DISCLAIMER: Henry County Probate Court makes no assurance of the legal status of these opinions on the interpretation of Georgia Law. The Court makes no representation that these opinions constitute legal advice or a legally-sanctioned interpretation of the law. Probate judges in Georgia only issue Weapons Carry Licenses; they do not enforce or interpret any provisions of the licensing laws, other than those directly related to the application for and the issuance or denial of issuance of the licenses. Charges brought by any law enforcement officer/agency are not tried in the probate courts, and the opinions expressed herein will not constitute a defense to any such charge. These opinions expressed herein will not constitute a defense to any such charge. These opinions are offered, published, and intended only as a public service since the judges and staff of Henry County Probate Court are often asked these questions.
Click here for Georgia Law regarding Carrying and Possession of Firearms.
You must be at least 21 years of age, although exceptions apply for certain military members. Click here for more information.
A valid Weapons Carry License is good for five (5) years before renewal is required. However, if the Court is informed that you may no longer be permitted to hold a Weapons Carry License during the 5-year period in which your license is valid, you may be required to appear for a hearing and/or your license may be revoked.
As long as the Court has no reason to find that you are prohibited from obtaining a Weapons Carry License, you should receive your License within 3 - 6 weeks from the date of your application.
If you are a resident of Henry County, you will simply need to produce a valid Georgia's Driver's License or Georgia State-Issued Identification Card that reflects a Henry County, Georgia physical address. If you have a P.O. Box or have recently moved and have not yet updated your driver's license or I.D., you must provide sufficient documentation to a Court clerk that shows that you are actually domiciled in Henry County.
The Georgia Weapons Carry License is still good even if the license holder moves to another county within the State of Georgia.
If you would like an updated permit with an address change, and the new address on the updated license is in another county in Georgia, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE AN UPDATED PERMIT, PURSUANT TO 16-11-129 (e)(4), YOU MUST ATTACH THE FOLLOWING:
A. Affidavit for Name Change or Address Change to Another County
B. Supporting Documents
1. For Address Change
a.) A Copy of your Georgia Driver's License listing new county of residence; or
b.) Two (2) documents linking your name to the new physical address. One (1) must be directly associated with residence (i.e., a copy of lease, utility bill, etc.); and
2. For Name Change
a.) A Copy of your Georgia Driver's License noting new name; or
b.) A court order or marriage licenses showing new name.
C. Fees - the fee for an updated permit with address change and/or name change is $6.00 (payable by check with check number 500+ made payable to Henry County Probate Court; or money order).
D. Current Henry County Weapons Carry Permit
It should still be effective throughout Georgia. However, some sellers may require the address on your Georgia State-Issued Identification Card or Georgia Driver's License match the address on your Weapons Carry License before they will allow you to purchase a weapon. If the expiration is within the renewal period (three (3) months prior to expiration or one (1) month after expiration), you may renew your Weapons Carry License with our Court with your new Henry County address.
If the expiration of your license is outside the renewal period but you wish to have your Weapons Carry License reflect a Henry County address, you will be required to pay the $74.00 fee as if you are a new Weapons Carry applicant in Henry County. Otherwise, you may contact the issuing county of your current Weapons Carry License to find out if they will permit you to change your address on a license from their county for the duration of your license period.
Yes. However, if your Driver's License also provides only a P.O. Box, you will be required to provide our clerks with sufficient evidence that you are domiciled in Henry County. In order to do so, you must bring at least two (2) documents that tie you to a physical Henry County address, and one (1) of the documents must be both current (within the last 60) sixty days) and directly associated with the residence (i.e., rental agreement, proof of homestead, current utility bill, etc.).
Yes, as long as you provide sufficient proof of domicile in Henry County. However, certain firearms retailers may not allow you to bypass a background check if the two addresses do not match.
Come in to the Probate Court Clerk's office and submit a Renewal Application. Please be aware that the Court will run a name-based criminal history check to ensure that you are still eligible to hold a Georgia Weapons Carry License. Click here for more information.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 16-11-129(i), if the previous license has expired within the last 30 days, you may purchase a temporary renewal license at the cost of $1.00. The temporary renewal license is in the form of a paper receipt indicating the date on which the Court received your renewal application and shows the name, address, sex, age, and race of the applicant. This temporary renewal license expires 90 days from the date of issue. During the period of validity, the temporary renewal license, if carried on or about the holder's person together with the holder's previous license, shall be valid in the same manner and for the same purposes as a five-year license. Click here for more information.
Yes, you can apply for a renewal at any time prior to the date of expiration, but you will lose the remaining time on your current permit, and the 5-year term will run from the date your renewal permit is issued. Click here for more information.
You will need to fill out an Affidavit of Lost or Stolen Weapons Carry License with one of our Court clerks. Additionally, there is a $6.00 fee for a replacement license, and said replacement is good for the duration of your original 5-year license period. Click here for more information.
You will need to provide a valid Permanent Resident Card, Certificate of Naturalization, valid U.S. Passport, or Certificate of U.S. Citizen Born Abroad. You may also need to provide documentation to show that you are currently domiciled in Henry County. Click here for more information.
Georgia law provides that you can receive a Weapons Carry License at the discounted rate of $7.00 if you meet certain requirements. Applicants who are retired law enforcement officers must bring in documentation showing their retired status as well as documents which indicate that they served as a law enforcement officer for 10 of the 12 years immediately preceding the retirement of such person as a law enforcement officer. These requirements are pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129 (h)(1), which specifically states:
In order to receive a Weapons Carry License, you must provide the following:
A. Proof that you are at least 18 years of age;
B. Proof that you have completed basic training in the armed forces of the United States; and
C. Proof that you are actively serving in the armed forces (or reserves) of the United States or have been honorably discharged from such service.
Yes. We recognize it is often difficult for our military personnel to know exactly where their domicile lies. Therefore, if you are active military and wish to obtain a Georgia Weapons Carry License, you must provide active duty orders and two (2) documents showing a physical address, one (1) of which must be directly associated with the residence in Henry County.
Please Note: Spouses of military members can only receive a Henry County Weapons Carry License if he or she can independently provide proof that he or she is domiciled in Henry County.
The same requirements for other military personnel also apply to reservists. If you can provide the required documentation to show that you are currently active in the reserves and domiciled in Henry County, you can get a Henry County Weapons Carry License.
While Court personnel cannot tell you in advance whether a particular crime will prohibit you from obtaining a Georgia Weapons Carry License, see O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129 for a comprehensive list of "licensing exceptions."
No. Court personnel do not have access to your criminal history and cannot answer these questions. Likewise, Court personnel may not give advice on where a weapon or a long gun may be possessed or carried, and in what manner a weapon or long gun may be possessed and carried. Georgia Law on where a weapon may be carried can be found in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain that information, to govern himself or herself accordingly, and to seek legal advice from an attorney, if needed.
A criminal history search was conducted when the applicant submitted his or her application for a Weapons Carry License, and it has been determined that the applicant has not met the qualification for obtaining a Weapons Carry License for the reasons stated in the Order. The applicant may ask the Court to reconsider its decision by filing a Motion for Reconsideration of Denial and Request for Formal Hearing on or before the ten-day deadline from the date the Order was entered.
Please note that in order to restore your rights if you have been convicted of a crime which prohibits you from obtaining a Weapons Carry License, you will need a Restoration of Firearms Rights. For additional information, visit: www.pap.georgia.gov (select "Pardon/Parole Consideration and Guidelines" Tab; Select "Pardons & Restoration of Rights" from the drop-down menu; follow the applicable instructions.
You will need to contact the court or prosecutor's office in the jurisdiction where the charge is on the dead docket. They should be able to provide an Order removing it from the dead docket.
When you successfully complete your sentence, your probation officer is required to recommend to the judge that the case be discharged under the First Offender Act. The judge is then required to sign an Order of Discharge and file it at the clerk's office. If you are being asked about a charge that you believed you received 1st Offender treatment, all or part of the described process was not completed. Therefore, you will need a completed and signed Order of Discharge signed by the judge on your case before the Probate Court can issue you a Weapons Carry License.
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