How to Get Married in North Carolina (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · North Carolina · Last updated 2026-05-18
Getting married in North Carolina means working through North Carolina-specific rules on the marriage license, the timing around it, and the ceremony itself. The post-license waiting period is set by statute: No waiting period. License validity in North Carolina: 60 days. On common-law marriage, North Carolina does not recognize common law marriages established within the state. This guide walks the North Carolina marriage-license steps, the documents required, and the officiant rules that apply.
Key Considerations
Two of the first questions any North Carolina couple asks about a wedding are what the marriage license costs and who is old enough to apply. On the fee side, 60.00. See the state agency website. On the age side, Persons over 16 years of age and under 18 years of age may marry a person no more than four years older, with either a court order or written consent from a parent or legal guardian. See the state agency website. Confirm both with the issuing office before scheduling the ceremony.
The North Carolina marriage code carries two timing layers. The first is the waiting period between issuance and lawful solemnization: No waiting period. See the state agency website. The second is the license's validity period, after which a fresh license is required: 60 days. See the state agency website. Both are statutory; neither is negotiable with the clerk.
North Carolina treats marriage formation as a two-part question. Can the couple skip the license and the ceremony entirely under a common-law doctrine? North Carolina does not recognize common law marriages established within the state. See the state agency website. If a ceremony is required, who may perform it? An ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate. See the state agency website. The marriage code answers both.
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Relevant Documents
Documents commonly produced at a North Carolina marriage-license appointment: the marriage-license application form, identification for each applicant, and (where relevant) the certificate of completion of an approved premarital preparation course. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. Payment of the marriage-license fee is handled at the counter when the North Carolina application is filed.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Marriage License Requirements
In North Carolina, couples must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must appear in person at a Register of Deeds office in any county in North Carolina. The license is valid for 60 days from issuance and can be used anywhere in the state. No blood tests are required, but applicants must provide proof of age and identity.
Age Requirements for Marriage
North Carolina law requires both parties to be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. Individuals who are 16 or 17 may marry with parental or guardian consent. As of 2021, North Carolina raised the minimum marriage age from 14 to 16, eliminating exceptions that previously allowed younger individuals to marry.
Waiting Period
North Carolina does not impose a waiting period between obtaining a marriage license and the ceremony. Couples can get married the same day they receive their license if they wish.
Solemnization Requirements
Marriages in North Carolina must be solemnized by an authorized person, which includes magistrates, ordained ministers, and certain religious officials. The ceremony must include a declaration by both parties that they take each other as husband and wife, made in the presence of the officiant and at least two witnesses.
Name Change After Marriage
In North Carolina, either spouse may change their surname after marriage by presenting the marriage certificate to relevant agencies (Social Security Administration, DMV, etc.). This is not automatic and requires action by the person wishing to change their name.
Common Law Marriage
North Carolina does not recognize common law marriages established within the state. However, it will recognize valid common law marriages established in states where such marriages are legal.
Regional Variances
Marriage License Requirements in North Carolina
In Mecklenburg County, couples must apply for their marriage license in person at the Register of Deeds office. The county requires a 60-day waiting period for divorced applicants if the divorce was finalized within the past 60 days. The marriage license fee is $60, payable by cash or credit card.
Wake County requires both parties to appear in person at the Register of Deeds office. They offer an online pre-application process to save time during the in-person visit. The marriage license fee is $60, and licenses are valid for 60 days after issuance.
Buncombe County (Asheville area) requires appointments for marriage license applications, which can be scheduled online. They have specific documentation requirements for name changes due to previous marriages. The county also offers a separate ceremony room for couples who wish to have their ceremony performed by a magistrate.
In New Hanover County (Wilmington area), couples can begin their marriage license application online before visiting the Register of Deeds office. The county requires certified copies of divorce decrees if either party has been divorced within the past year. They also have specific requirements for military personnel stationed in the area.
Durham County requires both applicants to appear in person with valid ID. They have specific requirements for non-US citizens regarding acceptable identification. The county also offers same-day marriage ceremonies with a magistrate for an additional fee, which must be scheduled in advance.
Marriage Ceremony Requirements in North Carolina
Orange County allows for self-uniting marriages (Quaker marriages) where couples can marry themselves without an officiant, provided they follow specific documentation requirements. This is unique compared to many other counties that strictly require an officiant.
Guilford County has specific requirements for marriage ceremonies performed by magistrates, including limited hours (Monday-Friday, 2pm-4pm) and requiring an appointment. They also have stricter witness requirements, mandating that witnesses must be at least 18 years old and provide government-issued photo ID.
In Forsyth County, couples seeking a magistrate ceremony must schedule at least 24 hours in advance. The county also has specific guidelines for religious ceremonies, requiring ordained ministers to register with the county before performing marriages.
Name Change Procedures After Marriage in North Carolina
Cumberland County has a streamlined process for military spouses changing their names after marriage, with dedicated staff to assist with expedited processing due to the large military population from Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg).
Cabarrus County requires additional documentation for name changes after marriage, including proof of publication in a local newspaper for certain situations, which differs from many other counties' simpler processes.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
File the marriage-license application with the North Carolina issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate.
Before the ceremony days after starting60.00. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests.
Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application
Before the ceremony days after startingStandard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married.
Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before applying days after startingNo waiting period. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date.
Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date
Before the ceremony days after starting60 days. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply.
Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes
At the ceremony days after startingAn ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively.
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office
After the ceremony days after startingThe officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| File the marriage-license application with the North Carolina issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate. | 60.00. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application | Standard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date | No waiting period. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date. | - | Before applying |
| Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date | 60 days. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes | An ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively. | - | At the ceremony |
| Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office | The officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Carolina does not recognize common law marriages established within the state. The practical test in North Carolina is whether the state's marriage code permits a marriage to be formed without a license and a ceremony; in most states it does not, and a couple that wants the legal status of marriage should plan on the license-plus-ceremony track.
60.00. Verify the current charge with the specific North Carolina clerk that will issue the license; some clerks publish the figure online and others quote it only at the counter.
No waiting period. Plan the ceremony date in North Carolina against the earliest lawful day under this rule; a wedding that occurs before the period runs is voidable, and the couple would have to redo the ceremony after the period closes.
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