Fees
Georgia Marriage License Fees And Premarital Education
What each county charges, how premarital education cuts the price, and what your certificate has to show.
By County
What Each Court Charges
| County | Without Certificate | With Premarital Certificate | Good To Know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham County | $76 | $36 | Includes one certified copy | Court page |
| Glynn County | $40 | No fee | Base fee schedule effective January 1, 2025 | Court page |
| Fulton County | $68.50 | $28.50 | Includes one mailed certified copy | Court page |
| DeKalb County | $66 | $26 | Includes one certified copy, plus $2 shipping | Court page |
| Cobb County | $56 | $16 | Certified copies $10 each, none free | Court page |
| Gwinnett County | $56 | $16 | Certified copies $10 each | Court page |
| Camden County | $76 | $36 | Certified copies through EZCourtPay | Court page |
| Liberty County | $76 | $36 | Cash only | Court page |
| Effingham County | $76 | $36 | Cash, check, money order or card | Court page |
| Coweta County | $56 | $16 | Notarized premarital form, 5% card fee | Court page |
Last checked November 2026, from each court's own page.
McIntosh and Bryan County fees were not confirmed online for this guide. Call those courts.
Premarital Education
Six Hours, Forty Dollars
Under Georgia law, a couple who brings a certificate of completion from a qualifying premarital education program when they apply is not charged the marriage license fee itself, though other charges may apply. Council of Probate Court Judges. In every county in this guide the certificate takes exactly $40 off the total.
What Counts
- At least six hours of instruction on marital issues
- Topics such as conflict management, communication, finances, children and parenting, and extended family roles
- Completed within the 12 months before you apply
- Taken together as a couple
Who Can Teach It
Qualified Providers
- A professional counselor, social worker or marriage and family therapist licensed in Georgia
- A psychiatrist licensed as a physician
- A licensed psychologist
- An active member of the clergy, or their designee trained and skilled in premarital education, including retired clergy
What The Certificate Shows
Rockdale County spells it out. Both of your full names, the date you finished, the number of hours (six or more), and the name, title, signature, address and phone number of the provider, on letterhead or a notarized form. Rockdale County Probate Court.
Some counties want their own form. Camden only accepts its Certification of Completion form, signed and notarized, and Coweta asks for a signed, notarized and dated certificate.
Paying
How Courts Take Payment
Bring the exact form of payment your court lists. Liberty County is cash only. Effingham takes cash in bills of $20 or smaller, checks, money orders and cards. Chatham adds a 5% card fee and does not take personal checks. DeKalb adds 3.5% with a $1.50 minimum. Cobb adds $2 or 3.5%, whichever is higher, and Coweta adds 5%. Fulton is cashless at its annexes and takes no American Express. Every court in this guide lists its fees as nonrefundable.
Last checked November 2026, from each court's own page.
Is It Worth It
The Premarital Course Decision
The certificate saves $40 at the court. Whether it is worth it depends on the course, your schedule and whether you would take one anyway. Plenty of couples already meet with their minister or a counselor before the wedding, and if those sessions add up to six hours with a qualified provider, ask for a certificate that meets the court's requirements.
Remember the timing. The course has to be finished within the 12 months before you apply, and you take it together. If one of you is 17, Georgia requires premarital education and each person takes it separately.
Questions
Questions Couples Ask
How much is a marriage license in Georgia?
It depends on the county. In this guide it ranges from a $40 base fee in Glynn County to $76 in Chatham, Camden, Liberty and Effingham, with Cobb, Gwinnett and Coweta at $56, DeKalb at $66 and Fulton at $68.50.
How much does premarital education save?
$40 in every county we checked. State law says a couple with a qualifying certificate is not charged the marriage license fee itself, though other charges may still apply, which is why most counties still charge $16 to $36.
How many hours of premarital education do we need?
At least six hours of instruction on marital issues, completed together within 12 months before you apply.
Who can teach premarital education?
A licensed professional counselor, social worker or marriage and family therapist, a licensed psychiatrist, a licensed psychologist, or an active member of the clergy or their trained designee, including retired clergy.
Is premarital education required?
No, unless one of you is 17. It is optional for adults and only lowers the fee.
Can we pay by card?
Most courts take cards with a service fee. Liberty County is cash only, Fulton's annex locations are cashless, and Chatham and DeKalb do not take personal checks.
