Wedding License Information
The license must be purchased in North Carolina. The license is valid in any county in the State of North Carolina, but must be returned to the county in which it was issued.
Both parties to a marriage should appear in person to obtain the license. If one of the parties is unable to appear, the other party to the marriage must appear in person and present a sworn and notarized affidavit from the other member of the party, prior to the issuance of the license. Affidavit forms are available in the Register of Deed's Office.
North Carolina law requires all applicants to show proof of a Social Security number. If a Social Security number has never been issued or the applicant is not eligible for a Social Security number, the applicant will be required to present a completed affidavit, signed and notarized, at the time of applying for the marriage license. The affidavit form is available in the Register of Deed's Office.
All applicants, including those not present, must provide a form of identification. Applicants 21 and over may use a valid driver's license, State ID, passport or certified birth certificate. Applicants 16 and 17 must present a consent form signed by the parent, individual, agency or institution having legal custody or serving as the legal guardian of the underage party. A certified copy of the birth certificate is also required. The consent form must be notarized.
Applicants 14 and 15 must provide a certified copy of the court order authorizing the marriage. A certified copy of the birth certificate is also required. A marriage license may not be issued to applicants under 14 years of age.
No physical exam is required. There is no waiting period in North Carolina after the license is issued. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. The cost of the marriage license is $50.00. A keepsake marriage certificate is available for $1.00 at some offices. This is optional and is not a legal document.
If your divorce is finalized the same day that you apply for a license, a certified copy of the divorce decree must be provided.
Call your Register of Deeds for the days and times that they are open.
FREE HELPFUL HINTS FOR NAME CHANGE
1)Obtain 2 certified copies of your wedding license – photocopies won’t do – from the Register of Deeds Office where you originally obtained your wedding license.
2)Make a list of institutions where you wish to submit a name change. Below is a list to help you choose which ones to submit your request to. This list is just a suggestion and is not meant to be all inclusive… it is up to you to decide all Institutions with whom you’d like to submit a name change to.
oDepartment of Motor Vehicles. It is not uncommon that you will be required to personally appear, so where possible make an appointment. While there you can change the name on any title to an automobile you own, in addition to changing your name on your driver’s license.
oSocial Security Administration. The SSA requires completion of Form SS-5. There is no cost. You can even download the form at the below-listed site, as well as instructions on how to complete it.
http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf
oIRS: Normally you do not need to file anything directly with the Internal Revenue Service if you have submitted Form SS-5 with the Social Security Administration, but I would verify that with the IRS, just to be sure.
oUtilities
oCredit Cards
oBanks and other financial institutions
oDeeds/Mortgages
oPost Office
oInsurance Policies
oEmployer Payroll and Retirement Plans
oState Tax Authority
oUS Passport Agency.
Below are listed the 2 websites, along with additional documentation needed.
For passports issued more than 1 year ago from the date of your marriage, you will need to complete the following form – Form DS-82 – which can be downloaded at:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.html
For passports issued 1 year or less from the date of your marriage, you will need to complete the following form -- Form DS-5504 -- which can be downloaded at:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds5504/ds5504_2663.html
and send it to the U.S. Passport Agency (address is listed on the form), along with a certified copy of your marriage certificate, two color photographs and your old passport.
References: Legalzoom.com
