Getting a marriage license in North Carolina takes one office visit, and you leave with the license the same day. There is no waiting period between applying and receiving it, so once both of you appear at any Register of Deeds office with valid ID and the $60 fee, the license is issued while you wait.1Franklin County, NC. Marriage License Requirements Most couples are in and out in under 30 minutes if they come prepared.
What the Office Visit Actually Involves
Both applicants have to appear in person, together. No county in North Carolina lets one partner apply on behalf of both, and there is no mail-in or fully online option. Many counties do let you fill out the application online in advance and then finalize it at the counter, which trims the counter time considerably. Wake County offers this kind of pre-application form.2Wake County Government. Apply for a Marriage License
North Carolina does not require a blood test, medical exam, or premarital counseling before issuing the license.3North Carolina Judicial Branch. Marriage Nothing has to happen before your visit except gathering the documents below.
What to Bring So You Don’t Get Sent Home
Each applicant needs to bring:
- A valid photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or passport.
- Your Social Security number. Bring the card or know the number. If you have never been issued one, which is common for some foreign nationals, you can sign a notarized affidavit of ineligibility instead.
- Information about any prior marriages: the date each one ended and whether it ended by divorce or death. Some counties want to see a certified divorce decree or death certificate, especially if the prior marriage ended recently. Wilson County, for example, requires certified documents for all prior marriages, and accepts photocopies only if the divorce or death happened more than a year before you apply.4Wilson County. Wilson County Register of Deeds – Marriage Licenses
Missing any of these can turn a same-day pickup into a second trip. Call ahead to the specific county office if you have a recent divorce or an unusual ID situation, since counties differ on what they will accept.
Age and Eligibility Rules That Can Slow You Down
Anyone 18 or older who is not currently married can apply without restrictions. Applicants aged 16 or 17 need either a district court order authorizing the marriage or written consent from a parent with legal custody, guardian, or agency with custody, and the other person cannot be more than four years older.5North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 51-2 – Marriages of Persons Under 18 Emancipated minors do not need parental consent but have to file their emancipation certificate with the Register of Deeds. Marriage under 16 is not allowed.
If you are already legally married to someone else, the Register of Deeds will not issue a license.
You Don’t Have to Live in North Carolina
There is no residency requirement. Out-of-state and international couples can apply at any of the state’s 100 county Register of Deeds offices, and the license is valid for a ceremony anywhere in North Carolina.6Buncombe County, NC. Marriage License Non-U.S. citizens can use a passport or other government-issued photo ID, and a foreign applicant who has never had a U.S. Social Security number can sign the affidavit of ineligibility.
Cost and Where to Apply
The fee is $60 statewide, set by North Carolina statute.7North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 161-10 – Fees of Register of Deeds Most offices take cash, checks, and credit or debit cards, though some satellite locations are cash-only. A certified copy of the license, if you want one at the same time, typically costs an additional $10.8Forsyth County Government. Apply for a Marriage License
You can apply at any county Register of Deeds office regardless of where the ceremony will take place.1Franklin County, NC. Marriage License Requirements Because there is no waiting period, the license is handed to you as soon as the application is complete and paid for.
How Long the License Stays Good
Once issued, a North Carolina marriage license is valid for 60 days. The ceremony has to happen within that window, or the license expires and you have to reapply and pay the $60 again.9Johnston County, North Carolina Register of Deeds. Marriage Frequently Asked Questions It is effective immediately, so you could get married the same day you apply if your officiant and witnesses are ready.1Franklin County, NC. Marriage License Requirements
If you lose the license before the ceremony, contact the Register of Deeds office that issued it. Replacement procedures are handled at the county level and vary by office.10North Carolina Vital Records. Order a Certificate