Cabarrus County Marriage License Search
Cabarrus County handles marriage license records at the Register of Deeds office in Concord, North Carolina. Wayne Nixon serves as the Register of Deeds. The office is at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center, 65 Church Street SE. Marriage records in Cabarrus County go back to 1856, which is notable given that a courthouse fire in 1874 destroyed some other types of records. The Concord office issues new marriage licenses and provides certified copies of existing records. Cabarrus County sits just northeast of Charlotte, and the office serves one of the fastest-growing areas in the state.
Cabarrus County Marriage License Application
Both parties must appear in person at the Cabarrus County Register of Deeds in Concord. Bring valid identification for both applicants. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The fee is $60. This is the standard fee across all 100 North Carolina counties. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. Couples can hold their ceremony anywhere in the state. N.C.G.S. § 51-6 requires the officiant to return the signed license to the Cabarrus County office within 10 days of the wedding. Two witnesses must 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 16 to 17 need parental consent, and the age gap cannot exceed four years. No one under 16 may marry. There is no blood test or waiting period in North Carolina. N.C.G.S. § 51-8 requires the Register of Deeds to issue the license once all statutory conditions are met.
Cabarrus County Marriage Certificate Copies
Certified copies of marriage certificates from Cabarrus County cost $10 each. You can request them in person at the Concord office. For mail requests, send a written letter with the names of both parties, the marriage date, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for $10 to: P.O. Box 707, Concord, NC 28026.
Under N.C.G.S. § 130A-93, only eligible people may receive certified copies. This includes the named parties, spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and legal representatives. Call (704) 920-2112 for questions about eligibility. The fax number is (704) 920-2898. You can also email Wayne Nixon at mwnixon@cabarruscounty.us for help with your request.
Note: Cabarrus County marriage records date to 1856, making them one of the older collections in the Charlotte metro area.
Search Cabarrus County Marriage Records Online
Cabarrus County offers online tools for record searches. The Cabarrus County public records lookup site lets you search recorded documents. A vital records index is also available online, though it shows index information only, not full images. You can register for property notification alerts to be informed of new land record transactions in the county.
For in-person searches, the office staff can help you locate marriage records from 1856 to the present. Birth and death records start from 1913. Land records go back to 1792. The 1874 courthouse fire affected some records, but the marriage record collection survived largely intact.
The North Carolina State Archives holds court records from 1793 to 1943, divorce records from 1866, and probate records from 1793 to 1953 for Cabarrus County. These resources are valuable for genealogical research that goes beyond what the local office holds.
Cabarrus County Marriage License Facts
Here are the key details for a Cabarrus County marriage license:
- Fee: $60, standard across North Carolina
- Both parties must appear with valid ID
- License valid for 60 days statewide
- No blood test or waiting period
- Signed license returned within 10 days of ceremony
- Two witnesses required at the wedding
The FindLaw NC Chapter 51 reference covers all marriage statutes that apply in Cabarrus County. N.C.G.S. § 51-1 defines legal capacity to marry. These laws are uniform across the state.
The Cabarrus County Register of Deeds website provides office details and links to online services. Visit the Cabarrus County Register of Deeds for current contact information.
This page serves as the main hub for marriage licenses, vital records, and recording services in Cabarrus County.
The Cabarrus County public records lookup tool allows online searches of recorded documents. Search Cabarrus County public records for available indexes.
This tool covers property records, vital record indexes, and other public documents on file in Cabarrus County.
State Resources for Cabarrus County Marriage Records
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 records before 1962, the Cabarrus County office is the primary source. The NC marriage certificates page has ordering instructions.
The NCARD county finder helps locate any Register of Deeds in North Carolina. The NC marriage capacity statutes spell out who may marry in the state. These rules apply equally in Cabarrus County and all other counties.
Contact the Cabarrus County Register of Deeds at (704) 920-2112 or visit the Governmental Center at 65 Church St. SE, Concord, NC 28025. The office is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Cabarrus County sits just northeast of Charlotte and has grown rapidly in recent decades. Concord is the county seat and home to the Governmental Center where the Register of Deeds is located. The county was formed in 1792 and named after Stephen Cabarrus, a member of the North Carolina House of Commons. With marriage records going back to 1856, Cabarrus County offers one of the more complete historical collections in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Researchers tracing family roots in the Piedmont region will find the Concord office and its online tools helpful for locating marriage records and other vital documents. The office fax number is (704) 920-2898, and email inquiries can be sent to mwnixon@cabarruscounty.us for questions about marriage records and certified copies. The mailing address for the office is P.O. Box 707, Concord, NC 28026. Marriage license applications are accepted during regular business hours on weekdays, and no appointment is needed. The 1874 courthouse fire affected some other types of records, but the marriage record collection survived largely intact, giving Cabarrus County one of the more complete archives in the region.