Get a N.C. Marriage License

BY LAW, YOUR LICENSE MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY SITE–not in the car, or purse, or hotel or back home.

The couple must have a marriage license from North Carolina (not your home state). Get your license in any county Register of Deeds office in North Carolina (within 60 days before your wedding date) and it is valid to use anywhere inside this state. The following is legal requirement information for North Carolina:

  • Register of Deeds office hours are Mon-Fri, generally 8:30am – 4pm. Closed holidays.
  • No blood test, no medical exam, no waiting period, no residency or US citizenship needed.
  • Both of you must be present in their office.
  • Those over age 18 years, both must show 2 forms of official ID’s–please call the office you will go to, and ask what forms of ID they accept.
  • If divorced within last 60 days, registrar might request to see a copy of divorce decree.
  • Fee is $60 cash; License is good for 60 days.
  • Give license papers to minister/officiant before ceremony. Following the ceremony, your officiant will need two witnesses, over age 18 years, to sign the license. (we can get witnesses for free, if needed)
  • Your officiant will mail in your license within 10 days after ceremony. You may order the certified copy of your license from the issuing registrar for $10/each copy.

Nearby North Carolina offices:

• Brunswick County Register of Deeds (near Sunset, Ocean Isle, Shallotte, Calabash, Holden, Oak Island, Southport, Supply, St James)
75 Courthouse Dr
Bolivia NC 28422
910-253-2690
Click here for this application & instructions, but you both must appear there in person.

• New Hanover County Register of Deeds (near Wilmington, Wrightsville, Carolina, Kure, Ft Fisher, Figure 8, Leland)
216 N 2nd St
Wilmington NC 28401
910-798-7758
Click here and scroll down to green ‘Marriage Application’ box, but you both must appear there in person.

• Onslow County Register of Deeds (near Jacksonville, North Topsail, Sneads Ferry)
109 Old Bridge St
Jacksonville NC 28540
PH: 910-347-3451
FX: 910-347-3340
Click here for online instructions & application, but you both must appear there in person.

• Pender County Register of Deeds (near Topsail, Surf City)
Howard Holly Building
300 E. Fremont St
Burgaw NC 28425
PH: 910-259-1225
FX: 910-259-1299
Click here for online instructions & application, but you both must appear there in person.

• Carteret County Register of Deeds (near Atlantic, Bogue, Emerald Isle, Indian, Morehead, Salter Path, Pine Knoll, Beaufort)
302 Courthouse Sq
Beaufort NC 28516
PH: 252-728-8474
Click here for detailed online instructions, but you both must appear there in person.

 

Get a S.C. Marriage License

BY LAW, YOUR LICENSE MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY SITE–not in the car, or purse, or hotel or home.

The couple must have a marriage license from South Carolina Probate Office (not your home state). You may get your license in any county Probate Court in South Carolina, at any time, but with required 24-hour-wait-period too (weekend weddings, this means arriving at their office no later than Thursday 4pm) and it is valid to use throughout the state, for life, no expiration. The following is required info:

  • Probate Office hours are Mon-Fri, closed holidays, and call your intended Probate Office for its own business hours.
  • No blood test; no medical exam; issued license never expires.
  • Waiting period minimum 24-hours required: your application must be on file at least 24 hours before a license is issued.
  • That means SC law requires you both MUST appear at the Probate Office in person (with IDs) to apply, and then return there no sooner than 24 hours later, to pick it up. No exceptions. Addresses below.
  • Couples over age 18 must show 2 forms of government-issued ID’s–please call the office you will go to, and ask what forms of ID they accept. SC requires your Social Security card or Green Card.
  • Detailed online info from their website, click here.
  • FEES for Horry County: Horry residents = $50, other SC residents = $75, out-of-state = $100. Cash or money order only. No plastic.
  • FEE for Georgetown County: Everyone = $40. Cash or money order. No plastic.
  • FEE for other SC Counties: prices vary a lot and are usually lower, please call them to ask!
  • No witnesses needed.
  • Give license papers to minister/officiant before ceremony. Then the officiant will give you a signed copy right after ceremony, and mail in the court copies to the issuing office. After that, you may order a court certified copy of your license from the issuing office for $5-6/each copy.

Nearby South Carolina offices:

• Horry County Probate Office (near Myrtle, North Myrtle, Little River, Cherry Grove, Longs)
1301 Second Ave
Conway SC 29526
(843) 915-5370

• Georgetown County Probate Office (near Surfside, Pawleys, Georgetown, Murrells, Litchfield)
Georgetown Courthouse
401 Cleland St, first floor Room 140
Georgetown SC 29440
(843) 545-3274 or (843) 545-3079