Watauga County -- Boone

Transylvania County -- Brevard

Other Counties 

ABOUT MARRIAGE LICENSES AND CERTIFIED COPIES: 

In order for your marriage to be legal, the officiating minister must have your marriage license in her possession at the ceremony. The officiating minister is responsible for having your two witnesses to sign the license and completing her part. After your ceremony, she must return the completed marriage license to the issuing Register of Deeds within 10 days after the wedding or face a penalty. Upon receipt of the completed marriage license, the County Register of Deeds will record your marriage and send one copy on to the State Vital Records to be recorded there.

At this point you may request your certified copies by sending in a request and the fee. (Or, you may appear in person at the Register of Deeds office and get your certified copies paying cash for them.) Each certified copy is $10. Some counties accept personal checks and others require cash, cashier's check or money order. If the bride is going to change her last name, she will need at least 2 certified copies of her completed marriage license stamped by the county. If she has a passport she will need to change, I suggest she get 3 certified copies. If she is a teacher, doctor, nurse, or any other profession requiring state licensing, she will need a copy for them to change her name on that license. The certified copies are $10 each. When you get your marriage license, the issuing Register of Deeds may also give you a request form so that you can order your copies after your wedding.

Once you have received your certified copies, you will need to take one original copy to the Social Security office to change your name. Take another original copy to the DMV to change your name on your driver's license. Social Security and DMV will not accept photocopies of your certified copy. Both Social Security and DMV are now paperless and will scan your original certified copy and return it to you. If you have a passport, you will need another certified copy to get your name changed on that by mailing it in. It is wise to keep one original certified copy at home in your files to photocopy for those wanting proof of marriage but don’t require an original copy.

 Also remember that if either of you is going on the other’s health insurance, you have only 30 days from your wedding date to notify the health insurance carrier of your change in dependents. Marriage is a “qualifying event” that will allow you to make this change mid-period. If you miss this time frame, you will have to wait until the next enrollment period to add a dependent.