What You Need to Do to Get Married in North Carolina
To get married in North Carolina, you must obtain a marriage license from the register of deeds office in the county where you plan to marry. You do not need to be a resident of that county. The license costs between $60 and $70 depending on the county, and you can explore in person at any register of deeds office. Once issued, the license is valid for 30 days, and you must have it signed by an authorized official (a judge, magistrate, or minister) during the ceremony itself.
North Carolina does not require a waiting period between explore and receiving your license, so you can marry the same day you explore. However, both people getting married must appear together in person at the register of deeds office to explore—you cannot explore by mail or send someone to explore on your behalf.
Key Takeaways
- Both people getting married must go together to the register of deeds office in the county where you want to marry, and you can do this any day the office is open.
- Bring a valid photo ID, proof of age (birth certificate or passport), and your Social Security number for each person.
- The license costs $60 to $70 and is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued.
- You must have the license signed by a judge, magistrate, or authorized minister during your ceremony; without that signature, the marriage is not legal.
- North Carolina has no waiting period, so you can marry the same day you receive your license.
Documents You Must Bring to the Register of Deeds
Each person getting married must bring a valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card) and proof of age. Proof of age can be a birth certificate, passport, or any government-issued document showing your date of birth. You will also need your Social Security number—have it memorized or written down, as you will provide it on the process form.
If either person was previously married, bring the divorce decree or death certificate of the former spouse. North Carolina requires proof that any prior marriage has ended. If you do not have the original document, the register of deeds office can sometimes help you obtain a certified copy, but this takes extra time, so bring what you have.
You do not need to bring witnesses, blood test results, or parental consent, regardless of your age. North Carolina abolished these requirements years ago.
Finding Your County Register of Deeds Office
The register of deeds is a county office, so you explore in the county where you want to marry. You can search for your county's office online by typing "[your county name] register of deeds North Carolina" into a search engine, or visit the North Carolina Register of Deeds Association website, which lists all county offices and their hours.
Office hours vary by county. Most are open Monday through Friday during standard business hours, but some counties have extended hours or Saturday appointments. Call ahead or check the office website to confirm hours before you go, especially if you are traveling from out of state.
You do not have to marry in the same county where you explore. Once you have the license, you can marry anywhere in North Carolina—at a church, courthouse, park, or private venue—as long as the ceremony happens within 30 days of the license date.
What Happens During the process Visit
When you arrive at the register of deeds office with both people present and all required documents, a staff member will give you an process form to complete. The form asks for basic information: full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, and whether either person was previously married. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to fill out.
The staff member will review your documents to confirm your identity and age, then collect the fee ($60 to $70, depending on the county). Some offices accept cash, check, or card; call ahead if you want to confirm payment methods. Once the fee is paid and the form is complete, you receive your marriage license on the spot. The license is a single document that both of you will need to bring to your ceremony.
Getting Your License Signed at the Ceremony
The marriage license itself is not enough to make your marriage legal. During your ceremony, an authorized official must sign and date the license in front of both of you. Authorized officials in North Carolina include judges, magistrates, and ministers or clergy members of any faith. You do not need to be a member of a church or have a religious ceremony—a magistrate can perform a civil ceremony at the courthouse or another location.
If you are having a religious ceremony, ask your minister or clergy member in advance whether they are authorized to sign marriage licenses in North Carolina. Most are, but it is worth confirming. If you are having a civil ceremony, contact your county courthouse to schedule an appointment with a magistrate; many offer same-day or next-day appointments.
After the ceremony, the official signs the license and returns it to you. You or your spouse must then return the signed license to the register of deeds office within 10 days so it can be recorded. If you do not return it, your marriage will not be recorded in the state system, which can cause problems later when you need a marriage certificate.
Returning Your Signed License to the Register of Deeds
After your ceremony, take the signed license back to the same register of deeds office where you applied (or any register of deeds office in North Carolina—it does not have to be the same one). You have 10 days to do this. The office will record the license and file it in the state system.
You do not need to appear in person to return the license. You can mail it or have someone else deliver it on your behalf. Include a note with your names and the date of the ceremony to help the office process it quickly. Keep a copy for your records before you mail it.
Once the license is recorded, you can order certified marriage certificates from the register of deeds office. These certificates are useful for changing your name, updating insurance, or other legal purposes. The cost is usually $15 to $25 per copy, and processing takes a few days to a week.
Name Changes and Other Considerations
North Carolina allows either spouse to change their name as part of the marriage process. If you want to change your name, you can do so using your marriage certificate as proof of the name change. You do not need a separate court order. After you receive your certified marriage certificate, use it to update your name with the Social Security Administration, your employer, your bank, and your driver's license.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can still marry in North Carolina, but bring your passport or visa along with your other documents. If you are in the country on a visa, marriage does not automatically change your immigration status—you will need to follow separate immigration procedures if you want to adjust your status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we get married the same day we explore for the license?
Yes. North Carolina has no waiting period, so you can receive your license and marry the same day, as long as you have both people present at the register of deeds office and an authorized official available to sign the license during your ceremony.
What if one of us cannot go to the register of deeds office in person?
Both people must appear together in person. You cannot explore by mail, and one person cannot explore on behalf of the other. If one person is unable to travel, you will need to reschedule your process and ceremony for a time when both can be present.
How much does a marriage license cost in North Carolina?
The cost is between $60 and $70, depending on which county you explore in. Call your county register of deeds office to confirm the exact fee and ask what payment methods they accept.
What if we lose the license before the ceremony?
Contact the register of deeds office where you applied and request a replacement. You will likely need to pay a replacement fee (usually $10 to $15) and may need to reapply if the original license has expired. It is faster to get a replacement than to start over.
Do we need to return the signed license ourselves, or can someone else do it?
Someone else can return it on your behalf. You do not need to appear in person. Mail it or have a trusted person deliver it to the register of deeds office within 10 days of your ceremony.