Getting a Marriage License in Cabarrus County
Marriage licenses in Cabarrus County are issued by the Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Court. The office, led by Register Wayne Nixon, sits at 65 Church Street S in Concord. A license can be obtained in any North Carolina county and used anywhere in the state within 60 days, but it must be returned to the county that issued it. The Cabarrus office issues licenses from 8 AM to 4 PM and asks applicants to arrive by 3:30 PM.
Both applicants must appear in person to get the license. Identification cannot be expired. A Social Security number is required, or an affidavit of ineligibility, though the card itself is not requested. People who were married before must provide the month and year of a spouse's death or a copy of the divorce judgment.
The Register of Deeds page is the custodian for Cabarrus marriage, birth, and death records. Its marriage license page lists the full requirements.
That page also covers ID rules for applicants who are 16 or 17, who need custodial consent and extra documents.
How to Apply for a Cabarrus County Marriage License
Cabarrus uses an online application to start the process, then both applicants finish in person. Filling out the online form first saves time at the counter. Do not submit a second application to fix an error; bring corrections to the staff when you complete the process.
- Fill out the online marriage license application completely and accurately.
- Within 15 days of submitting, both applicants come into the office together.
- Bring valid ID, plus divorce or death information if either of you was married before.
- Pay the $60 license fee.
- Use the license anywhere in North Carolina within 60 days, then return it to Cabarrus.
The online application submits to the Register of Deeds, and the system flags any required field you miss.
Cabarrus County Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for identity and history details from both applicants. The table lists the main fields and the rules that apply to each.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Yes | For both applicants. |
| Date of Birth | Yes | Applicants 18 and over need no parental consent. |
| Social Security Number | Yes | Or an affidavit of ineligibility; the card is not requested. |
| Prior Marriage Info | If applicable | Spouse's death month and year, or a copy of the divorce judgment. |
| Valid Photo ID | Yes | State ID, driver's license, military ID, or passport; not expired. |
Cabarrus County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Marriage fees in Cabarrus are fixed and easy to plan for. Divorce filing costs are court costs set by state statute, so they are confirmed through the Clerk rather than the Register of Deeds. Vital records take cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $60 |
| Certified marriage certificate copy | $10 |
| Uncertified copy by mail | $1 |
| Divorce filing | Set by NC court costs (Chapter 7A) |
| Certified divorce record copy | Contact the Clerk of Superior Court |
How to Look Up Cabarrus County Marriage Records
The Register of Deeds issues certified copies of Cabarrus marriage certificates only when the license was filed in Cabarrus. A certified copy is $10, and an uncertified copy by mail is $1. Certified copies go to the proper person or an immediate family member, and identification is required. You can request online or by mail.
Cabarrus keeps marriage records back to 1792, when the county formed. Older marriage bonds from 1792 to 1855 are held at the Department of Archives and History in Raleigh, with indexes at the Register's office. Originals from 1856 to the present are at the Register of Deeds. To request a copy by mail, make a check or money order payable to the Register of Deeds, attach a copy of valid photo ID, and include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The vital records page covers certificate fees and the historical record coverage.
How to Find Cabarrus County Divorce Records
Divorce is a court case, so divorce filings and judgments are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court. Search case information through the eCourts Portal, or contact the Clerk at 704-262-5500 for official copies. The state's absolute divorce process is for divorce only and does not handle alimony, property division, or custody on its own.
To qualify for an absolute divorce, one spouse must have lived in North Carolina for at least six months, and the spouses must have been separated for at least 12 months. The steps are: complete the forms, file with the Clerk, serve the other spouse, wait 30 days, then set a hearing.
The state divorce and marriage help topic links the absolute divorce packet and the filing steps.
The absolute divorce packet bundles the forms a self-represented spouse needs. The core documents include the following.
- Complaint for Absolute Divorce and a Verification.
- Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet and Civil Summons.
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act form.
- Notice of Hearing and Judgment of Absolute Divorce.
- Certificate of Service and Certificate of Absolute Divorce.
A finished divorce file is a public court record, so anyone can search the case index, though sensitive details may be limited. For support, property, or custody, a person needs more than the packet and should consult an attorney.
Getting Certified Copies in Cabarrus County
A certified copy is the version courts and agencies accept. For a marriage certificate, the Register of Deeds issues it if the license was filed in Cabarrus. For a divorce judgment, the Clerk of Superior Court issues the certified court copy. Bring identification, and be ready to show you are a proper person to receive a certified vital record. Certified vital copies go only to the named person or an immediate family member, while a court record copy follows the court's own request process. Payment for vital records can be cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard.
The online vital records request page handles certificate orders and notes the ID requirement.
North Carolina Vital Records
North Carolina splits vital records between the state and the counties. County-filed marriage, birth, and death certificates come from the local Register of Deeds, while some statewide records and historical bonds sit with state archives. For anything filed in Cabarrus, the Register of Deeds is the office to contact.
Cabarrus Register of Deeds
65 Church Street S
Concord, NC 28025
704-920-2112
Mon-Fri, 8 AM-5 PM