Getting Married in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Deciding to get married is a very big step. In addition to planning parties and receptions, you also have to plan for the big day. There are caterers, decorations, guest lists, reservations to make, and the list of things to do keeps growing. One important part of the marriage process is getting the license itself. Some couples forego all of the extras a settle on a private union with their loved one and a city official. I have compiled some information on what steps you need to take if you are planning to get married in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. This information was valid as of July 2007, and is subject to change. Please check the following website for changes prior to getting married in Mecklenburg County.

Mecklenburg County encompasses Charlotte, Davidson, Huntersville, Pineville, Cornelius, Matthews and Mint Hill. If you reside in these cities, you can apply for your marriage license following these easy steps. Keep in mind that you must apply for the marriage license in the county where you reside, but you may use it anywhere in North Carolina. If you are seeking to get married outside of North Carolina, check with the city where you wish to get married for their procedures.

The majority of your paperwork will need to be done at the Register of Deeds office. They are located at 720 East Fourth Street, Room 103. If you would like to contact someone in the office directly, you can call (704) 336-2443. They are open form 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding Holidays. Be prepared to have a valid photo ID for both parties. Acceptable forms of ID are a state issued driver's license, state issued ID, passport, or military ID. If you are 16 to 20 years old, you will also need an original or certified copy of your birth certificate.

If you or your potential spouse is 16 to 17 years old, you must also provide a written consent for marriage signed by a parent with full or joint custody or a person, agency or institution serving as a guardian of the underage applicant. The parent must also provide picture ID and proof of guardianship, while the agency or institution declaring guardianship or custody must provide legal documents proving that.

If either applicant has been married before, and it was finalized thirty days prior to the new marriage or less, they must provide an original or certified copy of the divorce decree. Otherwise, divorced applicants must disclose the month and year of their last divorce.

You must apply for a Marriage license before you hold the ceremony. The link that I previously provided includes information on submitting your application online. This allows for a reduced wait time at the Register of Deeds office. Once you submit the application online, they will retain that information for 30 days.

When you visit the Register of Deeds office, you will need $50.00 cash for your license. If you wish to buy additional certified copies of your license, you can pre-purchase them when you apply for your license. The traditional 8 ½ x 11 is $10.00, and they also offer a wallet size card for $7.50 for one or $10.00 for two. They also offer a non-certified souvenir certificate for only $3.00, which looks great in a wedding album or hanging on your wall.

If you are not having a ceremony, and would like to have a city official marry you, a Magistrate is available for $20.00. They only marry couples at 2 locations, and you must pay in cash. They do not make appointments or reservations, so check for times and locations beforehand and plan on getting their early. You are also responsible for bring your own witnesses, so have two friends ready with ID. Good Luck!