The legal part of getting married in North Carolina takes only a few steps, but each one has to happen in the right order. This guide summarizes the rules as they appear in the state's General Statutes and on county Register of Deeds pages. Verified September 2026 against official sources; confirm with your county Register of Deeds before your date. Counties differ on payment methods, appointment practices and document details, and laws can change, so treat this as a map and the county office as the final word.
The short version
- Who issues it: the Register of Deeds in a North Carolina county.
- Who applies: both people, in person, with valid photo ID and Social Security information.
- Age: 18 or older; 16 and 17 have special limits described below.
- Residency: none required, and you can apply in any county.
- Fee: $60 in every county page we checked, though you should confirm and ask about accepted payment types.
- Waiting period: none in the statutes; the license is good on issuance.
- Validity: 60 days from issuance, for a ceremony anywhere in North Carolina.
- Ceremony: performed by an authorized officiant, with at least two witnesses.
- After the ceremony: the completed license goes back to the Register of Deeds within 10 days.
Getting the license
Under G.S. 51-8, a register of deeds issues a license to two persons who can answer questions about age, marital status and intention to marry and who are authorized to marry under state law. The statute also requires each applicant to provide a Social Security number, or a sworn statement if the applicant has no number and is ineligible to obtain one. The register may ask for a certified birth certificate or other evidence.
Counties add practical details. Wake County says both parties must appear in person, lists a $60 fee and offers an online pre-application, and states that no appointment is needed. Mecklenburg County asks for valid, unexpired government photo ID, proof of the Social Security number, and a certified birth certificate for applicants aged 18 to 20. Cumberland County and Henderson County both list the $60 fee. Some counties ask for a physical Social Security card rather than a copy, and some ask for divorce or death documents from a previous marriage, so ask what your county wants before you go. One county we checked notes a 24-hour wait between a divorce and a new license, so recently divorced applicants should call ahead. If one of you truly cannot appear, at least one county describes an affidavit process for extreme circumstances, so ask instead of assuming.
Age rules
G.S. 51-2 says unmarried people 18 or older may lawfully marry. People 16 or 17 may marry someone no more than four years older, and only after a district court order authorizing the marriage or written consent from a parent with legal custody or a guardian is filed, unless the underage person is emancipated. Marriage under 16 is unlawful. If either of you is under 18, call the Register of Deeds well before your date.
Residency, where to apply and how long it lasts
The statutes we reviewed do not require North Carolina residency to get a license, and you may apply in any county, regardless of where the ceremony will be. That is a big convenience for destination couples. The form of the license in G.S. 51-16 authorizes the ceremony at any place within the state within 60 days from the date of issue. Do not apply too early, because an expired license cannot be used, and do not apply so late that you have no time to fix a missing document. Since the license must eventually go back to the issuing office, choose a county you can reach or one your officiant can send the license to reliably.
Also note that marriage licenses and the certificate you get afterward are different records. Certified copies can be requested from the Register of Deeds, and the state's Vital Records office lists options for marriage certificates as well.
Who can perform the ceremony
Under G.S. 51-1, a marriage can be solemnized in the presence of an ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate, with the officiant's declaration that you are married. The statute also allows solemnization according to any mode recognized by a religious denomination or by a federally or state recognized Indian Nation or Tribe. That second option is the legal basis for traditions such as Quaker weddings, where the couple and the community, rather than a single minister, carry out the ceremony.
We found no separate do-it-yourself, self-uniting license in Chapter 51, so do not assume you can marry yourselves. If a friend will officiate, ask them about their credentials, and ask your Register of Deeds whether they accept those credentials before you rely on them; the officiant is the person legally responsible for completing and returning the license. If you would rather use a civil ceremony, the magistrate's office in your county handles them, and offices set their own hours and fees, so call first. You can also browse officiants in our directory to find someone experienced with North Carolina paperwork.
Witnesses and the ceremony itself
G.S. 51-6 requires that no authorized person perform a ceremony until the license has been delivered to them, and that there must be at least two witnesses. Under the form in G.S. 51-16, the two witnesses sign the certificate and add their place of residence. Wake County asks that witnesses at its magistrate ceremonies be 18 or older. Bring your license to the ceremony, and if you are eloping, confirm in advance who your two witnesses will be. Your photographer or a friend can serve, if the officiant and Register of Deeds accept it.
After the ceremony: returning the license
The officiant must fill out the certificate and return the license to the register of deeds within 10 days after the ceremony. G.S. 51-7 attaches penalties to officiants who marry a couple without a license, after the license expires, or who fail to return the license in time. Before the wedding, ask your officiant how and when they will return it, and follow up. If you plan to change your name, the marriage certificate is the document you will use, so order certified copies once the record is filed.
How the legal steps fit into your plan
Add the license to your calendar in the last two months before the wedding, and put your officiant in the loop early. Our wedding planning timeline shows where it fits, and the micro wedding and elopement guide explains how the requirements work for small ceremonies. If you are marrying in the mountains or on the coast, check the weather and travel plans in our guides to mountain weddings and hurricane season. To find help near you, browse the Raleigh and Charlotte pages or search the directory.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Verified September 2026 against official sources; confirm with your county Register of Deeds before your date.