Durham Marriage License Details
Durham is a major city in the Research Triangle area and the county seat of Durham County. If you want a marriage license in Durham, you need to visit the Durham County Register of Deeds. An appointment is required. The Durham City Clerk does not issue marriage licenses. Both applicants must show up in person with valid ID and their Social Security information. The license costs $60 in cash, and it is good for 60 days. There is no blood test or waiting period in North Carolina.
Applying for a Marriage License in Durham
The Durham County Register of Deeds is at 201 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Durham County Administration Building II, Durham, NC 27701. You must schedule an appointment before you go. Marriage licenses are issued Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though the last appointment slot is at 3:30 PM. Call (919) 560-0480 for help. An online marriage application is available to fill out before your visit, which saves time at the office.
Under G.S. 51-6, a marriage license is required before a wedding ceremony in North Carolina. Each applicant needs a valid photo ID that is not expired and is legible. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. You also need proof of your Social Security number, such as your SS card, W2, insurance policy, or a bank letter. The name on your ID must match the name on your Social Security proof.
Durham Marriage License Requirements
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old per G.S. 51-2. Applicants between 18 and 21 must provide a certified birth certificate. If you were married before within the last 12 months, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. For a divorce, you need a certified copy of the divorce decree. For a death, bring a certified death certificate. For an annulment, bring the court order.
G.S. 51-8 gives the Register of Deeds the power to issue the license. You do not need to live in Durham County to apply here. The license is valid in any county in North Carolina for 60 days. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license within 10 days.
Note: The Durham County office accepts cash only for the $60 marriage license fee.
Durham Marriage License Filing
North Carolina law places marriage licenses at the county level. Durham is the county seat of Durham County, so the Register of Deeds is right in the city. An appointment is required in Durham County, which is different from some other counties that accept walk-ins. Call (919) 560-0480 to schedule your visit. The online application can be completed before your appointment to save time at the office.
Durham Marriage License Fees
The marriage license fee in Durham is $60 in cash. This is the standard fee across North Carolina. Certified copies of the marriage certificate cost $10 each. Uncertified copies by mail cost $1.00 per copy. Uncertified copies in person cost $0.25 each. The marriage certificate is not mailed to you after the wedding. You have to request copies from the Register of Deeds.
How to Get Durham Marriage Records
After the wedding, certified copies of your marriage certificate are available from the Durham County Register of Deeds. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through the online vital records request system. Mail requests go to Durham County Register of Deeds, Attention: Vital Records, PO Box 1107, Durham, NC 27702. Allow 10 to 14 days for processing online requests. Orders are processed Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You will get a notice by email or text when your application is received.
The North Carolina Vital Records office also has marriage records from 1962 to the present. The state charges $24 for a search fee. The Durham County office is quicker for recent marriages.
Durham Marriage License Office Info
The Durham County Register of Deeds is at 201 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Durham, NC 27701. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Marriage license hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM by appointment. The phone number is (919) 560-0480 and the fax is (919) 560-0497. You can also email regdeeds@dconc.gov. The Register of Deeds is Sharon A. Davis. The Durham City Clerk at (919) 560-4100 handles city council records, not marriage licenses.
Durham Marriage License Images
The Durham City Clerk page clarifies that the city does not handle marriage licenses or vital records.
If you call the city clerk about a marriage license, they will direct you to the Durham County Register of Deeds.
The Durham County Register of Deeds page is the starting point for all marriage license matters in Durham.
This page has links to the marriage license application, appointment scheduling, and other vital records services.
The Durham County marriage info page provides step-by-step details on what to bring and how to prepare.
Review this page before your appointment so you arrive with all required documents.
The NCARD county finder can help you locate any Register of Deeds office in North Carolina.
Use this directory to confirm office details or to find another county office if needed.
After Your Durham Wedding
The officiant must return the signed marriage license to the Durham County Register of Deeds within 10 days of the ceremony. Once the record is filed, request certified copies. Most couples need several for name changes and updates to insurance and other accounts. Visit the Social Security Administration to update your name, wait for the new card, then go to the NC DMV for a new driver's license. The NC Association of Registers of Deeds website has useful links for all county offices across the state.
Durham County Marriage License Records
Durham is in Durham County, and all marriage license filings go through the Durham County Register of Deeds. For more on the county office, fees, and resources, visit the Durham County marriage license records page.