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.
- 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
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 county contact
North Carolina's Top Wedding Spot
Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the century-old Corolla Chapel
3 License to Marry in North Carolina
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
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
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.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for North Carolina state:
North Carolina Marriage Laws⇓ Show the rest
Alamance County
118 West Harden StreetGraham, North Carolina
Phone: (336) 228-1312
Alamance County website »
Alexander County
75 1st Street SW, Suite 1Taylorville, 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 131Wadesboro, North Carolina
28170
Phone: (704) 994-3208
Fax: (704) 694-5874
Anson County website »
Ashe County
150 Government Circle Suite 2300Jefferson, North Carolina
Phone: (336) 846-5580
Ashe County website »
Avery County
200 Montezuma StreetNewland, 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 StreetElizabethtown, North Carolina
28337
Phone: (910) 862-6710
Bladen County website »
Brunswick County
75 Courthouse DriveBolivia, North Carolina
28422
Phone: (910) 253-2690
Fax: (910) 253-2703
Brunswick County website »
Buncombe County
205 College StreetAsheville, North Carolina
28801
Phone: (828) 250-4303
Fax: (828) 250-4339
Buncombe County website »
Burke County
201 South Green StreetMorganton, 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 NWLenoir, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 757-1310
Caldwell County website »
Carteret County
302 Court House SquareBeaufort, North Carolina
28516
Phone: (252) 728-8474
Fax: (252) 728-7693
Carteret County website »
Caswell County
139 E. Church StYanceyville, North Carolina
Phone: (336) 694-4197
Fax: (336) 694-7848
Caswell County website »
Catawba County
100 Government DriveNewton, North Carolina
28658
Phone: (828) 465-1573
Fax: (828) 465-1911
Catawba County website »
Chatham County
12 East StreetPittsboro, North Carolina
27312
Phone: (919) 542-8235
Chatham County website »
Cherokee County
75 Peachtree Street, Suite 126-AMurphy, North Carolina
28906
Phone: (828) 837-2613
Fax: (828) 837-9684
Cherokee County website »
Chowan County
101 S. Broad StreetEdenton, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 482-2619
Fax: (252) 482-3062
Chowan County website »
Clay County
261 Courthouse Drive, Suite 2Hayesville, North Carolina
28904
Phone: (828) 389-0087
Fax: (828) 389-1261
Clay County website »
Cleveland County
311 East Marion Street, Room 151Shelby, North Carolina
28150
Phone: (704) 484-4834
Cleveland County website »
Columbus County
125 Washington St. Suite BWhiteville, North Carolina
Phone: (910) 640-6625
Columbus County website »
Craven County
226 Pollock StNew 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 114Fayetteville, North Carolina
28301
Phone: (910) 678-7775
Fax: (910) 678-7768
Cumberland County website »
Currituck County
2801 Caratoke HighwayCurrituck, North Carolina
27929
Phone: (252) 232-3404
Fax: (252) 232-3906
Currituck County website »
Dare County
954 Marshall C Collins DrManteo, North Carolina
27954
Phone: (252) 475-5970
Fax: (252) 473-5393
Dare County website »
Davidson County
203 West 2nd StreetLexington, North Carolina
27293
Phone: (336) 242-2150
Davidson County website »
Davie County
123 South Main StreetMocksville, North Carolina
27028
Phone: (336) 753-6080
Davie County website »
Duplin County
118 Duplin StreetKenansville, North Carolina
28349
Phone: (910) 296-2108
Fax: (910) 296-2344
Duplin County website »
Durham County
200 East Main Street, Administration Bldg. 2Durham, North Carolina
27701
Phone: (919) 560-0480
Fax: (919) 560-0497
Durham County website »
Edgecombe County
201 St. Andrew StTarboro, North Carolina
27886
Phone: (252) 641-7924
Fax: (252) 641-1771
Edgecombe County website »
Forsyth County
201 North Chestnut StreetWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Phone: (336) 703-2700
Forsyth County website »
Franklin County
113 S. Main StLouisburg, North Carolina
27549
Phone: (919) 496-3500
Franklin County website »
Gaston County
325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. WayGastonia, North Carolina
76844
Phone: (704) 862-7687
Gaston County website »
Gates County
202 Court StreetGatesville, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 357-0850
Fax: (252) 357-1568
Gates County website »
Graham County
12 North Main StreetRobbinsville, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 479-7971
Fax: (828) 479-7902
Graham County website »
Granville County
101 Main StreetOxford, North Carolina
27565
Phone: (919) 693-6314
Granville County website »
Greene County
301 N. Greene St.Snow Hill, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 747-3620
Greene County website »
Guilford County
201 West Market Street, 1st FloorGreensboro, North Carolina
27401
Phone: (336) 641-7556
Guilford County website »
Halifax County
357 Ferrell LaneHalifax, North Carolina
27839
Phone: (252) 583-2101
Fax: (252) 583-1273
Halifax County website »
Harnett County
305 W Cornelius Harnet Blvd, Suite 200Lillington, North Carolina
27546
Phone: (910) 893-7540
Fax: (910) 814-3841
Harnett County website »
Haywood County
215 North Main Street, Suite 213Waynesville, North Carolina
28786
Phone: (828) 452-6635
Fax: (828) 452-6762
Haywood County website »
Henderson County
200 North Grove Street, Suite 129Hendersonville, North Carolina
28792
Phone: (828) 697-4901
Henderson County website »
Hertford County
119 Justice Drive, Suite 9Winton, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 358-7850
Fax: (252) 358-0222
Hertford County website »
Hoke County
304 N. Main StreetRaeford, North Carolina
Phone: (910) 878-4100
Fax: (910) 878-4101
Hoke County website »
Hyde County
30 Oyster Creek RoadSwan Quarter, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 926-4182
Fax: (252) 926-3710
Hyde County website »
Iredell County
201 E Water StreetStatesville, North Carolina
Phone: (704) 872-7468
Fax: (704) 878-5426
Iredell County website »
Jackson County
401 Grindstaff Cove RoadSylva, North Carolina
28779
Phone: (828) 586-7530
Jackson County website »
Johnston County
207 East Johnston St. Suite 209Smithfield, North Carolina
27577
Phone: (919) 989-5160
Fax: (919) 989-5728
Johnston County website »
Jones County
101 Market StTrenton, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 448-2551
Fax: (252) 448-1357
Jones County website »
Lee County
1408 S. Horner BlvdSanford, 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
105 A East Court Sq. 2nd FloorLincolnton, North Carolina
28292
Phone: (704) 736-8530
Fax: (704) 736-8830
Lincoln County website »
Macon County
5 West Main StreetFranklin, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 349-2097
Macon County website »
Madison County
5707 US 25-70 Hwy, Suite 6Marshall, North Carolina
28753
Phone: (828) 649-3131
Madison County website »
Martin County
305 East Main StreetWilliamston, North Carolina
27892
Phone: (252) 789-4320
Fax: (252) 789-4329
Martin County website »
McDowell County
21 S. Main Street suite AMarion, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 652-4727
McDowell County website »
Mecklenburg County
720 East Fourth StreetCharlotte, North Carolina
28202
Phone: (704) 336-2443
Mecklenburg County website »
Mitchell County
26 Crimson Laurel Circle, Suite 4Bakersville, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 688-2139
Fax: (828) 688-3666
Mitchell County website »
Montgomery County
102 E. Spring StTroy, North Carolina
Phone: (910) 576-4221
Fax: (910) 576-2209
Montgomery County website »
Moore County
100 Dowd RdCarthage, North Carolina
Phone: (910) 947-6370
Fax: (910) 947-6396
Moore County website »
Nash County
120 W. Washington Street, Suite 3030Nashville, North Carolina
27856
Phone: (252) 459-9836
Fax: (252) 459-9832
Nash County website »
New Hanover County
320 Chestnut Street, Suite 120Wilmington, North Carolina
Phone: (910) 798-4530
Fax: (910) 798-7751
New Hanover County website »
Northampton County
104 Thomas Bragg StreetJackson, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 534-2511
Fax: (252) 534-1580
Northampton County website »
Onslow County
109 Old Bridge StreetJacksonville, North Carolina
28540
Phone: (910) 347-3451
Fax: (910) 347-3340
Onslow County website »
Orange County
228 South Churton Street, Suite 300Hillsborough, North Carolina
27278
Phone: (919) 245-2675
Orange County website »
Pamlico County
202 Main StreetBayboro, 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 StreetRoxboro, North Carolina
27573
Phone: (336) 597-1733
Person County website »
Polk County
40 Courthouse StColumbus, North Carolina
28722
Phone: (828) 894-8450
Polk County website »
Randolph County
Register of Deeds <br> 158 Worth St # AAsheboro, North Carolina
27203
Phone: (336) 318-6960
Randolph County website »
Richmond County
114 E. Franklin Street Room 101Rockingham, North Carolina
Phone: (910) 997-8250
Richmond County website »
Robeson County
500 N. Elm StreetLumberton, North Carolina
28358
Phone: (910) 671-3040
Robeson County website »
Rockingham County
170 NC 65, Suite 150Reidsville, 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 StreetLaurinburg, North Carolina
Phone: (910) 277-2575
Fax: (910) 277-3133
Scotland County website »
Stanly County
201 South 2nd StreetAlbemarle, North Carolina
Phone: (704) 986-3640
Fax: (704) 986-3849
Stanly County website »
Stokes County
1014 Main StreetDanbury, North Carolina
Phone: (336) 593-2811
Fax: (336) 593-9360
Stokes County website »
Surry County
201 East Kapp StreetDobson, North Carolina
Phone: (336) 401-8150
Fax: (336) 401-8151
Surry County website »
Swain County
101 Mitchell StreetBryson City, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 488-9273
Swain County website »
Transylvania County
20 East Morgan Street, Suite 2Brevard, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 884-3162
Transylvania County website »
Tyrrell County
403 Main StreetColumbia, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 796-2901
Fax: (252) 796-0148
Tyrrell County website »
Union County
500 N. Main St. 2nd FloorMonroe, North Carolina
28111
Phone: (704) 283-3796
Fax: (704) 283-3569
Union County website »
Vance County
122 Young Street, Suite FHenderson, North Carolina
27536
Phone: (252) 738-2110
Vance County website »
Wake County
300 S. Salisbury St.Raleigh, North Carolina
Phone: (919) 856-5460
Fax: (919) 856-5467
Wake County website »
Warren County
109 South Main StreetWarrenton, North Carolina
27589
Phone: (252) 257-3265
Warren County website »
Washington County
120 Adams StreetPlymouth, North Carolina
Phone: (252) 793-2325
Fax: (252) 793-6982
Washington County website »
Watauga County
842 West King Street, Room 119Boone, North Carolina
28607
Phone: (828) 265-8034
Fax: (828) 265-7632
Watauga County website »
Wayne County
224 - 226 E Walnut StreetGoldsboro, North Carolina
27533
Phone: (919) 731-1449
Fax: (919) 731-1441
Wayne County website »
Wilkes County
500 Court House Drive, Suite 1000Wilkesboro, North Carolina
28697
Phone: (336) 651-7351
Fax: (336) 990-0041
Wilkes County website »
Wilson County
101 N. Goldsboro SWilson, 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 4Burnsville, North Carolina
28714
Phone: (828) 682-2174
Yancey County website »
