Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church Ministries

North Carolina Outline

Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in North Carolina. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in North Carolina. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of North Carolina.

Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: Sometimes
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
  • Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
Regional Information

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of North Carolina, choose a location below. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in North Carolina

If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!

2 Officiating a Wedding in North Carolina

Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.

Select your Register of Deeds to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.



Select a register of deeds contact

3 North Carolina Officiant Requirements

After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in North Carolina to get an Ordination Package. Although minister registration is not required in North Carolina we have been informed by ULC ministers in the area that county clerks will frequently ask to see proof of ordination before they will accept a marriage as having been legally solemnized. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.

4 How to get Married in North Carolina

North Carolina's Top Wedding Spot

North Carolina's Top Wedding Spot

Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the century-old Corolla Chapel

Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their North Carolina marriage license from the appropriate office. This license will expire 60 days after it is issued, and there is a 1-day waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license in North Carolina and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. The signed license must be returned to the issuing office before its date of expiry.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in North Carolina, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new North Carolina wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.

5 Wedding Considerations in North Carolina

North Carolina wedding officiants should bear in mind a few things when preparing to perform a ceremony in the Tar Heel state. Firstly, the summer tends to be quite hot unless you are attending a mountain wedding in the Appalachians, and there can be quite a bit of humidity as well. As such, officiants should consider short-sleeve clergy shirts in order to remain comfortable but still look professional. Beach weddings are quite popular in the state due to the expansive Atlantic coastline, but be sure to bring a jacket as the wind can pick up, and keep in mind you may want to make ferry reservations if you are traveling to the Outer Banks. Farm weddings are also in vogue, and can either be intimate or larger affairs, but bring proper footwear to traverse the grounds. Most couples tie the knot in North Carolina during the fall due to the more reasonable temperatures. The amount a wedding officiant should charge in North Carolina depends on a few factors, such as the officiant's experience, level of involvement, familiarity with the couple, and wedding location. Expect to charge more if you are asked to travel or the ceremony will be held in an urban core where everything tends to cost more. A typical fee in the state is around $200-$300, but if you are performing it for friends or family whose wedding you would be at anyway, you may choose to forgo asking for any fee at all.


North Carolina Marriage Code

North Carolina Flag

North Carolina Marriage Code

Marriage laws in North Carolina are primarily directed by Article 1 of Chapter 51 of North Carolina's general statutes, which defines the persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of North Carolina. This includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced a portion of this code below.

51-1. Requisites of marriage; solemnization. A valid and sufficient marriage is created by the consent of a male and female person who may lawfully marry, presently to take each other as husband and wife, freely, seriously and plainly expressed by each in the presence of the other, either: (1) a. In the presence of an ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate; and b. With the consequent declaration by the minister or magistrate that the persons are husband and wife [...] View the North Carolina Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in North Carolina

See the Full Statutes

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Alamance County

118 West Harden Street
Graham, North Carolina

Phone: (336) 228-1312
Alamance County website »

Alexander County

151 W Main Ave. Suite 9
Taylorville, North Carolina
28681

Phone: (828) 632-3152
Fax: (828) 632-1119
Alexander County website »

Alleghany County

348 South Main St.
Sparta, North Carolina
28675

Phone: (336) 372-4342
Fax: (336) 372-2061
Alleghany County website »

Anson County

101 S. Greene Street, Suite 131
Wadesboro, North Carolina
28170

Phone: (704) 994-3208
Fax: (704) 694-5874
Anson County website »

Ashe County

150 Government Circle Suite 2300
Jefferson, North Carolina

Phone: (336) 846-5580
Ashe County website »

Avery County

200 Montezuma Street
Newland, North Carolina

Phone: (828) 733-8260
Fax: (828) 733-8261
Avery County website »

Beaufort County

112 W. 2nd St.
Washington, North Carolina
27889

Phone: (252) 946-2323
Fax: (252) 946-7938
Beaufort County website »

Bertie County

108 Dundee St.
Windsor, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 794-5309
Fax: (252) 794-5374
Bertie County website »

Bladen County

106 East Broad Street
Elizabethtown, North Carolina
28337

Phone: (910) 862-6710
Bladen County website »

Brunswick County

75 Courthouse Drive
Bolivia, North Carolina
28422

Phone: (910) 253-2690
Fax: (910) 253-2703
Brunswick County website »

Buncombe County

205 College Street
Asheville, North Carolina
28801

Phone: (828) 250-4303
Fax: (828) 250-4339
Buncombe County website »

Burke County

201 South Green Street
Morganton, North Carolina
28680

Phone: (828) 764-9340
Fax: (828) 764-9341
Burke County website »

Cabarrus County

65 Church St. S.
Concord, North Carolina
28025

Phone: (704) 920-2112
Fax: (704) 920-2820
Cabarrus County website »

Caldwell County

905 West Avenue NW
Lenoir, North Carolina

Phone: (828) 757-1310
Caldwell County website »

Camden County

117 N. Hwy 343
Camden, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 338-1919
Camden County website »

Carteret County

302 Court House Square
Beaufort, North Carolina
28516

Phone: (252) 728-8474
Fax: (252) 728-7693
Carteret County website »

Caswell County

139 E. Church St
Yanceyville, North Carolina

Phone: (336) 694-4197
Fax: (336) 694-7848
Caswell County website »

Catawba County

100 Government Drive Dept. C
Newton, North Carolina
28658

Phone: (828) 465-1573
Fax: (828) 465-1911
Catawba County website »

Chatham County

12 East Street
Pittsboro, North Carolina
27312

Phone: (919) 542-8235
Chatham County website »

Cherokee County

75 Peachtree Street, Suite 126-A
Murphy, North Carolina
28906

Phone: (828) 837-2613
Fax: (828) 837-9684
Cherokee County website »

Chowan County

101 S. Broad Street
Edenton, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 482-2619
Fax: (252) 482-3062
Chowan County website »

Clay County

261 Courthouse Drive, Suite 2
Hayesville, North Carolina
28904

Phone: (828) 389-0087
Fax: (828) 389-1261
Clay County website »

Cleveland County

311 East Marion Street, Room 151
Shelby, North Carolina
28150

Phone: (704) 484-4834
Cleveland County website »

Columbus County

125 Washington St. Suite B
Whiteville, North Carolina
28472

Phone: (910) 640-6625
Columbus County website »

Craven County

226 Pollock St
New Bern, North Carolina
28562

Phone: (252) 636-6617
Fax: (252) 636-1937
Craven County website »

Cumberland County

Cumberland County Courthouse<br>117 Dick Street, Room 114
Fayetteville, North Carolina
28301

Phone: (910) 678-7775
Fax: (910) 678-7768
Cumberland County website »

Currituck County

2801 Caratoke Highway
Currituck, North Carolina
27929

Phone: (252) 232-3404
Fax: (252) 232-3906
Currituck County website »

Dare County

954 Marshall C Collins Dr
Manteo, North Carolina
27954

Phone: (252) 475-5970
Fax: (252) 473-5393
Dare County website »

Davidson County

203 West 2nd Street
Lexington, North Carolina
27293

Phone: (336) 242-2150
Davidson County website »

Davie County

123 South Main Street
Mocksville, North Carolina
27028

Phone: (336) 753-6080
Davie County website »

Duplin County

118 Duplin Street
Kenansville, North Carolina
28349

Phone: (910) 296-2108
Fax: (910) 296-2344
Duplin County website »

Durham County

200 East Main Street, Administration Bldg. 2
Durham, North Carolina
27701

Phone: (919) 560-0480
Fax: (919) 560-0497
Durham County website »

Edgecombe County

201 St. Andrew St
Tarboro, North Carolina
27886

Phone: (252) 641-7924
Fax: (252) 641-1771
Edgecombe County website »

Forsyth County

201 North Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Phone: (336) 703-2700
Forsyth County website »

Franklin County

113 S. Main St
Louisburg, North Carolina
27549

Phone: (919) 496-3500
Franklin County website »

Gaston County

325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Gastonia, North Carolina
76844

Phone: (704) 862-7687
Gaston County website »

Gates County

202 Court Street
Gatesville, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 357-0850
Fax: (252) 357-1568
Gates County website »

Graham County

12 North Main Street
Robbinsville, North Carolina
28771

Phone: (828) 479-7971
Fax: (828) 479-7902
Graham County website »

Granville County

101 Main Street
Oxford, North Carolina
27565

Phone: (919) 693-6314
Granville County website »

Greene County

301 N. Greene St.
Snow Hill, North Carolina
28580

Phone: (252) 747-3620
Greene County website »

Guilford County

201 West Market Street, 1st Floor
Greensboro, North Carolina
27401

Phone: (336) 641-7556
Guilford County website »

Halifax County

357 Ferrell Lane
Halifax, North Carolina
27839

Phone: (252) 583-2101
Fax: (252) 583-1273
Halifax County website »

Harnett County

305 W Cornelius Harnet Blvd, Suite 200
Lillington, North Carolina
27546

Phone: (910) 893-7540
Fax: (910) 814-3841
Harnett County website »

Haywood County

215 North Main Street, Suite 213
Waynesville, North Carolina
28786

Phone: (828) 452-6635
Fax: (828) 452-6762
Haywood County website »

Henderson County

200 North Grove Street, Suite 129
Hendersonville, North Carolina
28792

Phone: (828) 697-4901
Henderson County website »

Hertford County

119 Justice Drive, Suite 9
Winton, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 358-7850
Fax: (252) 358-0222
Hertford County website »

Hoke County

304 N. Main Street
Raeford, North Carolina

Phone: (910) 878-4100
Fax: (910) 878-4101
Hoke County website »

Hyde County

30 Oyster Creek Road
Swan Quarter, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 926-4182
Fax: (252) 926-3710
Hyde County website »

Iredell County

201 E Water Street
Statesville, North Carolina

Phone: (704) 872-7468
Fax: (704) 878-5426
Iredell County website »

Jackson County

401 Grindstaff Cove Road
Sylva, North Carolina
28779

Phone: (828) 586-7530
Jackson County website »

Johnston County

207 East Johnston St. Suite 209
Smithfield, North Carolina
27577

Phone: (919) 989-5160
Fax: (919) 989-5728
Johnston County website »

Jones County

101 Market St
Trenton, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 448-2551
Fax: (252) 448-1357
Jones County website »

Lee County

1408 S. Horner Blvd
Sanford, North Carolina
27330

Phone: (919) 718-4585
Lee County website »

Lenoir County

101 N. Queen St.
Kinston, North Carolina
28502

Phone: (252) 559-6420
Fax: (252) 523-6139
Lenoir County website »

Lincoln County

100 East Main St. 2nd floor
Lincolnton, North Carolina
28292

Phone: (704) 736-8530
Fax: (704) 736-8830
Lincoln County website »

Macon County

5 West Main Street
Franklin, North Carolina

Phone: (828) 349-2097
Macon County website »

Madison County

5707 US 25-70 Hwy, Suite 6
Marshall, North Carolina
28753

Phone: (828) 649-3131
Madison County website »

Martin County

305 East Main Street (Room 115)
Williamston, North Carolina
27892

Phone: (252) 789-4320
Fax: (252) 789-4329
Martin County website »

McDowell County

35 West Fort St.
Marion, North Carolina
28752

Phone: (828) 652-4727
McDowell County website »

Mecklenburg County

720 East Fourth Street
Charlotte, North Carolina
28202

Phone: (704) 336-2443
Mecklenburg County website »

Mitchell County

26 Crimson Laurel Circle, Suite 4
Bakersville, North Carolina

Phone: (828) 688-2139
Fax: (828) 688-3666
Mitchell County website »

Montgomery County

102 E. Spring St
Troy, North Carolina

Phone: (910) 576-4221
Fax: (910) 576-2209
Montgomery County website »

Moore County

100 Dowd Rd
Carthage, North Carolina

Phone: (910) 947-6370
Fax: (910) 947-6396
Moore County website »

Nash County

120 W. Washington Street, Suite 3030
Nashville, North Carolina
27856

Phone: (252) 459-9836
Fax: (252) 459-9832
Nash County website »

New Hanover County

320 Chestnut Street, Suite 120
Wilmington, North Carolina

Phone: (910) 798-4530
Fax: (910) 798-7751
New Hanover County website »

Northampton County

104 Thomas Bragg Street
Jackson, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 534-2511
Fax: (252) 534-1580
Northampton County website »

Onslow County

109 Old Bridge Street
Jacksonville, North Carolina
28540

Phone: (910) 347-3451
Fax: (910) 347-3340
Onslow County website »

Orange County

228 South Churton Street, Suite 300
Hillsborough, North Carolina
27278

Phone: (919) 245-2675
Orange County website »

Pamlico County

202 Main Street
Bayboro, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 745-4421
Fax: (252) 745-7020
Pamlico County website »

Pasquotank County

203 E Main St.
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 335-4367
Fax: (252) 335-5106
Pasquotank County website »

Pender County

300 E. Fremont St.
Burgaw, North Carolina
28425

Phone: (910) 259-1225
Fax: (910) 259-1299
Pender County website »

Perquimans County

128 N. Church St.
Hertford, North Carolina
27944

Phone: (252) 426-5660
Fax: (252) 426-7443
Perquimans County website »

Person County

21 Abbitt Street
Roxboro, North Carolina
27573

Phone: (336) 597-1733
Person County website »

Pitt County

West 3rd Street
Greenville, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 902-1650
Pitt County website »

Polk County

40 Courthouse St
Columbus, North Carolina
28722

Phone: (828) 894-8450
Polk County website »

Randolph County

Register of Deeds <br> 158 Worth St # A
Asheboro, North Carolina
27203

Phone: (336) 318-6960
Randolph County website »

Richmond County

114 E. Franklin Street Room 101
Rockingham, North Carolina

Phone: (910) 997-8250
Richmond County website »

Robeson County

500 N. Elm Street
Lumberton, North Carolina
28358

Phone: (910) 671-3040
Robeson County website »

Rockingham County

170 NC 65, Suite 150
Reidsville, North Carolina
27320

Phone: (336) 342-8820
Fax: (336) 342-6209
Rockingham County website »

Rowan County

402 N. Main St.
Salisbury, North Carolina

Phone: (704) 216-8626
Fax: (704) 216-8644
Rowan County website »

Rutherford County

229 N. Main St.
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
28139

Phone: (828) 287-6155
Rutherford County website »

Sampson County

126-A W. Elizabeth St.
Clinton, North Carolina

Phone: (910) 592-8026
Fax: (910) 592-1803
Sampson County website »

Scotland County

212 Biggs Street
Laurinburg, North Carolina

Phone: (910) 277-2575
Fax: (910) 277-3133
Scotland County website »

Stanly County

201 South 2nd Street
Albemarle, North Carolina

Phone: (704) 986-3640
Fax: (704) 986-3849
Stanly County website »

Stokes County

1014 Main Street
Danbury, North Carolina
27016

Phone: (336) 593-2414
Fax: (336) 593-9360
Stokes County website »

Surry County

201 East Kapp Street
Dobson, North Carolina

Phone: (336) 401-8150
Fax: (336) 401-8151
Surry County website »

Swain County

101 Mitchell Street
Bryson City, North Carolina

Phone: (828) 488-9273
Swain County website »

Transylvania County

20 East Morgan Street, Suite 2
Brevard, North Carolina

Phone: (828) 884-3162
Transylvania County website »

Tyrrell County

403 Main Street
Columbia, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 796-2901
Fax: (252) 796-0148
Tyrrell County website »

Union County

500 N. Main St. 2nd Floor
Monroe, North Carolina
28111

Phone: (704) 283-3796
Fax: (704) 283-3569
Union County website »

Vance County

122 Young Street, Suite F
Henderson, North Carolina
27536

Phone: (252) 738-2110
Vance County website »

Wake County

300 S. Salisbury St.
Raleigh, North Carolina
27601

Phone: (919) 856-5460
Fax: (919) 856-5467
Wake County website »

Warren County

109 South Main Street
Warrenton, North Carolina
27589

Phone: (252) 257-3265
Warren County website »

Washington County

120 Adams Street
Plymouth, North Carolina

Phone: (252) 793-2325
Fax: (252) 793-6982
Washington County website »

Watauga County

842 West King Street, Room 119
Boone, North Carolina
28607

Phone: (828) 265-8034
Fax: (828) 265-7632
Watauga County website »

Wayne County

224 - 226 E Walnut Street
Goldsboro, North Carolina
27533

Phone: (919) 731-1449
Fax: (919) 731-1441
Wayne County website »

Wilkes County

500 Court House Drive, Suite 1000
Wilkesboro, North Carolina
28697

Phone: (336) 651-7351
Fax: (336) 990-0041
Wilkes County website »

Wilson County

101 N. Goldsboro S
Wilson, North Carolina
27893

Phone: (252) 399-2935
Fax: (252) 399-2942
Wilson County website »

Yadkin County

101 S. State St.
Yadkinville, North Carolina

Phone: (336) 679-4225
Fax: (336) 679-3239
Yadkin County website »

Yancey County

110 Town Square, Room 4
Burnsville, North Carolina
28714

Phone: (828) 682-2174
Yancey County website »