You have three choices for your Atlanta wedding ceremony:

• Forever Fridays (free): Walk-in civil ceremony at Probate Court, Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Magistrate Court: Available Monday through Thursday. Contact them at 404-613-9071 to schedule.
• Private officiant: Hire any authorized Georgia officiant (judge, clergy member, or notary public) and have the ceremony wherever you want, any day of the week.

7. Have your ceremony

Show up with your marriage license, your partner, and up to six guests (for courthouse ceremonies). The court provides the officiant for Forever Fridays.

8. Return the signed marriage license

After the ceremony, your signed marriage license must be returned to the Fulton County Probate Court within 30 days for official recording.

9. Receive your certified marriage certificate

Your certified marriage certificate will be mailed to you within approximately 30 days of recording. One certified copy is included with your license fee. If you haven’t received it after 45 days, email Probate.Licenses@fultoncountyga.gov.

Marriage License Details

What You Need to Bring

Each person needs:

• Valid government-issued photo ID: Driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID
• Social Security number: Have the number available (you may not need the physical card)
• Certified divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate: Required if either party was previously married, especially if the divorce was finalized within the last 30 days
• Premarital education certificate: Optional, but presenting one saves you $40 on the marriage license fee

Fulton County Marriage License Fees

Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards accepted at the Fulton County Probate Court. No American Express. Cash accepted at the downtown location only. Money orders also accepted. All fees are non-refundable.

A note on fees: Some older guides list the Fulton County marriage license fee as $56. That figure is outdated. The current fee is $68.50 as confirmed by the Fulton County Probate Court website. We recommend confirming the exact fee with the court before your visit, as fees can change.

Important Rules

• Both applicants must be at least 18 years old (17-year-olds may apply only if emancipated for 15+ days and both parties complete specialized premarital counseling)
• Both must appear in person together at the Fulton County Probate Court
• Neither party can be currently married to someone else
• Parties cannot be more closely related than second cousins
• Georgia residents can apply for a marriage license in any county; non-residents must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place
• No blood test required (Georgia eliminated this requirement)
• No waiting period after the license is issued
• No residency requirement for couples marrying in Fulton County
• Fulton County marriage licenses do not expire (unusual compared to most counties nationally, so worth confirming directly with the Probate Court)

Ceremony Details

Forever Fridays at Fulton County Probate Court (Free)

The “Forever Fridays” program is the most popular option for courthouse weddings in Atlanta. Every Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Fulton County Probate Court performs civil wedding ceremonies at no additional cost beyond the marriage license fee.

What to expect:

• No appointment required. Walk in during ceremony hours.
• Up to six guests are allowed in the ceremony room.
• The court provides the officiant. You don’t need to bring your own.
• Ceremonies are brief and simple. Expect a short, dignified civil ceremony with standard vows.
• Arrive early on popular dates. Valentine’s Day week, holiday weekends, and summer Fridays tend to draw more couples.

We recommend confirming that the Forever Fridays program is still active before planning your visit. Call the Fulton County Probate Court at 404-613-4583.

Magistrate Court Ceremonies (Monday through Thursday)

If Friday doesn’t work for your schedule, the Fulton County Magistrate Court performs wedding ceremonies Monday through Thursday during business hours. You’ll need to schedule your ceremony in advance.

Contact the Magistrate Court at MagistrateCourt@fultoncountyga.gov or call 404-613-9071 to confirm availability and any associated ceremony fees. We recommend confirming ceremony details and costs directly with the Magistrate Court before your visit.

Private Officiant (Any Day, Any Location in Georgia)

Get your marriage license from the Fulton County Probate Court, then have any authorized Georgia officiant perform your wedding ceremony. This gives you complete flexibility on timing and location. Authorized officiants in Georgia include:

• Judges and magistrates
• Ordained clergy members
• Notaries public

This is a great option if you want a weekend ceremony, an outdoor wedding at a park or garden in Atlanta, or a more personalized experience outside the courthouse.

Special Wedding Events

Fulton County occasionally hosts themed group wedding events, particularly around Valentine’s Day and Halloween. These events can be a fun, memorable alternative to a standard courthouse ceremony. Contact the Probate Court to ask about any upcoming special event dates in 2026.

Photography and Guest Tips

During the marriage license application: Only the two applicants are allowed inside the Probate Court office. Leave your guests and family in the waiting area.

During the courthouse ceremony: Up to six guests can join you for Forever Fridays ceremonies at the Fulton County Probate Court. If you’re inviting more than six people, consider hiring a private officiant and choosing a venue with larger capacity.

Photography inside the courthouse: Policies on professional photography equipment (tripods, external flashes, large camera rigs) can vary. Contact the courthouse in advance to ask what’s allowed. Phone and small camera photos are generally fine during ceremonies.

Best photo locations near the courthouse: Many couples take their wedding photos outside the courthouse or at nearby downtown Atlanta locations after the ceremony. Popular spots within a short walk or drive include:

• Centennial Olympic Park
• The Georgia State Capitol building
• Woodruff Park
• The Jackson Street Bridge (for skyline views)

We recommend confirming the current guest limit policy with the Fulton County Probate Court before your visit.

Practical Tips

Complete the online application first. This is the single biggest time-saver. Filing the Fulton County marriage license application online before your in-person visit cuts your wait time down to 10 to 30 minutes.

Plan your Friday carefully for same-day marriage. If you want to get your marriage license and have your wedding ceremony on the same day, you can only do this on a Friday. Get to the Probate Court when it opens at 8:30 a.m. for your license, then return for the Forever Fridays ceremony starting at 10:00 a.m.

Save $40 with premarital education. A qualifying premarital education course drops your Fulton County marriage license fee from $68.50 to $28.50. Georgia offers several approved programs, some of which can be completed online.

Leave American Express at home. The Probate Court accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. No AmEx. Cash is accepted only at the downtown location.

Order extra certified copies of your marriage certificate. You’ll want 2 to 3 certified copies for name changes at the Social Security Administration, DMV, U.S. passport office, and your bank. Additional copies cost $10 each.

Factor in downtown Atlanta logistics. The Fulton County Courthouse is in downtown Atlanta, so plan for parking costs and traffic. MARTA public transit is a reliable alternative, and the Five Points station is within walking distance of the Probate Court.

Bring originals, not copies. If you need to show a divorce decree or death certificate, it must be a certified original document. Photocopies will be rejected.

What to wear to your courthouse wedding. There’s no formal dress code for ceremonies at the Fulton County Probate Court, but most couples dress up somewhat. Business casual to semi-formal is typical. Wear whatever makes you feel like you’re celebrating.

Best time to go. Mid-morning on a non-holiday Friday tends to be the least crowded for Forever Fridays ceremonies. The first and last hours of the day at the Probate Court office also tend to be busier for license applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to get married at the Atlanta courthouse?

The total minimum cost is $68.50 for the standard Fulton County marriage license. If you have the ceremony through the free Forever Fridays program, there’s no additional ceremony fee, so $68.50 covers everything. If you completed a qualifying premarital education course, the license fee drops to $28.50, making that your total cost for an Atlanta courthouse wedding.

Can you get married the same day you get your marriage license in Atlanta?

Yes, but only on a Friday. Georgia has no waiting period, so your marriage license is valid the moment it’s issued. On Fridays, you can get your license from the Fulton County Probate Court in the morning and have a free ceremony through the Forever Fridays program that same afternoon. On other days, you would need to schedule a ceremony at the Magistrate Court (Monday through Thursday) or arrange a private officiant.

Do you need witnesses to get married in Georgia?

No. Georgia law (OCGA 19-3-32) does not require witnesses for marriage ceremonies. That said, having one or two people present as witnesses is still a good idea for personal documentation purposes, even though it’s not a legal requirement.

Does a Fulton County marriage license expire?

Fulton County marriage licenses reportedly do not expire, which is unusual compared to most counties across the United States. After your wedding ceremony, the signed marriage license must be returned to the Fulton County Probate Court within 30 days for recording. We recommend confirming the no-expiration policy directly with the Probate Court before your visit.