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Making It Official
Marriage License Requirements
What do I need to be legally married on the Outer Banks? A North Carolina marriage license. North Carolina does not require a blood test or physical exam.
Where do I get it? Marriage licenses can be obtained from the Register of Deeds office in any North Carolina county. You do not have to get the license in the county in which you plan to get married, unless that is the most convenient county for you. The local Register of Deeds offices are:
Dare County Register of Deeds: Dare County Justice Center, 962 Marshall Collins Drive, (off U.S. Highway 64), Manteo, 252-473-3438. Licenses are handled from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Currituck County Register of Deeds: Currituck County Governmental Center, U.S. Highway 158, 13 miles south of Virginia/N.C. state line, Currituck, 252-232-3297. Licenses are handled from 8 am to 4 pm. Go to www.currituckgovernment.com and click on the online services link to view a sample license form.
Hyde County Register of Deeds: Courthouse Building, 30 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter, 252-926-4182. Licenses are handled from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
What do I need to bring? The Register of Deeds offices in the state have different requirements about what you need to bring to get your license, so always call ahead.
Dare County requires proof of your social security number (card or tax return) and a driver’s license or valid photo ID. If you have been married before, you need to bring the final divorce decree with the judge’s signature. If you’re a woman who has been divorced, you’ll need paperwork proving your maiden name. If you’re younger than 21, you need to bring your birth certificate. Anyone under 18 needs to call the office for more details.
Currituck County requires a valid photo ID only. If you have been divorced, they only need to know the month and year of the divorce. You do not need to bring a social security card, however you do need to know what your social security number is. And if you’re younger than 21, you need to bring your birth certificate. Anyone under 18 needs to call the office for more details.
Hyde County requires a valid photo ID and your social security card. If you have been married before, you need to bring the final divorce decree. Anyone under 18 needs to call the office for more details.
Make sure you know this information as well because it is recorded on the license: Your parents’ full names (including both mothers’ maiden names), the states they were born in and the states they live in now. You will also be asked the name of the county and state in which you were born.
Do we both have to go? Yes. There are exceptions to this, but they involve extensive paperwork. Call for details.
How much does the license cost? The license costs $50. It’s easiest to pay by cash or check. Credit cards and debit cards are not accepted.
When should I get the license? There is no waiting period after you get the license, so you can get married the same day if you’d like. You must use the license within 60 days of issuance.
Then what do I do with it? Bring your marriage license to the wedding. After the wedding ceremony, the officiant, the newlyweds and the two witnesses will sign it. The minister or magistrate keeps the license and returns it to the Register of Deeds in the county in which the license was issued.
Who can legally marry us? In North Carolina, magistrates and ordained ministers are the only people who can perform marriage ceremonies. There must be two witnesses at any marriage, whether it is civil or religious. To find an ordained minister, see the “Planners & Officiants” section of the Registry of Wedding Professionals in the back of this guide, or consult a wedding planner. The magistrate’s fee for weddings is $20. Be sure to call ahead for the hours that the magistrate performs ceremonies.
Dare County Magistrate’s Office:
252-475-9228
Currituck County Magistrate’s Office:
252-232-3404 (Mainland)
252-453-9899 (Corolla)
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