Lyla Dejesus
North Carolina is a popular spot for destination weddings, with its beautiful beaches, historical sites, and glorious mountains. However, it's important to follow local marriage laws to ensure your marriage is official. Here's an introduction to the vows required at a courthouse wedding in North Carolina, as well as other important considerations for a legal marriage ceremony in the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Requirements to get married in North Carolina | Both parties must intend to marry, must not be currently married to anyone else, and must be able to understand their actions. |
| Age requirement | Both parties must be at least 18 years old, unless specific requirements for minors are met. Minors ages 16 and 17 may marry if there is no more than a 4-year age gap and they have written consent from a legal guardian. |
| Relationship requirement | The couple cannot be more closely related than first cousins, and cannot be double first cousins. |
| Marriage license | A marriage license is required before the wedding and must be obtained from the Register of Deeds in any county in North Carolina. The license is valid for 60 days. |
| Officiant | The wedding must be officiated by a magistrate, a minister ordained in a religious denomination, or any person authorized by a church. |
| Witnesses | Two witnesses aged 18 or older are required to be present at the wedding and sign the marriage license. |
| Declaration of Intent | The wedding must contain a Declaration of Intent, where the couple expresses their desire to marry each other. |
| Vows and ring exchange | Vows and a ring exchange are not required by law, but are common practices in wedding ceremonies. |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage licenses
To obtain a marriage license in North Carolina, both parties must be physically present at the Register of Deeds office in any county in the state. Some counties allow online applications to be submitted before visiting the office to save time. The cost of a marriage license is $60, and you'll need a valid government-issued ID and proof of your social security number. No appointment is needed, and you can walk in any time between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The marriage license must be issued before the wedding, and there is no required waiting period between the issuance of the license and the wedding. The wedding ceremony must take place in North Carolina within 60 days of obtaining the marriage license. After 60 days, the license expires, and applicants must apply again.
Both parties must be at least 18 years old, unless specific requirements for minors are met. Minors aged 16 and 17 may marry a person no more than four years older and must file with the Register of Deeds a written consent to the marriage signed by a parent with legal custody or a legal guardian. Under very limited circumstances, unmarried people over 14 and under 16 may marry.
The parties cannot be more closely related than first cousins and cannot be double first cousins. They must both intend to marry, must not be currently married to anyone else, and must be able to understand their actions. Applicants must fill out a form stating their names, ages, marital status, and intention to marry. They must provide either a Social Security number or a notarized statement that they are ineligible to receive one. The Register of Deeds may require proof of age, such as a government-issued ID or birth certificate, and proof of divorce if either partner was previously married.
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Officiants
In North Carolina, a wedding can be performed by a magistrate or by any minister who is ordained in a religious denomination or authorized by a church. Marriages can also be performed in the recognized manner of any religious denomination that does not use officiants, or in the recognized manner of any federally or state-recognized Native American tribe.
If you want to make your wedding ceremony more personal, you can have a close friend or family member perform the ceremony, but they will need to get ordained. This can be done online at the Universal Life Church Website.
To be legally married in North Carolina, you must have an ordained officiant and two legal witnesses present. The witnesses must be 18 years of age or older and will need to sign the marriage license. The officiant and witnesses must also sign both copies of the marriage license after the ceremony.
There are no state-mandated vows in North Carolina, and the government has no say in how the wedding ceremony is structured or conducted. However, the wedding must contain a Declaration of Intent, in which the couple clearly expresses their desire to marry each other. While vows are not required, they are included in most wedding ceremonies and can be tailored to the couple.
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Witnesses
While there are no specific vows required for a courthouse wedding in North Carolina, there are a few legal requirements that must be met. One such requirement is the presence of two legal witnesses who are 18 years of age or older. These witnesses will need to sign the marriage license, along with the officiant of the wedding.
In North Carolina, a marriage license must be obtained before the wedding ceremony can take place. Both parties must be present in person to apply for the license and must provide valid government-issued IDs and proof of their social security numbers. There is typically a fee associated with obtaining the license, and it is important to note that the license is only valid for 60 days. If the wedding does not occur within this time frame, the license expires, and applicants must apply again.
The wedding ceremony itself can be performed by a magistrate or by any minister who is ordained in a religious denomination or authorized by a church. It is important to note that judges cannot perform marriages in North Carolina. The ceremony must also include a Declaration of Intent, in which the couple clearly expresses their desire to be married to each other. While vows are not specifically required, they are commonly included as a traditional and heartfelt element of the ceremony.
If you are planning a courthouse wedding in North Carolina, it is important to familiarize yourself with the legal requirements and procedures. This may include researching the specific rules and regulations of the county in which you plan to marry, as there can be some variation. By ensuring that you have met all the necessary requirements, you can help ensure that your marriage is legally recognized and valid.
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Consent
To be legally married in North Carolina, a couple must obtain a marriage license and clearly express their desire to be married to each other. This ensures that the marriage is consensual.
The marriage license must be obtained from a Register of Deeds in any county in North Carolina. Both parties must be present in person and provide a valid government-issued ID, proof of their social security number, and pay a fee. The marriage license is valid for 60 days, and the wedding ceremony must take place within this period.
While there are no specific requirements for the wedding vows, the ceremony must include a Declaration of Intent, where the couple is asked if they consent to marry each other. This can be worded in any way as long as it establishes the couple's consent to be married.
In addition to the Declaration of Intent, the wedding must also include an ordained officiant and two legal witnesses who are 18 years of age or older. These witnesses must sign the marriage license along with the officiant after the ceremony.
It is important to note that marriage is a legal contract, and both parties must be adults, not currently married to anyone else, and able to understand their actions. Same-sex marriage is also recognized in North Carolina, and couples of the same gender have the same rights and considerations as opposite-sex couples.
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Declarations of intent
To be legally married in North Carolina, couples must obtain a marriage license from a Register of Deeds office in the state. Both parties must be present and provide valid government-issued IDs, proof of their Social Security number, and a fee, which is typically $60. The marriage ceremony must take place within 60 days of obtaining the license, and the license will expire if the wedding does not occur within this period.
While the North Carolina government does not dictate how the wedding ceremony is structured or conducted, it is required that the wedding must contain a Declaration of Intent. The Declaration of Intent can be worded in any way desired, as long as it confirms the couple's intention to marry each other. This ensures that the marriage is consensual.
"I, [name], take you, [partner's name], to be my lawfully wedded spouse. I promise to love and care for you, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, from this day forward."
"We, [name] and [partner's name], declare our intention to be married and commit ourselves to each other as life partners. We promise to love, honour, and support each other through all life's joys and challenges."
"I, [name], freely and wholeheartedly choose you, [partner's name], to be my spouse. I commit to our union and promise to love, respect, and cherish you always."
"In the presence of our loved ones, we, [name] and [partner's name], declare our intention to be married. We affirm our love and commitment to each other and vow to support and encourage each other in our journey together."
These statements can be adapted and personalised to fit the couple's preferences and the tone of their wedding ceremony. The important aspect is that they clearly express the mutual consent and intention to enter into marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
Both parties must be at least 18 years old, must not be married to anyone else, and must be able to understand their actions. Minors between 16 and 17 years old may marry with written consent from a legal guardian. Both parties must obtain a marriage license from the Register of Deeds in any county in North Carolina and must bring a valid government-issued ID and proof of their social security number. The wedding ceremony must take place within 60 days of obtaining the marriage license.
A wedding in North Carolina can be officiated by a magistrate or any minister who is ordained in a religious denomination or authorized by a church. The officiant must be legally ordained in the state of North Carolina.
There are no vows required by the state of North Carolina. However, the wedding must contain a Declaration of Intent, in which the couple clearly expresses their desire to marry each other.
The couple must not be more closely related than first cousins.
