Getting started with Marriage Information for North Carolina
Before you plan to perform a wedding in North Carolina, it is important to understand the state's legal requirements.
To get started, check out the information provided below for getting ordained and registering as a wedding officiant in North Carolina.
If you have questions, please go to our helpful FAQ. For more information or support, please visit our contact us page.
Step 1: Become Ordained for North Carolina
To get ordained and become a minister to perform ceremonies in North Carolina, start by completing our ordination application.
Once you have completed the application for ordination you will be sent an email that confirms your ordination. Our ordinations for North Carolina are completely free, granted to you for life and can be completed in less than a day. More than half a million people just like you, have registered and received their license to perform weddings.
If you have not completed the application, you can get ordained for free and start your journey as an authorized minister in North Carolina with Open Ministry by using the button below!
Step 2: Contact The North Carolina County Clerk
Next, contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk in North Carolina). Let them know that you are an ordained minister with Open Ministry in California, and ask them what information they require of you, to officiate a marriage in North Carolina.
Clerks and governing agencies may require you to present them with a physical copy of your ordination record to register we offer packages which include bundled items at a discount.
When speaking with the North Carolina county clerk it can be helpful to use the following phrases:
- I am an ordained minister with a church ministry in California.
- I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
- What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
- I have my Letter of Good Standing and Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination for North Carolina.
- Do you require any additional documentation for me to register as a wedding officiant in North Carolina?
Step 3: Register with the North Carolina Clerk
After you've contacted the marriage authority in North Carolina, we recommend that you visit the bookstore to get your official credentials for your records, presentation or registration.
See North Carolina State Statutes for More specific Requirements
When registering as an officiant in North Carolina, you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the North Carolina county clerk's office before they will accept the marriage license as having been solemnized. We generally advise ministers of North Carolina to get a Complete Membership Package for North Carolina which includes a Letter of Good Standing (the live signed and notarized physical copy of your good standing with our ministry) an Ordination Credential, Minister Wallet Card and much more.
Having physical copies of your credentials provides peace of mind for couples and others that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend you give yourself at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your credential request to ensure that you receive all of your materials to register in time.
Please note, that any state or county can impose different requirements;
this may include other nominal fees and additional paperwork that may need to
be completed before the ceremony can take place.
It is important to note that some county clerks in North Carolina may require wedding
officiants to attach a statement which asserts some of the elements in the
marriage license upon submission, including the following:
- The time and location at which the wedding took place
- The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
- The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
- The printed name and address of the officiant
When filling out the North Carolina marriage license, North Carolina state or the clerk may
request you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend".
The clerk may also require you enter your denomination, you can use
"Non-Denominational" or your practicing denomination. Failing to
state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate
marriage license.
Step 4: Perform the Ceremony
Before you perform a wedding in North Carolina, be sure that the couple has picked up their North Carolina state issued marriage license from the appropriate office. Once you have completed the steps listed, you are ready to perform the wedding!
Officiating a wedding in North Carolina can be a great and wonderful experience. Work with the couple to determine the proper ceremony format and any details they wish to have. For ideas and inspiration check out our sample ceremony scripts.
We recommend that new ministers who are going to be performing a wedding in North Carolina, or who have questions about the ceremony read over our Officiant Guide.
Step 5: Submit the North Carolina Marriage License
North Carolina marriage licenses are valid for a set number of days, and there may be a waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in North Carolina and when the ceremony may be legally performed in North Carolina.
This information is generally written on the license and must be followed to ensure the ceremony is recorded properly by North Carolina.
Please note that the signed marriage license for North Carolina must be returned to the issuing office in North Carolina state, before the time limit is reached. You can check the marriage license for the exact dates.
After the ceremony, you will need to return the completed and signed marriage license to the North Carolina states issuing office. This is essential for the marriage to be legally recorded. In most cases there is an address listed on the marriage license, use that to mail it back to the governing agency so that it can be recorded by the North Carolina.
If you have any questions about the returning of the license, contact the North Carolina agency that issued it for more information.
North Carolina State Minister & Marriage Statutes
51-1 Requisites of marriage; solemnization
A valid and sufficient marriage is created by the consent of a male and female person who may lawfully marry, presently to take each other as husband and wife, freely, seriously and plainly expressed by each in the presence of the other, either:
(1) a. In the presence of an ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate; and
b. With the consequent declaration by the minister or magistrate that the persons are husband and wife; or
(2) In accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, or federally or State recognized Indian Nation or Tribe.
Marriages solemnized before March 9, 1909, by ministers of the gospel licensed, but not ordained, are validated from their consummation.
Chapter 51: Marriage - Article 1: General Provisions
(1871?2, c. 193, s. 3; Code, s. 1812; Rev., s. 2081; 1908, c. 47; 1909, c. 704, s. 2; c. 897; C.S., s. 2493; 1945, c. 839; 1965, c. 152; 1971, c. 1185, s. 26; 1977, c. 592, s. 1; 2000?58, ss. 1, 2; 2001?14, ss. 1, 2; 2001?62, ss. 1, 17; 2002?115, ss. 5, 6; 2002?159, s. 13(a); 2003?4, s. 1; 2005?56, s. 1; 2007?61, s. 1; 2009?13, s. 1.)