North Carolina Wedding Laws
The Tar Heel State is home to several great attractions and scenic views. North Carolina's marriage laws and its minimal restrictions also make it a great spot for wedding venues. We at the Universal Life Church want to make sure that you know all the boxes to check off your list to get a marriage license and plan the perfect ceremony. There are few spots more idyllic than the beach for a beautiful outdoor wedding, and North Carolina has some of the prettiest shorelines in the country. The following guide helps ensure that the union itself is legally binding.
North Carolina Marriage Requirements
- Min. Age of Couple:
- Age 18 or Age 16 with Guardian Consent
- Residency:
- Not Required
- Min. Distance of Kin Allowed:
- First Cousins
- Marriage Equality:
- Yes
North Carolina welcomes all couples who want to get married in the state. There is no gender restriction for either party, and you don't have to live in the state to tie the knot there.
There are, however, a few restrictions. Any marriage between people more closely related than second cousins is not considered valid. The exception to this rule is if the parties are double first cousins. Anyone who is at least 18 years of age can get married, but minors who are 16 and older must have parental consent. Additionally, those who are 14-16 need approval by the court to get married.
§ 51-4. Prohibited degrees of kinship.
When the degree of kinship is estimated with a view to ascertain the right of kinspeople to
marry, the half-blood shall be counted as the whole-blood: Provided, that nothing herein
contained shall be so construed as to invalidate any marriage heretofore contracted in case
where by counting the half-blood as the whole-blood the persons contracting such marriage
would be nearer of kin than first cousins; but in every such case the kinship shall be ascertained
by counting relations of the half-blood as being only half so near kin as those of the same
degree of the whole-blood
How to Get a North Carolina Marriage License
- Who Picks Up License:
- The Couple
- Where License is Valid:
- Any County in North Carolina
- Marriage License Pick-Up:
- In Person Only
- Cost of License:
- $60.00
- Accepted I.D. Types:
- Photo ID
- Proof of Divorce Required (If Applicable):
- Varies by County
- Blood Test Required:
- No
Generally, obtaining a marriage license in North Carolina requires appearing in person before a register of deeds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, applicants are allowed to answer questions via video conference and to send written applications and documentation through the mail.
To prepare for the visit to the register of deeds, both parties should have their birth certificates and any divorce decrees that have been issued ending prior marriages. In the interview, license applicants will be asked their names, ages, marital statuses and social security numbers. They must clearly state their intent to marry and may be asked to swear an oath as to the validity of all paperwork submitted. Once all requirements are met and the $60 application fee is paid, the marriage license can be processed.
§ 51-8. License issued by register of deeds.
Every register of deeds shall, upon proper application, issue a license for the marriage of
any two persons who are able to answer the questions regarding age, marital status, and
intention to marry, and, based on the answers, the register of deeds determines the persons are
authorized to be married in accordance with the laws of this State. In making a determination as
to whether or not the parties are authorized to be married under the laws of this State, the
register of deeds may require the applicants for the license to marry to present certified copies
of birth certificates or such other evidence as the register of deeds deems necessary to the
determination. The register of deeds may administer an oath to any person presenting evidence
relating to whether or not parties applying for a marriage license are eligible to be married
pursuant to the laws of this State. Each applicant for a marriage license shall provide on the
application the applicant's social security number. If an applicant does not have a social
security number and is ineligible to obtain one, the applicant shall present a statement to that
effect, sworn to or affirmed before an officer authorized to administer oaths. Upon presentation
of a sworn or affirmed statement, the register of deeds shall issue the license, provided all other
requirements are met, and retain the statement with the register's copy of the license. The
register of deeds shall not issue a marriage license unless all of the requirements of this section
have been met.
Applying For a Marriage License in North Carolina
- ULC-Officiated Ceremony Type:
- Religious
- Mandatory Waiting Period:
- None
- License Valid For:
- 60 Days
- License Must Be Submitted:
- Within 10 Days of Ceremony
North Carolina requirements for the marriage license dictate that it must include the names and addresses of the couple's parents, officiant and two adults who witnessed the ceremony. It must also include the couple's full legal names, race, ages and place of residence. The marriage license is not considered complete if it lacks any of this information.
No matter which county issues the marriage license, the couple can get married anywhere in North Carolina as long as the ceremony occurs within 60 days of the date of issue. There is no waiting period, so a couple can obtain a marriage license and get married on the same day.
§ 51-16. Form of license.
License shall be in the following or some equivalent form:
To any ordained minister of any religious denomination, minister authorized by a church,
any magistrate, or any other person authorized to solemnize a marriage under the laws of this
State: A.B. having applied to me for a license for the marriage of C.D. (the name of the man to
be written in full) of (here state his residence), aged ____ years (race, as the case may be), the
son of (here state the father and mother, if known; state whether they are living or dead, and
their residence, if known; if any of these facts are not known, so state), and E.F. (write the
name of the woman in full) of (here state her residence), aged ____ years (race, as the case may
be), the daughter of (here state names and residences of the parents, if known, as is required
above with respect to the man). (If either of the parties is under 18 years of age, the license
shall here contain the following:) And the written consent of G.H., father (or mother, etc., as
the case may be) to the proposed marriage having been filed with me, and there being no legal
impediment to such marriage known to me, you are hereby authorized, at any time within 60
days from the date hereof, to celebrate the proposed marriage at any place within the State. You
are required within 10 days after you shall have celebrated such marriage, to return this license
to me at my office with your signature subscribed to the certificate under this license, and with
the blanks therein filled according to the facts, under penalty of forfeiting two hundred dollars
($200.00) to the use of any person who shall sue for the same.
Issued this ____ day of ____, ____
____________________ L.M.
Register of Deeds of ____ County
Every register of deeds shall, at the request of an applicant, designate in a marriage license
issued the race of the persons proposing to marry by inserting in the blank after the word "race"
the words "white," "black," "African-American," "American Indian," "Alaska Native," "Asian
Indian," "Chinese," "Filipino," "Japanese," "Korean," "Vietnamese," "Other Asian," "Native
Hawaiian," "Guamarian," "Chamorro," "Samoan," "Other Pacific Islander," "Mexican,"
"Mexican-American," "Chicano," "Puerto Rican," "Cuban," "Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino,"
or "other," as the case may be. The certificate shall be filled out and signed by the minister,
officer, or other authorized individual celebrating the marriage, and also be signed by two
witnesses present at the marriage, who shall add to their names their place of residence, as
follows:
I, N.O., an ordained or authorized minister or other authorized individual of (here state to
what religious denomination, or magistrate, as the case may be), united in matrimony (here
name the parties), the parties licensed above, on the ___ day of ______, ___, at the house of
P.R., in (here name the town, if any, the township and county), according to law.
________________ N.O.
Witness present at the marriage:
S.T., of (here give residence).
(1871-2, c. 193, s. 6; Code, s. 1815; 1899, c. 541, ss. 1, 2; Rev., s. 2089; 1909, c. 704, s. 3;
1917, c. 38; C.S., s. 2502; 1953, c. 638, s. 2; 1967, c. 957, s. 7; 1971, c. 1072; c. 1185, s. 27;
1999-456, s. 59; 2001-62, s. 11.)
How to Become a Wedding Officiant in North Carolina
- Min. Age of Minister:
- Age 18
- Residency:
- Not Required
- Document(s) Required:
- Varies by County
- Online Ordination Recognized:
- Not Always
- Relevant Office of Registration:
- Register of Deeds
- Latest Document(s) Submission Date Allowed:
- After the Ceremony
- Minister I.D. # Issued:
- No
Ordination through the Universal Life Church qualifies ministers to conduct wedding ceremonies in North Carolina. The ULC ordains religious actors regardless of their gender, residence or individual religious beliefs. Once ordained, they have the credentials that North Carolina requires to recognize them as a valid minister.
North Carolina, like every other state, allows solemnization by both civil and religious officiants. Any ordained minister who is at least 18 years of age can perform legally binding wedding ceremonies.
Chapter 51.
Marriage.
Article 1.
General Provisions.
§ 51-1. Requisites of marriage; solemnization.
A valid and sufficient marriage is created by the consent of a male and female person who
may lawfully marry, presently to take each other as husband and wife, freely, seriously and
plainly expressed by each in the presence of the other, either:
(1) a. In the presence of an ordained minister of any religious
denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate; and
b. With the consequent declaration by the minister or magistrate that the
persons are husband and wife; or
(2) In accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious
denomination, or federally or State recognized Indian Nation or Tribe.
Marriages solemnized before March 9, 1909, by ministers of the gospel licensed, but not
ordained, are validated from their consummation. (1871-2, c. 193, s. 3; Code, s. 1812; Rev., s.
2081; 1908, c. 47; 1909, c. 704, s. 2; c. 897; C.S., s. 2493; 1945, c. 839; 1965, c. 152; 1971, c.
1185, s. 26; 1977, c. 592, s. 1; 2000-58, ss. 1, 2; 2001-14, ss. 1, 2; 2001-62, ss. 1, 17; 2002-115,
ss. 5, 6; 2002-159, s. 13(a); 2003-4, s. 1; 2005-56, s. 1; 2007-61, s. 1; 2009-13, s. 1; 2012-194,
s. 65.4(a).)
Getting Married in North Carolina
- Marriage By Proxy Allowed:
- No
- Minister Required to be Present:
- Yes
- Number of Witnesses Required:
- 2
- Min. Age of Witnesses:
- 18
- Couple's Consent Required:
- Yes
- Pronouncement Required:
- Yes
There are two main declarations that must happen in a wedding ceremony in North Carolina to provide sufficient validation. First, the consent to the marriage must be “freely, seriously and plainly expressed” by each person in the couple in front of the officiant and the two adult witnesses. Second, the officiant must officially declare the couple married.
Otherwise, North Carolina adopts a fairly hands-off approach regarding the content of the ceremony. The couple can decide most of the details of the ceremony, including the specific verbiage used in the magistrate or minister's final declaration. This is great news for couples who don't want to use the traditional "husband and wife" statement to punctuate their special day.
§ 51-1. Requisites of marriage; solemnization.
A valid and sufficient marriage is created by the consent of a male and female person who
may lawfully marry, presently to take each other as husband and wife, freely, seriously and
plainly expressed by each in the presence of the other, either:
(1) a. In the presence of an ordained minister of any religious
denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate; and
b. With the consequent declaration by the minister or magistrate that the
persons are husband and wife; or
(2) In accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious
denomination, or federally or State recognized Indian Nation or Tribe.
Finalizing the Marriage
- Officiant's Title on Marriage License:
- Minister
- Church/Ordaining Body:
- Universal Life Church Ministries
- Address of Church:
- Minister's Home Address
Time is of the essence when it comes to certifying the marriage license with the proper endorsement. The officiant has 10 days from the date the ceremony takes place to ensure all information on the license is accurate and complete, endorse it and then return it to the register of deeds. Officiants must provide their titles ("minister" works best) and the ordaining body (i.e., the Universal Life Church). They may also be asked to include the address of the ministry on the document, in which case they should provide their own.
Failure to meet both the 10-day deadline for filing after the ceremony and the 60-day window requirement that starts on the day the license is obtained can result in a $200 fine. Therefore, strict adherence to the schedule is advised.
§ 51-7. Penalty for solemnizing without license.
Every minister, officer, or any other person authorized to solemnize a marriage under the
laws of this State, who marries any couple without a license being first delivered to that person,
as required by law, or after the expiration of such license, or who fails to return such license to
the register of deeds within 10 days after any marriage celebrated by virtue thereof, with the
certificate appended thereto duly filled up and signed, shall forfeit and pay two hundred dollars
($200.00) to any person who sues therefore, and shall also be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(R.C., c. 68, ss. 6, 13; 1871-2, c. 193, s. 8; Code, s. 1817; Rev., ss. 2087, 3372; C.S., s. 2499;
1953, c. 638, s. 1; 1967, c. 957, s. 5; 1993, c. 539, s. 415; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c);
2001-62, s. 7.)
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