Legal Steps (to getting a marriage license):

To get a marriage license BOTH parties must visit their local Register of Deeds office (for example, in Wake County there are multiple locations depending on which city you live in - in Raleigh this office is located at the Wake County Justice Center at 300 S Salisbury St.). There are no residency requirements, meaning it is ok if one or both members of the wedding party do not live in Wake County. Each party will need a valid government ID and proof of social security number (SSN card or W-2) and an application will be filled out (for applicants ages 16-20 years old a valid ID Certified birth record is needed). A certified copy of divorce is also needed if either party has gotten divorced within the last 30 days. (Divorce Records for Wake County can be obtained by visiting the Clerk of Superior Court located in the Wake County Courthouse at 316 Fayetteville St. in Raleigh.) This application can be done ahead of time on-line if preferred to save time. The license fee is $60.00 (some regional centers are cash only) and the license is valid for 60 days in North Carolina (meaning you must get married within 60 days). You will receive the license right away and can use it that same day to get married if you would like since North Carolina has no waiting period.  Walk-ins (with no appointment needed) are available at most locations Monday-Friday from 8:30am - 4:00pm (PLEASE call your local office ahead of time to verify this). 

After your ceremony both parties will sign the marriage license in front of their wedding officiant and the officiant will take care of the rest. It is now their job to return the completed, signed marriage license to the local Register of Deeds WITHIN 10 days of the ceremony to be processed. You will not be automatically sent your official license. You will need to request a certified copy (or copies). Please wait at least 10 days from the date of your wedding ceremony, to give your license enough time to be processed. This copy can be requested online, by mail, or in person at the local Register of Deeds office and will be necessary for such things as legally changing your last name (this can be done at the County Justice Center), being added on to your partners insurance, and updating documentation such as your social security card (this can be done at The Social Security Administration) or your driver's license or ID (which can be done at the Department of Motor Vehicles). Please wait at least 24 hours after updating your social security card before updating your driver's license or ID.