Passport Help Returns to Marietta: Cobb County Takes Bookings From 2 November

Residents of Cobb County, Georgia, will be able to have passport applications handled at the courthouse again from 2 November, when Cobb County State Court launches a new passport application service in Downtown Marietta Square. The county has been without a local passport processing point for about a year.

Key facts

• Start date: 2 November
• Where: Cobb County State Court, Downtown Marietta Square
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm
• Appointments: required
• Services: passport renewal and processing help
• Fees: all application fee revenue stays in local government accounts for office use

What is changing?

Cobb County State Court Clerk Tahnicia Phillips is launching the service, which the report describes as believed to be the first time a Georgia state court has handled passport processing. The office is intended as a central place for residents who need help with passport renewals and processing.

Phillips said demand had been noticeable while the service was absent. "The buzz around town is that it was taking a very long time to get passports and there weren't as many locations available," she said.

Why did the service stop?

Passport applications in the county were previously handled by the Cobb County Superior Court Clerk's office. Those operations stopped after Governor Brian Kemp suspended Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor.

Taylor came under scrutiny after officials found she had kept more than $400,000 in passport fees as personal compensation, which state law permits for superior court clerks. She was later indicted on charges of destruction of public records and violation of oath of office, after allegedly ordering an employee to destroy related records.

How are fees handled now?

Georgia law bars state court clerks from keeping execution or processing fees as personal income, unlike superior court clerks. "The law doesn't allow the state court clerk to accept the money as personal compensation," Phillips said.

Phillips said every dollar collected through the new service will stay in local government accounts. "The fee application money is going to be designated for office use only," she said.

What this means for travellers

Residents seeking passport services at the Marietta courthouse must book an appointment, as walk-ins are not indicated. The office will operate Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm. Officials say they do not yet know how many applications the office will handle, and expect volumes to start small and grow.

Phillips said she hopes the launch will make county government more accessible and convenient for residents.