Bartow County Probate Court

The office of the Probate Court performs many functions including, but not limited to, issuing marriage licenses, firearms licenses and fireworks display permits, maintaining vital records for Bartow County, administering traffic citations and probate procedures such as probate of wills, administrations and guardianships of minors and adults. The following is more detailed information regarding these matters. Please do not hesitate to contact our office for further information.

TRAFFIC

Traffic Citations may be paid online with a debit or credit card at www.ezcourtpay.com, in the office with cash, money order or a cashier's check, or you may mail a money order or cashier's check to the office address. NO PERSONAL CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Payment of traffic fines must be received in the office prior to the day of your arraignment in order to avoid a court appearance. If you wait until the day of your scheduled arraignment, then you must appear in the court to pay your citation. Should you desire to contest your citation and have your case heard before a judge or jury, you must appear at your arraignment and enter a plea of not guilty. Your hearing will be scheduled for a later date where the officer and witnesses, if any, will be subpoenaed to testify.

PROBATE

Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of estates, temporary guardianships of minors, permanent guardianship and conservatorship over minor and adult wards, and applications for year's support awards. There are filing fees associated with all petitions and these fees are due upon filing the petition. Once the proper paperwork is filed and the fees are paid, you will be scheduled a time to appear before the Judge and have your petition heard as all matters are handled by appointment only. Forms for these procedures and additional information are available in the office or online at www.gaprobate.org.

VITAL RECORDS

Bartow County Probate Court is the custodian of vital records for Bartow County. You may obtain certified copies of birth and death certificates for a fee of $10.00 for the first copy, and $5.00 for each additional copy obtained at the same time for the same person. Georgia law dictates what relations may obtain a birth certificate for another person. Those relations are parent, child, spouse, grandparent and sibling. Please contact our office for further information regarding vital records, paternity acknowledgements, legitimations, amendments and corrections, and delayed birth certificates. As of November 2007, local custodians for vital records now have access to birth and death certificates for the entire state of Georgia and may issue certified copies for other counties.

GEORGIA FIREARMS LICENSES

The Probate Court issues firearms licenses, also known as "Concealed Weapon Permits" as governed by O.C.G.A.§16-11-126 thru 134. Applicants are encouraged to read the applicable law prior to making application to ensure a better understanding of your rights and responsibilities. You may obtain a copy of the applicable law in the office. Applications will be accepted on normal business days between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. You must be a Bartow County resident and provide a valid photo ID. The fee for application and fingerprint processing is $46.00 and you may pay by cash, money order or certified check payable to the Probate Court. It takes approximately one (1) week to process the application and receive a response from the GBI. The license is valid for five (5) years, at which time you must reapply for a new license. New licenses will be mailed to you. Be aware that prior convictions for certain offenses will disqualify you from obtaining a firearms license. Some of those offenses include, but are not limited to, convictions arising out of domestic violence, weapons violations and any drug related offenses, whether felony or misdemeanor.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

The cost for a marriage license is $60.00 payable by cash, money order or certified check payable to the Probate Court. However, if you have had at least 6 hours of marriage counseling, you may receive a license for $25.00. In order to receive the reduced rate, you must provide a certificate provided by the Probate Court and completed by the counselor. Marriage License Applications will be accepted on normal business days between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Each applicant must provide a valid photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID, then you must provide at least two (2) of the following forms of identification that contain your full name and date of birth: certified birth certificate, foreign birth certificate with a certified English translation, court record, hospital admission card, selective service card, armed forces discharge papers, INS issued immigration, citizenship or alien papers, baptismal certificate or sworn affidavit by applicant attested to by two (2) people with valid photo identification.

All applicants 16 or 17 years of age must have both parents present to consent to the marriage license. NO EXCEPTIONS. No person under the age of 16 years may obtain a marriage license in the state of Georgia. NO EXCEPTIONS.

FEES FOR SERVICES

You may email Probate Judge Mitchell Scoggins directly at scogginsm@bartowga.org

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