Durham County
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Marriage License Issuance Process
The Durham County Register of Deeds office issues Marriage Licenses Monday - Friday; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
All applicants are required to complete the online marriage application prior to their scheduled appointment time.
Requirements For Obtaining a Marriage License in Durham County, North Carolina
- Applicants must not already be married.
- Applicants must be getting married within 60 days of license issuance.
- Applicants must be getting married in the State of North Carolina.
- $60.00 (cash, certified check or money order)
Documents Required for Processing:
All applicants must present one of the following valid (not expired, and legible) forms of photo identification and proof of social security:
- Current Driver’s License
- Current State Issued Identification Card
- Current Passport
- Military Identification
Please note, the manner that applicant name appears on photo identification and proof of social security must match (first, middle, and last).
Proof of Social Security: All applicants must present a social security card or a legal document with their full social security number listed. Examples include: a recent W2 (printed within the last 2 years), an insurance Policy, or a letter from their bank on the bank letterhead.
If an applicant(s) has never been assigned a social security card, an affidavit form will be provided for completion by the Register of Deeds office.
Applicants 18 – 21 years of age must provide a certified copy of their birth certificate along with required identification.
Notice
Effective January 1, 2019, all persons applying for a Marriage License in Durham County will be required to provide proof of dissolved previous marriage if it occurred within the last 12 months.
If this is not your first marriage, and your previous marriage ended in the last 12 months by (Divorce, Death, or Annulment) you must provide acceptable proofs.
Acceptable proofs:
- If your last marriage ended in Divorce - the acceptable proof is a certified copy of the divorce decree.
- If your last marriage ended by spousal Death - the acceptable proof is a certified copy of the death certificate.
- If your last marriage ended by court ordered Annulment - the acceptable proof is the certified court ordered annulment.
Applicants under the age of eighteen (18), please contact the office of the Register of Deeds, Marriage License Division at 919-560-0493 for requirements.
A marriage license application is valid for 60 days from date of issuance. If the marriage license application is not returned to the Register of Deeds office for recording within 60 days of issuance, the license will expire.
Applicants with expired marriage license applications will be required to apply for a new license with applicable fees.
Marriage Certificate
Certified copies of your Marriage License, referred to as the Marriage Certificate are $10.00 per copy. Payable by cash, certified check or money order.
Certified copies are not automatically mailed. Copies may be requested in person, mail-in request or by using the online ordering system (See Online Vital Records Request). Valid state issued identification required.
Mailing Address
Durham County Register of Deeds
201 East Main Street, Second Floor
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Mail-in Request
Please include the following information with request:
- Copy of valid state issued photo identification.
- Check, money order or certified check made payable to Durham County Register of Deeds.
- Return address and phone number.
Forms