Raleigh Courthouse Weddings

Everything you need to know to get married at the Raleigh courthouse!

First, for courthouse weddings, you’ll actually get married at the Wake County Justice Center (300 S. Salisbury Street in downtown Raleigh). It’s only a block away from the Wake County Courthouse, but still make sure you’re going to the correct building!

Also, make sure you plan time for parking downtown and going through security. In addition to street parking, there is a surface lot on the corner of W. Martin and S. McDowell, directly across from one of the Justice Center entrances. There’s also a parking deck on the corner of W. Davie and S. McDowell.

What you’ll need for your courthouse wedding

For a courthouse wedding in Raleigh, North Carolina you need the following 4 things to get married:

1. A marriage license ($60)
2. Two witnesses
3. Receipt for your magistrate wedding ($50)
4. Magistrate

1 – Your marriage license

You can fill out and submit the application online, but need to go in person to pay the $60 and collect the actual marriage license. You both need to be present to pick up the marriage license. You’ll both need to have valid government ID (like driver’s license, passport, or military ID) plus proof of your social security numbers. That could be your social security card, a tax return, a medicare card, etc. More examples here.

To pick up the marriage license, you’ll go to the Register of Deeds office on the first floor of the Wake County Justice Center. Security can direct you, and there are also plenty of signs. The Register of Deeds office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm. I’d recommend not going later than 3:15 or so. You never know if there will be a line.

2 – Two witnesses

North Carolina requires two adult witnesses for marriage ceremonies. For courthouse weddings, I recommend bringing two friends (18 or older) to serve as your witnesses. I’ve served as a witness for couples I’ve photographed before, but it’s more meaningful if it’s someone dear to you.

I’ve also seen two couples serve as witnesses for each other. If you’re in the hall waiting for your turn with the magistrate and the couple in front of you doesn’t have witnesses, you could be theirs and they could be yours. Do not count on this though. It’s possible there’s no one else around. You don’t want to have to run through the Justice Center looking for strangers to watch your wedding.

3 – Receipt for payment for the magistrate

In addition to the marriage license and the two witnesses, North Carolina requires wedding ceremonies to have an officiant. Since you’re here about a courthouse wedding, that means your officiant will be a magistrate.

After obtaining your license on the first floor, you’ll go to the cashier’s office on the second floor where you’ll pay for your magistrate wedding. You do not need an appointment, but you will need the license and exactly $50 cash. They cannot make change. Hold on to your receipt, since you’ll need it next.

4 – The Magistrate

Once you have your license and the receipt from the cashier’s office, you’ll head up the 9th floor where magistrates preside over courthouse weddings in courtroom 901. You’ll hand over your receipt from the cashier’s, office and your witnesses will be instructed to fill out their portion of the license.

Magistrate weddings occur Monday through Friday 1:30-4:00pm. There is also a morning block on Fridays from 9:30am to noon. Similar to the Register of Deeds, lines can form, so I don’t recommend arriving in the last hour of a block. In fact, I’d recommend arriving at or before the start of a block so you don’t have to wait through other people’s weddings. Fridays tend to be the most popular.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES!

If you want wedding portraits after your ceremony, there are plenty of lovely locations close to the Justice Center. Nash Square park is right across the street. The warehouse district has lots of interesting backdrops, and the Capitol area does as well. Some downtown Raleigh wedding photo inspiration for your courthouse wedding:

The official website for what you need:
https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/register-deeds/apply-marriage-license