PERSONAL CEREMONIES OF NORTH CAROLINA
"Our team has relied on Kevin and his team for years not only as our go-to officiants, but more importantly, for helping verse our clients in the legalities around using amateur officiants. His expertise and guidance have been valuable resources to us as planners in our efforts to educate our clients and properly lead them in their decisions surrounding the most critical piece of ensuring their marriage is lawfully established."
Elizabeth Flake
Owner, Elizabeth Flake Events
Marriage Laws in NC
Getting married in North Carolina is relatively simple. All you have to do is agree to marry each other in front of an ordained minister and two witnesses, and have that minister pronounce you married. However, in North Carolina, it's not quite as simple as having a friend or relative to go online and receive an "ordination" to perform your ceremony.
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Online Ordination Isn't Recognized as Legal in North Carolina
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Don't just take my word for it. Here's a recent legal opinion by a Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Government:
"North Carolina law actually strongly indicates that marriages performed by persons with no credential of ordination other than a certificate from the Universal Life Church are invalid."
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Family law attorneys and judges agree that marriages performed by any online institution are subject to being invalidated. The Universal Life Church has actually been found guilty of fraud in NC for stating that their ordination is valid in the state. So - how about other online ordination institutions such as American Marriage Ministries or the American Fellowship Church?
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"If an institution is similar to the Universal Life Church, then a court would treat any marriage
performed by one of their “ministers” as voidable as well."
Emily M. Tyler
Raleigh Family Law Attorney
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What To Do?
​The safest thing to do is to find a professional wedding officiant who is fully and legally ordained by a real church or religious denomination (and just because you need a minister it doesn’t mean you have to have a religious ceremony). Your friend or family member can still participate in the ceremony in a meaningful way while ensuring the legality of your marriage. Contact us to learn how you can have the ceremony of your dreams and still include your friend or family member.
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And, even if you still want your friend or family member to perform the ceremony, they may have little or no experience in writing a ceremony, running a rehearsal or the protocols of working with a professional wedding planner. As a local, professional wedding planner said,
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Kevin will give them the knowledge to officiate a beautiful and seamless ceremony while seeming like a pro (even if it is their first time)! From tricks on how to do the ring pass off to advice on when to stand where, he has you covered. As a planner, we have seen all the ceremony mishaps possible, and with Kevin's guidance, you can avoid being a TikTok star for the wrong reason!”
Aneesa Glines
Owner, Harmony Weddings and Events
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Still have questions? That’s what I’m here for. I’m glad to talk with you with no obligation whatsoever.
Contact me for information about how I can help you through the process.
Obtaining Your North Carolina Marriage License
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As much as we all want to celebrate love and romance on your big day, we also need to make sure that the legal portion is taken care of. Here's some information that I hope you'll find useful.
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In order to be married in the state of North Carolina you must apply for and receive a Marriage License prior to your wedding date. Only you and your partner can obtain a license. No one else can do it for you.
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Marriage licenses may be obtained in any county in NC and used in any county. In other words, you don't have to get the license in the county you're getting married in. You can get it wherever it's most convenient for you.
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Marriage licenses are issued by the Register of Deeds office in a given county. Most counties in this area (including Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston counties) will allow you to start the application process online (see the end of this email for contact information).
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The process of applying for a marriage license in Wake County involves applying online, setting up an appointment for a virtual/video interview and then the license is mailed to you. This process can take 2-3 weeks to complete. Other area counties require you to make an appointment and in some cases this may also take 2-3 weeks.
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Many Register of Deeds offices are currently requiring appointments due to COVID-19 restrictions. I strongly recommend calling the Register of Deeds office to confirm their current policies.
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Both partners must be present together when you go to the Register of Deeds office to pick up your license.
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You will be required to show photo ID (driver's license, passport, military ID, etc.) and proof of your social security number with verification through your Social Security Cards or W-2 Forms.
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Divorced applicants must provide the date of their divorce and some counties will request an original or certified copy of the Divorce Decree. Because not all counties are uniform in their requirements, it is recommended that you call the office at which you intend to apply to learn of their specific requirements before you go.
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Likewise, should either partner not be an American citizen, it is best to call the office at which you intend to apply for your license to learn what paperwork will be required of you.
I will make every effort to contact you about a week prior to your scheduled wedding ceremony to verify that you have your license. It is illegal for me to perform a ceremony without a valid marriage license.
If you're having a rehearsal prior to your wedding, please bring your license with you and give it to me at the rehearsal and let me know whom you'd like to use as your two witnesses.
If you're not having a rehearsal, you must give me your license before the ceremony begins.
After officiating your ceremony, I’ll complete your marriage license and sign it along with your two witnesses (you've already signed it at the courthouse). I’ll send you a scanned copy for verification purposes and mail your marriage license to the issuing county the next business day.
The Register of Deeds office does not automatically provide you with a certified copy of the license following your ceremony. You must request a certified copy in writing to the Register of Deeds office. Certified copies are $10 each. When you receive your license, the issuing county will provide you with instructions for obtaining the certified copy. Most counties will allow you to order the certified copy online and then it will be mailed to you.
And lastly, here are the websites for the Register of Deeds offices in our local counties.
Wake County (Raleigh)
http://www.wakegov.com/rod/help/vital/marriage/Pages/application.aspx
Durham County (Durham)
Johnston County (Smithfield)
https://www.johnstonnc.com/rod/Pages/index/HowToObtainAMarriageLicense
Orange County (Hillsborough)
https://www.orangecountync.gov/763/Marriage-Licenses
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