North Carolina requires you to have a Marriage License before getting married. Without a marriage license, your celebration of love will be considered a “commitment ceremony,” and not a legal marriage.

The information below will provide simplified tips on how to obtain a marriage license from a North Carolina Register of Deeds office. There are 100 counties in the State of North Carolina, and each county has slightly different requirements. It is recommended that you first visit the website of the Register of Deeds office you will be visiting. You may acquire your marriage license from any county in the state of North Carolina; it does not need to be issued from the county where your marriage will take place.

You are encouraged to put a reminder on your calendar to complete the online application 30 – 45 days prior to wedding day so your information is in their system. Upon arrival, you can visit their office, and the process will go very quickly.

BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

• Both parties must be present, in person, to obtain a marriage license; no appointment is needed.
• The wedding ceremony must take place in North Carolina within 60 days of obtaining the marriage license.
• The cost is $60
• Waiting Period: There is no required waiting period between getting the license and the wedding.
• Bring your valid government-issued ID AND proof of your Social Security number.
  • Social Security card OR proof of number (Social Security card or W-2 form), and
  • Current ID with name and date of birth – Acceptable identifications:
    • Driver’s license, or
    • State-issued ID card, or
    • Passport, or
    • Military ID, or
    • Certified copy* of birth certificate
  • Divorced Applicants must provide:
    • The month and year of their last divorce.
    • If the divorce was finalized within 30 days of applying for the marriage license, the applicant must provide an original or certified copy of the divorce decree.
      Note: There is no waiting period between the divorce and applying for the new license.

ON WEDDING DAY:

• Your wedding ceremony must be conducted in the presence of two witnesses, over the age of 18. Your witnesses will sign your marriage license after the ceremony has been performed.
• Marriage License Signing Information:
  • Please note that the Bride and Groom will sign their marriage license at the Register of Deeds office when they purchase the license.
  • On the actual wedding day, no additional signatures from the Bride and Groom are required. Only the Officiant and required witnesses will sign the license on the day of the ceremony.
  • The Bride and Groom will NOT sign the marriage license on the day of the wedding.

AFTER YOUR WEDDING:

• Filing Your Marriage License…
  • As your professional Wedding Officiant, I prefer to return your completed marriage license to the Register of Deeds office to ensure it is recorded and processed before the deadline.
  • Your marriage license will either be dropped off in person at the Register of Deeds office or mailed certified delivery, within one to two business days, after your wedding celebration.
  • If you wish to return the completed document yourself, it must be received by the Register of Deeds office where it was acquired, within ten (10) days of your wedding.
  • Certain Register of Deeds offices may allow you to prepay a certified copy of your marriage certificate ($10). If pre-payment is not an option, you can request a certified copy by phone, in person or online.