How to Get a Marriage License in Raleigh: Step by Step
Published October 17, 2026
If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in North Carolina as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Raleigh, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- Wake County Register of Deeds, Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury St., Suite 1700, Raleigh, NC. Regional centers (cash only): Northern, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest; Southern, 130 N. Judd Pkwy NE, Fuquay-Varina; Eastern, 1002 Dogwood Dr., Zebulon; Departure, 5809 Departure Dr., Raleigh
- Booking
- No appointment needed; walk-ins accepted. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4 PM.
- Fee
- $60 Magistrate civil ceremony at the Justice Center is $50 cash, exact change, with two witnesses age 18 or older. Confirm current fees with the Register of Deeds.
- Payment
- Cash or credit card at the Justice Center; cash only at the regional centers
- Who attends
- Both people, in person.
- Valid for
- The ceremony must take place in North Carolina within 60 days of obtaining the license.
Step by step
- Apply. Complete the online application before arriving, or fill it out on a computer at the office, and submit it online. Printing is not needed. Both people then appear in person.
- Book or plan your visit. No appointment needed; walk-ins accepted. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4 PM.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both people, in person. Cash or credit card at the Justice Center; cash only at the regional centers
- Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in North Carolina. The ceremony must take place in North Carolina within 60 days of obtaining the license.
What to bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Proof of Social Security number or ITIN; if there is no SSN, an affidavit can be completed electronically at the office
- Certified birth record for applicants ages 16 to 20
- Certified copy of the divorce decree if the divorce was finalized within the last 30 days
Good to know
- Magistrates, ordained ministers of a religious denomination or persons authorized by a church, and those conducting a ceremony in the recognized manner of a denomination without officiants (or of a recognized Native American tribe) may officiate
- Magistrate ceremonies: Justice Center, 9th Floor, Room 901, Mon-Fri 9:30-11:30 AM and 1:30-3:30 PM, walk-ins accepted
- Returning the license and certified copies are not covered on this page; a separate Vital Records page exists at wake.gov/departments-government/register-deeds/vital-records/birth-death-marriage-certificates (not read)
Your nikah and the license
The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in North Carolina, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Raleigh and our North Carolina nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.
A few common questions
How much is a marriage license in Raleigh?
Do I need an appointment in Raleigh?
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
Do I need a marriage license for a nikah?
Planning a nikah in Raleigh?
Tell us your date and we will help you find an imam, including one who can register the marriage if you want the legal side done the same day.
Details come from the Wake County Register of Deeds website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Wake County Register of Deeds: marriage license page. This guide is general information, not legal advice.