Search Bertie County Marriage License Records
Bertie County stores marriage license records at the Register of Deeds office on the first floor of the courthouse in Windsor, North Carolina. Annie F. Wilson serves as Director. The office at 108 Dundee Street holds marriage records for events that occurred in Bertie County, with historical records going back to the mid-1800s. Bertie County is one of the oldest counties in the state, and its marriage bond collection dates to 1763. For anyone seeking a new marriage license or a copy of a past record, the Windsor office is the central resource for Bertie County vital records.
Getting a Bertie County Marriage License
To apply for a marriage license in Bertie County, both parties must visit the Register of Deeds office in Windsor. Bring valid photo identification and your Social Security number. The office is open during standard business hours, typically 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The fee is $60. This is the statewide standard set by North Carolina law. Once issued, your license is valid for 60 days. You may hold the ceremony anywhere in North Carolina. N.C.G.S. § 51-6 requires the officiant to return the signed license to the issuing county within 10 days of the wedding. Two witnesses must be present and sign the license at the ceremony.
Under N.C.G.S. § 51-2, applicants must be at least 18 to marry without parental consent. Those aged 16 or 17 need written parental consent, and the age difference between the parties cannot exceed four years. No one under 16 may legally marry in Bertie County. There is no blood test or waiting period. The license is effective right away.
Bertie County Marriage Record Copies
Certified copies of marriage records from Bertie County cost $10 each. To request a copy, complete the application for vital records request form. Include $10, a copy of your current picture ID, and mail everything to: Bertie County Register of Deeds, Post Office Box 340, Windsor, NC 27983. The phone number is (252) 794-5309, and the fax is (252) 794-5374.
Under N.C.G.S. § 130A-93, certified copies are available to a defined list of eligible people:
- The applicant or their current spouse
- A parent or step-parent
- A brother, sister, step-brother, or step-sister
- A child or step-child
- A grandparent or grandchild
- Any person with a legal interest in property or personal rights
- An authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative
Anyone outside this list may request an uncertified copy for general research. The Bertie County office can help you determine which type of copy you qualify for.
Historical Marriage Records in Bertie County
Bertie County has one of the deeper marriage record collections in North Carolina. Marriage bonds date back to 1763. Marriage registers cover 1851 to 1960. Additional marriage records span 1870 to 1903 and 1872 to 1985. An index to vital statistics covers 1877 to 1959. The FamilySearch website has digitized multiple collections from Bertie County, making many of these records accessible online for free.
The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh stores microfilm copies of these records. Researchers who visit the archives can browse the collection in person. For those who prefer to search from home, FamilySearch provides indexed and browsable images of many Bertie County marriage documents.
The Bertie County Register of Deeds vital records page provides details on how to request records and what the office maintains. The staff in Windsor can also help direct genealogy inquiries to the right source.
Note: Statewide birth records from 1971 forward are available in the Bertie County office for $24, but only for in-office requests.
Bertie County Marriage License Process
The process for getting a marriage license in Bertie County is simple. Visit the courthouse in Windsor with your partner. Both of you must bring valid photo ID and your Social Security number. Pay the $60 fee. The staff will process your application and issue the license the same day. No appointment is needed during regular business hours.
After the ceremony, the officiant fills in the ceremony details, and both witnesses sign the license. The officiant then returns it to the Bertie County Register of Deeds. Under N.C.G.S. § 51-8, the Register of Deeds must issue the license when all conditions are met. The FindLaw reference for NC Chapter 51 has the full text of the marriage laws that apply in Bertie County and across the state.
The Bertie County Register of Deeds vital records page outlines the office's services and request procedures. Visit the Bertie County vital records page for details on marriage license applications and copies.
This page covers the office address, phone number, hours, and how to request certified copies of marriage records.
State-Level Resources for Bertie County
The NC Vital Records office in Raleigh keeps statewide marriage certificates from 1962 to the present. The state charges $24 per three-year search. For older records, the Bertie County office and the State Archives are the primary sources.
The NC marriage certificates page has ordering instructions and eligibility rules. The NCARD county finder helps you locate any Register of Deeds in North Carolina. You can reach the Bertie County office by phone at (252) 794-5309 or by mail at P.O. Box 340, Windsor, NC 27983.
The NC statutes on marriage capacity spell out who may marry in the state. These same laws apply in Bertie County and all 100 North Carolina counties.
Bertie County was formed in 1722 and is one of the oldest counties in North Carolina. Windsor, the county seat, sits in the northeastern part of the state along the Cashie River. The county has a rich history that stretches back to the colonial era, and its marriage bond collection from 1763 is one of the older collections in the state. Researchers studying early North Carolina families will find the Bertie County office and the State Archives both valuable for locating historical marriage records. The Register of Deeds staff in Windsor can help with in-person searches and point you to the right resource based on the time period of the record you need.