Mecklenburg County Marriage and Divorce Records

Getting a Marriage License in Mecklenburg County

Marriage licenses in Mecklenburg are issued by the Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Superior Court. The office is led by Register Fredrick Smith and sits in the County and Courts Office Building at 720 East Fourth Street, Charlotte. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The contact email is deeds@mecknc.gov.

State law sets the rules under Chapter 51, including the license requirements. Both parties apply together, show identification, and provide information about any prior marriage that has ended. A separate court wedding can be scheduled at the courthouse by appointment, but a Register of Deeds license is still required first.

Visit the Register of Deeds home page for marriage, vital records, and real estate functions.

The Register of Deeds is the right office for the license and for certified marriage copies.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

The application is handled through the Register of Deeds service page. Come prepared, since both parties must be present and the office records the license after the ceremony.

1. Open the Register of Deeds marriage service and review the rules.
2. Bring required identification for both parties.
3. Provide prior-marriage termination details if either party was married before.
4. Pay the $60 marriage license fee.
5. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the license for recording.

The requirements trace back to state statute, which is worth reading before you apply.

Read N.C.G.S. 51-8 on marriage license requirements.

The statute sets the framework, while the Register of Deeds handles the local process and fee.

Marriage License Application Fields

The application collects identity and eligibility information for both parties. The table lists the fields you can expect, based on the Register of Deeds service and standard vital-record requests.

Exact online form fields require a live application, so confirm any document needs with the Register of Deeds before you go.

Mecklenburg County Marriage and Divorce Fees

Marriage and vital-record fees are set in the Register of Deeds schedule and are precise. Divorce filing and court copy fees are court fees, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk of Superior Court before you pay. The table shows both.

See the Register of Deeds fee schedule for the full list of recording and copy fees.

The Register of Deeds takes cash, card in person, and check or money order with a preprinted name and address.

How to Look Up Mecklenburg County Marriage Records

Marriage records are requested through the Register of Deeds, online, in person, or by mail. You will need the names of both spouses and the marriage date or year to narrow the search. A certified copy is $10 each, and certified vital records may require identification or proof of eligibility.

The service page lists marriage, notary, real estate, and birth and death record links in one place.

Open the Register of Deeds services page for marriage and vital record requests.

Use the marriage and divorce records service for a certified marriage copy, and the court for a divorce decree.

How to Find Mecklenburg County Divorce Records

Divorce is a District Court family-law matter, so divorce records are court records. Search them through the eCourts Portal Smart Search or request copies from the Clerk of Superior Court. For a file made before October 9, 2023 that is missing from the Portal, email the civil division with the record type, party names, and file number.

North Carolina allows divorce after one year of separation. A divorce file can include the complaint, civil summons, service proof, motions, and the judgment of absolute divorce, plus custody, support, or property filings if they were joined. Some details, such as financial and child information, may be restricted or redacted.

Read N.C.G.S. 50-6 on divorce after one year of separation.

The filing path follows a set order. Confirm the residency and one-year separation rules first. Prepare the complaint for absolute divorce and the civil summons, using Judicial Branch forms or the SelfServe Center where available. File in Mecklenburg District Court, pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver if eligible, then serve the other party under the civil rules. After the response period, the court can enter a judgment, and certified copies come from the clerk or the Portal.

One point trips people up. North Carolina does not create new common-law marriages, though it may recognize a valid one formed in another state. So a divorce still requires a court case, even where a couple believed they were married without a license.

Getting Certified Copies

A certified copy carries the office seal and is what you need for legal use, such as a name change, immigration, or benefits. Certified marriage copies come from the Register of Deeds at $10 each. A certified divorce judgment comes from the court or clerk. The Register of Deeds also keeps real estate records, which is a common reason people visit the same office.

See the Register of Deeds real estate records for property recordings.

Order early when you need a certified copy for a deadline, since processing and delivery take time, and a mailed request adds days on top of the office's own handling.

Vital Records Office and Verification

For local marriage and vital records, the Mecklenburg Register of Deeds is the office to use. State-level verification of a vital record may also be available through North Carolina Vital Records, while a certified divorce judgment always comes from the court. The contact card below covers the local office that handles marriage licenses and copies.

Related Records

For estates and wills, see Mecklenburg County probate records. For other county records, see public records. For the court office behind divorce files, see the Clerk of Superior Court and court records.