How to Get Married in North Carolina

Co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD

Last Updated: March 7, 2023 References

Getting married in any state in a process, but one that has a wonderful conclusion at the end: you get married! You can easily find out how to get married in North Carolina to help make the whole process fun and cost-effective. In order to get married in North Carolina, you need to get a marriage license, finish marriage paperwork, and plan and have the wedding ceremony. Getting married in North Carolina is an easy process, as long as you follow the correct steps and procedures.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting a Marriage License

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Find your local county clerk’s office. Your will have to go to the county clerk’s office to obtain a marriage license. Marriage licenses are granted by each county, so it’s easiest if you go to the office for the county you live in.^{[1]
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- You should be able to look up your specific county court office pretty easily. They should have a section on their website listing the “Marriage License” services offered at each location.
- In North Carolina, you can get your marriage license at any county clerk’s office and use it anywhere in the state. However, you will have to bring or mail your completed marriage license to that office.
2
Bring a verified copy of your social security number. You and your spouse will need to verify your identity when obtaining a marriage license. Some form of ID that has your social security number on it is necessary.^{[2]
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- Your social security card is the best way to give your social security number to the county clerk. You can obtain a social security card from the federal government if you don’t have one.^{[3]
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- An old paycheck stub or a W-2 form may also work if it has your social security number on it. Verify that your full name on these forms matches any your name on any ID you bring.
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3
Have valid ID. You’ll need a valid form of ID to bring to the county clerk’s office. You can use a variety of forms of ID, but they need to have your full name, address, and date of birth.^{[4]
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- Your driver’s license or state-issued ID is the best form of identification to bring. Identification that comes directly from the state is easy for the county clerk to verify.
- Your passport or birth certificate can also work as forms of identification. Check with your specific county clerk’s office if you only have a birth certificate and no state-issued ID.
4
Have death certificate or divorce decree if previously married. For people who have been previously married, you’ll also need your divorce papers or your former spouses’ death certificate. The county clerk just needs this information to guarantee you are no longer married. In both cases, you should have received some final certificate upon the event of death or divorce.^{[5]
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Be prepared to pay fees for marriage license. In North Carolina, there is a $60 fee to obtain your marriage license. There is no waiting period, and you don't have to be a resident of North Carolina to obtain one in the state.^{[6]
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- Your $60 fee can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. A check might be the best option, so you can have a verified copy of the check to show you’ve paid for your marriage license in advance.
- Your marriage license lasts up to 60 days after you receive it. You want to use it before that time period is up so you don’t have to go through the application process again.
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Get a marriage license for North Carolina as a non-resident. If you’re having a destination wedding in North Carolina, you do not have to be a resident of the state. You can get it at any county clerk’s office and it will be valid statewide.^{[7]
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- Go to the county clerk’s office in advance of coming to North Carolina for the wedding. Marriage licenses can take a bit of time, so you’ll want to have it in hand with plenty of time before the wedding.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finishing Final Marriage Paperwork

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Find an officiant. If you’re having a religious ceremony, you may want to have a specific religious advisor hold the ceremony. However, if you’re not religious, you can also find someone who has been licensed and ordained by the state.^{[8]
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- Religious officiants in North Carolina are not required to be registered with the state. Some specific county clerk’s offices occasionally do ask for ordination paperwork, so make sure your religious officiant has that prepared just in case.
- In the case of getting married by a friend or someone newly ordained, they may also want to have their ordination paperwork prepared. They can become ordained online rather easily.
2
Verify your officiant has your marriage license. Your officiant can drop off your marriage license in North Carolina. They will need to sign the license to verify they performed the ceremony.^{[9]
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- Have someone in your wedding party, such as the best man or maid of honor, guarantee that your officiant has your marriage license. They should also talk to your officiant to see if they have any additional questions.
- After the ceremony, your officiant should tell you when to expect the marriage certificate. They have done this before, so they usually can tell you when to expect it back in the mail.
3
Have witnesses to your ceremony. In North Carolina, you’re required to have two witnesses to the marriage. In many cases, this can just be your maid of honor and the best man.
- Witnesses are required to sign the marriage certificate in many cases. This just states that they witnessed the ceremony and that it was valid wedding.
- If you are getting married at a courthouse, the courthouse can usually supply witnesses. You can also ask a few friends to come along to guarantee you’ll have witnesses to your marriage.
4
Mail or drop off your marriage license. If your officiant is unable to drop off your marriage license, you can do it as well. Just make sure your officiant has signed all the paperwork and given final approval on your marriage.
- You can bring the paperwork directly to the county clerk's office. They will be able to process the marriage license that day, but will not be able to give you your marriage certificate at that time.
- It may also be easier to mail the paperwork directly to the county clerk's office. You can send it certified mail so you know when it's arrived.
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Receive copies of your marriage certificate. Your county clerk's office should mail you copies of your marriage certificate. In most cases, you'll receive one or two copies anywhere from 5-10 business days after submitting your completed marriage license.^{[10]
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- Make sure to keep your marriage license somewhere safe. It's an important piece of legal paperwork that you'll likely need again in the future.
- If your marriage certificate does not arrive after 10 business days, contact your county clerk's office. There may have been an issue with processing your marriage license.
6
Order additional copies of your marriage certificate. You may need to use your marriage certificate to change your last name, update your tax status, or create a joint banking account. It may be a good idea to order additional copies so you have them when you need them.
- You can order additional copies of your marriage certificate in person, online, or by mail. Each copy costs $10.^{[11]
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- Many businesses just need to make a copy of your marriage certificate for their records. If possible, try not to give away a valuable copy of your marriage certificate unless absolutely necessary.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Planning and Having the Ceremony

1
Find a wedding ceremony location. When getting married in North Carolina, you can choose many locations to get married. You’ll want to consider what type of venue you may want and how many guests you plan to invite.^{[12]
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- There are many places you can get married from a church or synagogue to an outdoor wedding. Choose the venue that best suits the mood and formality of your wedding ceremony.
- Different ceremony venues can accommodate different numbers of people. You’ll want to make sure whatever venue you choose can fit at least the number of people you plan to invite to the ceremony.
2
Look for the perfect reception site. Most weddings have a reception either immediately afterwards or later on in the same day. Reception sites can be expensive, so you’ll want to be cost effective when making your selection.
- When you find a ceremony venue, you may also want to hold your reception there. This will make sure your guests don’t have to travel between the ceremony and the reception.
- Reception sites offer a variety of amenities to guests. Choose a reception site that balances costs with the types of decorations and food you want at the reception.
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Find vendors for your wedding day. Some vendors you may need to find include your photographer, DJ, and caterer. You may not need all of these vendors and can even do a few of them yourself.^{[13]
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- Once you choose a reception venue, they may have preferred vendors. These vendors should offer a discount for you at that venue.
- If you want to save money, you may be able to find friends to help out. Try making your own music playlist or having a friend take pictures. Additionally, you may be able to make your own food, such as in a potluck, to make the reception less expensive.
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Reach out to wedding vendors to discuss pricing and booking. For many vendors, you’ll need to pay a portion of the cost up front. The remainder will need to be paid after the wedding date.^{[14]
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- Shop around when you’re finding wedding vendors. You want to find vendors that have good prices and that you also feel comfortable with.
- Have money prepared to pay your vendors a deposit. This will guarantee that they are available and booked for your wedding date.
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Stay in contact with your vendors. Your days will get busier as you get closer to your wedding day. Check in with your vendors to see if they need anything additional from you.
- If possible, arrange for your vendors to tour your venue. They will know how and where to set up their materials the day of the wedding.
- Ask them if they have any additional questions or problems. You don't want to deal with any surprises the day of the wedding.
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Assign a friend or family member or friend to talk to vendors. This will free you up to enjoy everything that is going on the day of the wedding. Your friend or family member should be able to field any questions or concerns.
- Give your friend or family member the final checks for the vendors. They should be able to complete all payments without your help on the day of the wedding.
- Tip the wedding vendors. While some vendors may include gratuity, it's standard to tip 15-20% on top of the bill.^{[15]
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