Burke County GA Marriage License: What Waynesboro Couples Should Know First

Waynesboro, Sardis, and Midville couples all go to the same place. A Burke County GA marriage license is issued by the Burke County Probate Court, listed at 200 East 6th Street in Waynesboro. You apply together, there is no waiting period, and the license is usually issued the same day.

Now the honest part. In October 2026 we could not find a working court web page that lists the license fee, the hours for license applications, or how you can pay. So this guide gives you the confirmed basics, the phone number, and the questions to ask first.

Where is the Burke County Probate Court?

The statewide Georgia Probate Records site lists the court's physical address as 200 East 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830. Burke County's own website identifies that address as the Burke County Judicial Center, and the Georgia Department of Public Health's listing for the probate court adds Room 208. The mailing address is P.O. Box 322, Waynesboro, GA 30830. The phone number is 706-554-3000.

Fees and license hours for this court could not be confirmed online when we checked in October 2026, and courts do change them, so call before you drive over. Confirm the room number while you are on the line.

What should you ask when you call?

Keep this list by the phone:

• What is the marriage license fee, and is it lower with a premarital education certificate?

• Do you take cash, cards, or money orders?

• What hours do you take license applications?

• Should we submit the online application before we come in?

• Does the judge perform wedding ceremonies?

• How much is a certified copy?

On the first question, many Georgia probate courts lower the fee for couples who complete a qualifying premarital education course of at least six hours and bring the certificate. For comparison, Richmond County charges $76, or $36 with the course. Burke sets its own fee.

What are the probate court's hours?

Hours for marriage licenses are not posted. The one clue we found is on the court's online ordering page for birth and death certificates, which says requests are processed Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 5:00, and that the office is closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00. That page is about vital records, so treat it as a hint. Until a clerk tells you otherwise, avoid the lunch hour and the late afternoon. Some courts stop taking license applications before closing time. Richmond County, for example, takes none after 4:00.

What do you need to bring for a Burke County GA marriage license?

Before you apply for a Burke County GA marriage license, gather a few things. Georgia requires both of you to be there, so bring each other. Bring proof of age, and a valid driver's license or passport is the usual choice. If either of you has been divorced, bring the final decree. Bring your premarital education certificate if you took a course, and payment in whatever form the clerk confirms. You must be at least 18. A 17 year old faces extra requirements, including emancipation and premarital education, so ask first if that applies.

You can also get a head start at home. Burke is one of the counties on the statewide online marriage application, where you select Burke as the county of application and enter your details. The form asks for things people rarely know offhand, like each parent's birthplace, so it is easier at the kitchen table than at the counter. You both still appear in person to finish.

Do you have to live in Burke County?

No. Georgia has no residency requirement. If at least one of you lives in Georgia, you can apply in any Georgia county, which is handy if one of you works in Augusta and the Richmond County probate court is closer to your lunch break. If neither of you lives in Georgia and the wedding is in Waynesboro, Sardis, or Midville, you need a Burke County GA marriage license specifically, because nonresidents must apply in the county where the ceremony takes place. A Georgia license must be used in Georgia. Marrying one county over? We also have a Jefferson County marriage license guide.

Who can marry you, and what does it cost?

Georgia law, at O.C.G.A. 19-3-30, allows judges, magistrates, city recorders, and ministers or other persons authorized by their religious society to perform a marriage. Witnesses and blood tests are not required.

We are Augusta Officiant, a veteran owned, family run team with three officiants and more than 1,200 couples married across the CSRA. Our prices are the same all year. The Elopement Ceremony is $200, a short ceremony with a set script, standard vows, and a ring exchange for up to 20 guests. The Custom Ceremony is $400 and is written from scratch for you, with one planning meeting and our attendance at your rehearsal. Once you have your Burke County GA marriage license, you can also bring it to us in Augusta for a $60 License Signing, with no ceremony, often the same day.

Every package comes with the option of a payment plan, split into as many payments as you like. The Custom Ceremony is about $67 a month over 6 months. For a ceremony in Burke County, send us the location and we will confirm the total before you book. Our fees support the Augusta Birth Center, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

If your venue asks whether your officiant is licensed and insured, the answer with us is yes. We hold a business license and $2 million in liability insurance, and more venues are asking for both. A friend can get ordained online in minutes, but that paperwork is much harder for a friend to produce.

What happens to the license after the ceremony?

We complete and sign the license at your ceremony and hand it to you. Getting it back to the probate court is your job, in person or by mail, within 30 days. Handling it yourselves is the faster way to get your recorded license back. Ask for certified copies when you return it, since name changes and DEERS enrollment for military couples both call for one.

Burke County GA marriage license FAQ

Where do I get a marriage license in Waynesboro, GA?

At the Burke County Probate Court, listed at 200 East 6th Street in Waynesboro, the Burke County Judicial Center. The phone number is 706-554-3000.

How much is a marriage license in Burke County?

The fee is not posted on any official page we could find, so call 706-554-3000 and ask. Ask too whether it is lower with a premarital education certificate.

Can we get married the same day we get our license?

Usually. Georgia has no waiting period and the license is usually issued the same day, so a same day ceremony is often possible when your officiant is free.

Can we start the Burke County application online?

Yes. Burke is on the statewide Georgia Probate Records marriage application. You both still go to the court in person to finish.

Who takes the license back to the court after the wedding?

You do. We complete and sign it at the ceremony and hand it to you, and you take or mail it back to the probate court within 30 days.

Ready to set a date in Burke County?

Make the phone call, pick up your Burke County GA marriage license, and then tell us your date and location through our contact page. We will let you know who is available. Payment plans are there if you want one, and our 5 star Google reviews show what other couples thought.