Search Free North Carolina Marriage Records (License Lookup) 

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Free North Carolina Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in North Carolina, free of charge.

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By viewing free North Carolina marriage records, you can uncover information about someone’s relationship history for free. These records can help you find out if someone is married or not. You can also request a copy of your own marriage license for identification purposes.

This resource on locating marriage records in North Carolina details how to use state agencies to track down this information, and explains how to find archived material for genealogical research. It will also provide instructions on how to apply for a new marriage license in North Carolina.

Are Marriage Records & Certificates Available to Members of the Public in North Carolina?

Some states restrict marriage records only to the parties named on the document or their immediate family members. That’s not the case in North Carolina, where members of the general public may access uncertified copies of marriage records, as mandated on N.C. General Statute § 132-1.¹

This means that, when requesting uncertified copies of marriage records, you don’t need to provide proof of your relationship to the registrants. Uncertified copies are printed on plain paper and can’t be used for legal purposes.

On the other hand, if you need to order a copy of a certified marriage record for legal purposes, you will need to provide proof that you are one of the following:

• One of the Registrants
• A Parent, Stepparent, or Grandparent of a Registrant
• The Current Spouse of a Registrant
• An Adult Sibling of a Registrant
• An Adult Child or Grandchild of a Registrant
• A Legal Guardian or Custodian of a Registrant
• A Legal Representative of a Registrant
• Someone With Power of Attorney to Access the Document

It’s also to find out general information about North Carolina marriage trends by checking U.S. Census data. For example, in the most recent U.S. Census (2021), North Carolina had a marriage rate of 15.3. This means that, for every 1,000 women residing in the state, 15.3 were married within 12 months of the data collection.

How To Find North Carolina Marriage Records & Spousal Information

Interested parties can order both certified and uncertified copies of marriage records from the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS).

The NCDHHS maintains North Carolina marriage records dating back to 1962.

You can order copies directly from the NCDHHS in person by appointment only.² All appointments provide expedited service. You can find out more information about processing times on the NCDHHS site.

Appointments are held Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and last 30 minutes. You can make an appointment using the NCDHHS online scheduler or by calling 984.236.7268.

The cost for ordering a marriage record in person starts at $39 ($24 record searching fee plus $15 expedited service fee). The cost is the same for both certified and uncertified marriage record copies.

The base cost for copies includes searching three years’ worth of records. If you are unsure of when the marriage took place, you can pay $24 for the NCDHHS to search for an additional three-year period. Additional copies of the same marriage record cost $15 each.

If ordering the record copy in person, you can pay with cash or a check or money order made payable to “NC Vital Records.”

All in-person appointments are held at this address:

NC Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS)
101 Blair Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27603

If ordering through the mail, you can complete and submit the Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Marriage Certificate form. The form can be mailed, along with payment and a copy of a valid photo ID, to:

VC Certificate Orders
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

The NCDHHS has also partnered with VitalChek, a third-party service, to allow researchers to order copies of marriage records by mail, over the phone, or online. The cost for using these options is $24 for the first copy, plus $15 for each additional copy. In addition, VitalChek charges a $13.95 processing fee.

Payment can be made with a credit card or with a personal check or money order made out to “VitalChek.”

Phone orders can be made by calling VitalChek at +1.800.669.8310. To order a marriage certificate copy online, visit the VitalChek website.

For more information, you can call NCDHHS at 984.236.7268.

Searching the County in North Carolina Where the Marriage Occurred

Because the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services or NCDHHS’s processing times can be lengthy, researchers may want a quicker option for ordering copies of North Carolina marriage records that doesn’t involve traveling to Raleigh.³

Marriage licenses are also kept by the register of deeds for the county in which they were filed. The North Carolina Association of Registers & Deeds (NCARD) website allows users to look up the appropriate office. Municipal governments in North Carolina do not maintain marriage records.

This guide will cover how to order copies of marriage records from the registers of deeds for the three most populous counties in the state: Wake, Mecklenburg, and Guilford.

Wake County: The Wake County Register of Deeds allows users to perform an online Marriage Certificate Index Search to track down records dating back to 1931.⁴ This is a free way to find out the names of both wedding parties, as well as the date of the marriage.

The office also allows authorized individuals (such as the registrants and members of their immediate family) to order certified copies of marriage certificates. Copies can be ordered in person or online. The cost is $10.

If ordering in person, requesters can first complete the Application for Wake County Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate(s). They can then visit one of the five Wake County Register of Deeds. Payment options vary by location.

Alternatively, you can order a copy of a Wake County marriage certificate online through the Vital Access system. Online orders can be paid with a debit or credit card only and incur an additional $4 convenience fee.

For more information, you can contact the Wake County Register of Deeds by calling 919.856.5460.

Mecklenburg County: The Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds also allows interested parties to conduct a Free Marriage Index Search.⁵ This search can be done by anyone and includes the names of the registrants, as well as the date of the wedding.

You can also request certified and uncertified copies of marriage records in person or online. The cost is $10 per certified copy and $1 per uncertified copy. If ordering in person, you can pay with cash or a check made out to the “Register of Deeds.”

To order a marriage record copy in person, you can bring payment and your government-issued photo ID to this address Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:

Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds
720 East 4th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Or researchers can use the Online Marriage Certificate Request Application online. Online orders must be paid for with a credit or debit card; there’s a $3.35 processing fee per order.

Alternatively, you can complete the Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Marriage Certificate to order a certified or uncertified copy by mail through VitalChek. The cost is $24 for the first copy, plus $15 for each additional copy. You may pay via credit card, money order, or personal check.

This method incurs an additional $13.95 processing fee.

VitalChek forms can be mailed to this address:

County Courts & Office Bldng.
720 East 4th St., Room 105
Charlotte, NC 28202

For more information, you can contact the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds by emailing Deeds@MeckNC.gov or calling 704.336.2443.

Guilford County: Guilford County Register of Deeds allows individuals to order certified copies of marriage licenses filed in the county.⁷ Authorized individuals can order certified copies for $10 each, while uncertified copies can be ordered for $0.05 (in person) or $1 (via mail). The fee is payable with a check or money order made out to the “Register of Deeds.”

To order a copy in person, you can visit the office at the following address:

Guilford County Register of Deeds
301 W. Market St.
Greensboro, NC 27401

The office is open Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Alternatively, you can order a copy via mail by completing and printing the Application for Copies of Vital Records and sending it, along with payment and a photocopy of your photo ID, to this address:

Guilford County Register of Deeds
P.O. Box 3427
Greensboro, NC 27402

For more information, you can contact the Guilford County Register of Deeds by calling 336.641.7556.

How To Look Up Archived Family Marriage Records in NC (Free)

The state’s Office of Vital Records’ Division of Public Health maintains North Carolina marriage records dating back only to 1962. If you wish to track down earlier records for research purposes, the office recommends contacting the register of deeds office in which the marriage took place.

The North Carolina Association of Registers & Deeds (NCARD) can help you locate the contact information for the appropriate office on its website.

Genealogists may also wish to consult the State Library & Archives of North Carolina. The Division of Archives and Records has several features that might be helpful.

For example, the State Archives’ Family Records Collection website allows users to search indexed marriage announcements dating from 1799 to 1893 from five newspapers in the state. The collection also contains roughly 1,500 family Bible records, which can be useful for looking up information on marriages.

In addition, you can order copies of marriage records dating from 1851 to 1966 online through the State Archives of North Carolina Store. You must be able to provide the names of both registrants, as well as the year in which the marriage took place.

There is no upfront cost for North Carolina residents to request a records search. Out-of-state residents must pay a $20 search fee online with a credit or debit card. Once the record is located, the State Archives will invoice you for the amount owed (fees vary).

The State Archives also allows interested parties to order copies of marriage records via mail by using the Reference Request Form.⁹ This form should be completed and mailed to the following address:

State Archives of North Carolina
4614 Mail Service Ctr.
Raleigh, NC 27699

Once your request has been received, the office will contact you with the amount owed, as well as payment instructions.

If you’re a North Carolina resident, you can also email your record request, along with your name and mailing address, to archives@dncr.nc.gov. This option is not available to nonresidents.

You can also visit the State Archives in person at one of the four regional locations to view available documents.

If you wish to contact the State Archives for more information, you can call 919.814.6840 or email archives@dncr.nc.gov.

In addition to the State Archives, there are numerous resources for genealogical research in North Carolina, including:

• Local Churches
• Local Newspapers
• Local Libraries
• North Carolina Genealogical Society
• The Historical Society of North Carolina
• State Library of North Carolina
• University of North Carolina

How To Obtain a Marriage License in North Carolina

Although each county’s register of deeds is responsible for issuing marriage licenses, there are some requirements that are the same for the entire state.¹⁰

In order to be married in North Carolina, both parties must be over the age of 18. However, minors aged 16 and 17 may marry someone who is no more than four years older. Minors must also provide written consent from a parent or legal guardian — or have a district court order authorizing the marriage.

The cost of a marriage license is $60. Payment methods vary by county. Both applicants must provide proof of their Social Security number.

If one or both of the registrants have been divorced within the past 30 days, they must also bring a certified copy of the divorce decree.

There’s no waiting period, meaning you can apply for and receive a license and get married all on the same day. However, marriage licenses are valid for 60 days after issuance.

North Carolina marriage licenses may be used in any county in the state, regardless of where they were issued. However, after the wedding, they must be filed with the issuing register of deeds.

Methods of requesting a marriage license vary per county. While some counties now allow individuals to apply online, others require both parties to appear at the register of deeds office in person.

North Carolina marriage records can provide researchers with information about someone’s personal history, whether they’re interested in finding out if a potential love interest is single or are conducting family research.

You can also use the instructions for obtaining NC public records at no cost to find more information on individuals throughout the state — from warrants and background checks to property tax details and court cases.