To get a marriage license in NC, both of you go together to any North Carolina Register of Deeds office with a valid government-issued photo ID, proof of your Social Security number, and $60 for the application fee. There is no waiting period and no blood test, so the license is issued the same day. It stays valid for 60 days from the date it is issued.1Johnston County Register of Deeds. Marriage Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Get a License
Both applicants must be at least 18 to marry without extra approval. A 16- or 17-year-old can marry someone no more than four years older, but only with written consent from a parent or guardian with legal custody, or with a district court order finding the marriage in the minor’s best interest.2North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 51-2 – Lawful Age to Marry No one under 16 can marry in North Carolina under any circumstances.
Both of you must currently be unmarried and must have the mental capacity to understand you are entering a marriage. Marriages between people more closely related than first cousins are void, and double first cousins cannot marry either; regular first cousins can.3Justia Law. North Carolina Code 51-3 – Want of Capacity; Void and Voidable Marriages
One boundary worth knowing: North Carolina does not recognize common law marriage. Living together, however long, does not create a legal marriage here without a license and ceremony.4North Carolina Judicial Branch. Marriage A common law marriage validly formed in another state is generally honored, but you cannot create one in North Carolina.
Documents Each of You Brings
Each applicant needs two things at the counter: a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID and proof of a Social Security number. Acceptable photo IDs include a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, U.S. military ID, or passport.5Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds. Apply for a Marriage License
For Social Security proof, you can bring your Social Security card, a W-2, a pay stub, or another document showing your full number.5Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds. Apply for a Marriage License If you do not have a Social Security number and are not eligible for one, you must present a notarized affidavit stating that.6North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code Chapter 51 – Section 51-8
You should also know, and be ready to give, each person’s full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, parents’ full names including mothers’ maiden names, and current address. Writing this down before the visit shortens the appointment.
If Either of You Was Married Before
Bring proof that the earlier marriage ended: a certified copy of the divorce decree or, if a former spouse died, a death certificate. Some county offices specifically want a certified divorce decree when the divorce was finalized within the past 12 months, so bring it with you rather than counting on the office to look it up.
Where and How You Apply
Both applicants generally need to appear together at any county Register of Deeds office in North Carolina. You do not have to apply in the county where the ceremony will be held.4North Carolina Judicial Branch. Marriage Some counties let you start the application online to save time at the counter, but you still need to appear in person to finish it. If one person truly cannot attend, certain counties accept a notarized affidavit in lieu of personal appearance along with a copy of the absent party’s ID and Social Security proof.7Forsyth County Government. About the Marriage License Process Call the county office first to confirm whether they allow that.
The fee is $60 and is non-refundable.8North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 161-10 – Uniform Fees of Register of Deeds Payment methods vary by county, so check whether your office accepts cash only, cards, or both. An appointment is not typically needed.
There is no waiting period between applying and receiving the license, and no blood test or medical exam.4North Carolina Judicial Branch. Marriage Once staff verify your documents and you sign the application, the license is issued on the spot.
What the License Gets You, and What Comes Next
The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. If you do not hold the ceremony within that window, the license expires and you would need to reapply and pay the fee again.1Johnston County Register of Deeds. Marriage Frequently Asked Questions
Your ceremony needs at least two witnesses, and both must sign the license and print their names and mailing addresses.9Johnston County, North Carolina. Marriage Applicant Need to Know Information The officiant signs the license and is then responsible for returning the completed license to the Register of Deeds office that issued it within 10 days of the ceremony. An officiant who fails to return the license faces a $200 penalty and a misdemeanor charge, and your marriage is not officially recorded until that paperwork is filed.10North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 51-7 – Penalty for Solemnizing Without License
Before the officiant leaves with the license, check that every field is filled in and every signature is in place. Missing information is one of the most common reasons for delays, and fixing it later means going back to everyone who signed.