McDuffie County GA Marriage License: A Guide for Thomson and Dearing Couples

A McDuffie County GA marriage license comes from the McDuffie County Probate Court at 210 Railroad Street in Thomson, and the two of you apply together in person. Georgia has no waiting period, so the license is usually issued the same day.

One thing to know before you plan a morning around it: we could not find the marriage license fee, license hours, or accepted payment types on any official page. This guide sticks to what we could confirm and gives you the number to call for the rest. We are Augusta Officiant, a veteran owned, family run team that has married more than 1,200 couples across the CSRA, and we would rather send you to the phone for two minutes than guess at a fee.

Where do you get a marriage license in Thomson, GA?

The McDuffie County Probate Court issues marriage licenses for the whole county, Thomson and Dearing included. Here is what the county and the statewide probate records site list for it:

• Street address: 210 Railroad Street, Thomson, GA 30824

• Mailing address: P.O. Box 2028, Thomson, GA 30824

• Phone: 706-595-2114 for the court, or 706-595-2124 for the clerk

Everything here was checked in October 2026 and courts do change fees and hours, so call before you drive over.

How much is a marriage license in McDuffie County?

Since the fee is not posted, we are not going to print a number. Each Georgia county sets its own. For a sense of scale, the license is $56 in Columbia County, or $16 with a premarital education certificate. McDuffie may well be different.

When you call, ask what the fee is, whether it is lower with a premarital education certificate, and how you can pay. Many Georgia probate courts reduce the fee for couples who complete a qualifying course of at least six hours. On payment, the county's page lists weapons carry permits as cash only and says nothing about marriage licenses, so having cash on you is a sensible precaution.

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

Georgia's own guide asks for proof of age, proof of divorce if it applies, and a way to pay. A practical packing list:

• Both of you, in person

• Proof of age for each of you. A valid driver's license or passport is the usual choice, so ask first if you plan to use something else

• Your divorce decree, if either of you was married before

• Your premarital education certificate, if you took a course

• Payment, in whatever form the clerk confirms by phone

• The details the application asks for: Social Security numbers, your parents' names and birthplaces, and when and where any earlier marriage ended

You must be at least 18. A 17 year old faces extra requirements, including emancipation and premarital education, so call the court first if that applies.

Can you start the application online?

Yes. You can start a McDuffie County GA marriage license application from your couch, since McDuffie is on the statewide Georgia Probate Records marriage application. You choose McDuffie as the county of application and enter your details, including the planned date and county of your ceremony. Filling it in at home does not replace the visit. Both of you still appear in person, so ask when you call whether the court wants it submitted before you arrive.

Do you have to live in McDuffie County to apply there?

No. Georgia has no residency requirement. If at least one of you lives in Georgia, you can apply in any county, so a Thomson couple marrying in Augusta can get the license at home. The rule tightens when neither of you lives in Georgia. Then the license has to come from the county where the ceremony takes place, which means a McDuffie County GA marriage license for a wedding in Thomson or Dearing. Either way, a Georgia license must be used in Georgia. For ceremonies nearer Augusta, see our guides to Columbia County and Richmond County.

Who can perform the ceremony?

Under O.C.G.A. 19-3-30, judges, magistrates, city recorders, and ministers or other persons authorized by their religious society can perform a marriage in Georgia. Whether the McDuffie probate judge performs ceremonies is one more question for your phone call. Some probate judges do not, and the Richmond County judge is one of them.

Our three officiants, Nick, Katie, and Jonathan, are licensed to officiate in Georgia and South Carolina, and we hold a business license and $2 million in liability insurance. A friend can get ordained online in minutes. A friend cannot easily get a business license in every county they officiate in, or afford a policy like that, and many venues now ask for both. Our backup officiant system means a ceremony is never left without an officiant.

What does an officiant cost for a Thomson wedding?

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, written from scratch for you, with one planning meeting and our attendance at your rehearsal. You are also welcome to bring your McDuffie County GA marriage license to us in Augusta for a License Signing, which is $60 with no ceremony and is often possible the same day.

Every package can go on a payment plan, split however you like, and $400 over 12 months is about $33 a month. Our fees support the Augusta Birth Center, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For a ceremony in Thomson or Dearing, send us the location and we will confirm the total before you book.

What happens to the license after the wedding?

At the ceremony we complete and sign the license and hand it to you. You then take or mail it back to the probate court yourselves, within 30 days, which is the quickest way to get your recorded license back. Ask for certified copies at the same time, and ask what each one costs. Name changes require them, and Fort Eisenhower couples need one for DEERS enrollment.

McDuffie County GA marriage license FAQ

Is there a waiting period for a marriage license in McDuffie County?

No. Georgia has no waiting period, and the license is usually issued the same day you apply.

What is the phone number for the McDuffie County Probate Court?

The county lists 706-595-2114 for the court and 706-595-2124 for the clerk. Call before you go to confirm the fee, the license hours, and how you can pay.

Do we need a blood test or witnesses?

No. Georgia requires neither a blood test nor witnesses.

Can we use a license from Thomson for a wedding in Augusta?

Yes, if at least one of you is a Georgia resident. Georgia residents can apply in any Georgia county, and the license must be used in Georgia.

How long do we have to return the license?

The completed license must be back at the probate court within 30 days of the ceremony. You return it yourselves, in person or by mail.

Getting married in Thomson or Dearing?

Once your McDuffie County GA marriage license is in hand, all that is left is the ceremony. Tell us your date and location on our contact page and we will let you know who is available. Payment plans are open on every package, and you can read what other couples say in our 5 star Google reviews.