Bladen County Marriage License Records

Bladen County issues marriage licenses and stores marriage records at the Register of Deeds office in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. The office is located at 106 East Broad Street and serves residents of this southeastern North Carolina county. Bladen County has a distinct feature that sets it apart from many other counties: an online marriage application system. Couples can start their application from home before visiting the office. Marriage records in the county date back to 1868. Whether you need a new license or a certified copy of an old record, the Elizabethtown office is the place to go.

Bladen County Marriage License Application

Bladen County requires an appointment for marriage license applications. Call (910) 862-6710 to schedule your visit. Both applicants must appear in person at the office in Elizabethtown. Before your appointment, fill out the online application at bladenmarriage.org. Complete the form in full. Do not submit a duplicate application if you need to make corrections. Instead, contact the office for help.

Bring a valid picture ID and your Social Security number. If you were married before, provide the date your last marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or original copy is required if the divorce was within the past 30 days. N.C.G.S. § 51-8 mandates that the Register of Deeds issue a license when all legal conditions are met.

The fee is $60. Bladen County accepts cash, money orders, and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard). The license is valid for 60 days. After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the Bladen County office. Under N.C.G.S. § 51-6, two witnesses must sign the license, and the officiant must return it within 10 days.

Bladen County Online Marriage Application

Bladen County stands out by offering an online marriage application through bladenmarriage.org. This system lets couples enter their information from home at their own pace. It saves time during the office visit and helps prevent errors on the application form. Once the online application is complete, both parties must still visit the Register of Deeds with their IDs to finalize the process.

The online system does not replace the in-person visit. It simply starts the paperwork ahead of time. Both applicants will sign the application and verify their information at the office. The $60 fee is paid at the time of the appointment. Recording stops at 4:30 PM daily, so plan accordingly.

Marriage Certificate Copies from Bladen County

Certified copies of marriage certificates from Bladen County cost $10 each. You can request them in person or by mail. The Bladen County Register of Deeds website has information on how to submit requests. For mail orders, send a written request with the names of both parties, date of marriage, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order or check for $10 to: P.O. Box 247, Elizabethtown, NC 28337.

Under N.C.G.S. § 130A-93, only eligible people can receive certified copies. This includes the named parties, their spouses, parents, siblings, children, grandparents, and legal representatives. Uncertified copies are available to the general public for research. The Bladen County office can also search recorded documents by name, date, or type through their online system.

Note: The Bladen County office accepts Visa and Mastercard for in-person payments, which is not the case in every North Carolina county.

Bladen County Marriage License Requirements

Here is what you need to bring for your marriage license appointment in Bladen County:

• Valid picture identification for both applicants
• Social Security numbers for both parties
• Completed online application from bladenmarriage.org
• Date of divorce or death certificate if previously married
• $60 fee (cash, money order, Visa, or Mastercard)

N.C.G.S. § 51-2 sets age requirements. Applicants must be at least 18 for unrestricted marriage. Those aged 16 to 17 need parental consent, and the age difference between the parties cannot exceed four years. The FindLaw NC Chapter 51 reference covers all the marriage statutes that apply in Bladen County.

Historical Marriage Records in Bladen County

Bladen County has marriage records dating from 1868 to 1961 on file. An index to vital statistics covers 1913 to 1961. The North Carolina State Archives holds microfilm copies of additional historical records. Birth and death records at the county office begin from events that occurred in Bladen County.

For statewide marriage certificates from 1962 to the present, the NC Vital Records office in Raleigh is an option. The state charges $24 per three-year search period. The marriage certificates page explains the ordering process. For records before 1962, the Bladen County office is the primary source.

The Bladen County Register of Deeds website provides office information and service details. Visit the Bladen County Register of Deeds for contact information and hours.

The site covers recording services, vital records, and document search tools for Bladen County.

The online marriage application system lets couples start their Bladen County marriage license application from home. Access the Bladen County marriage application to begin the process.

Complete the form online before your scheduled appointment at the Elizabethtown office.

Contact Bladen County for Marriage Records

The Bladen County Register of Deeds is at 106 East Broad Street, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. The mailing address is P.O. Box 247, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. Call (910) 862-6710 during business hours to schedule an appointment or ask about record requests. The NCARD county finder can also help you reach the Bladen County office or any other Register of Deeds in North Carolina.

N.C.G.S. § 51-1 governs who has the legal capacity to marry in the state. These rules are uniform across all 100 counties. The Bladen County office follows state law and is ready to help you with the license process or with finding a past marriage record.

Bladen County was formed in 1734 and is one of the older counties in the state. Elizabethtown, the county seat, sits along the Cape Fear River in southeastern North Carolina. The county covers a large area and has a rich agricultural history. The Register of Deeds office on East Broad Street serves as the central hub for all marriage license and vital record services. Its online marriage application system sets Bladen County apart from most other counties in the state and provides a convenient option for couples who want to start the process from home.