Marriage License
Requirements for Obtaining a Marriage License in Mitchell County
ALL APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
BOTH parties must be present when applying for the marriage license.
The marriage may be performed anywhere within NC.
Application Requirements: (Please read carefully)
Proof of Age and Identity ***Note - both proof of a Social Security number and an ID must be presented at time of application***
· Applicants (both bride and groom) 18 years of age or above may use one (1) of the following forms of identification :
- Driver's license (may not be expired), or
- State-issued I.D. Card (may not be expired), or
- Passport (may not be expired), or
- Military I.D. (may not be expired)
Social Security Requirements
- Original signed social security card or
- Income tax return with social security number
· Applicants (bride and groom) 16 or 17 years of age must have parental consent to obtain marriage license.
· Applicants 15 years of age must present certified court order authorizing marriage from district court judge.
Cost and Location to obtain marriage license
·Currently, a fee of $60 is required for a marriage license. Cash and money orders are accepted. The license is good immediately upon issuance and is valid for 60 days.
· Applicants who wish to obtain their marriage licenses in Mitchell County may complete their application at the Mitchell County Register of Deeds office.
· Applicants must show their identification and sign the marriage license at the Register of Deeds office. Marriage licenses are issued between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding county observed holidays. Call (828) 688-2139 EXT 1401 for more information.
Divorced Applicants
· Divorced applicants must provide the original or certified copy of the divorce judgment. There is no waiting period between the divorce and applying for a new marriage license. The Mitchell County Register of Deeds does not handle divorces. They may be obtained in the county of the divorce at the Clerk of Courts office.
More Information About Getting Married in North Carolina
Persons do NOT need to be residents of North Carolina to marry in Mitchell County or in any county in N.C.
You may obtain a license in any county in N.C. and marry in any county, but the license must be returned to the issuing county.
* A premarital physical is NOT required.
* Marriages may be performed by an ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate. Two witness are required.
* During regular business hours, marriages are performed in the Mitchell County courthouse by a magistrate. You may want to contact magistrate to set up an appointment. (828) 688-2146
Obtaining a certified copy of your marriage license
· You can purchase a certified copy of your license for $10.00. You can pre-order a certified copy at the time of the application and after the license is returned to us, we will mail the certified copy to you. You may visit the office at any time during normal business hours to obtain a certified copy. You may also send a written request along with $10.00 any time after the ceremony. We do not automatically send a certified copy to applicants. You must request and pay before we can issue a certified copy.
· The Mitchell county Register of Deeds can only provide copies of marriage license that were issued in Mitchell county. Contact NC Vital Records for other marriage records. (919) 733-3526
If you want to change your last name after you are married
· You should obtain a certified copy of your marriage license (following the ceremony) for a name change on your social security card and on your driver's license. Wait at least TEN days after the ceremony before requesting copies to allow sufficient time to return your license.
· In your request, please include the name of groom and bride and the date of the marriage. Certified copies are $10 each. Cash or money orders will be accepted.
If you do not have a social security number
· Applicants who are not eligible for a social security number may obtain a marriage license by signing an affidavit of ineligibility to obtain a social security number attesting to this fact. The affidavit is available in the Register of Deeds office.
· Note: A foreigner admitted to the United States for permanent residence or to engage in employment must be issued a Social Security number. A foreigner not eligible for a Social Security card but who was legally admitted to the United States can use an individual identification number (ITIN) in lieu of a Social Security number. To obtain an ITIN number, contact the IRS Tax Administration Office to fill out a W-7 form.