Dare County officials have been busy issuing marriage licenses

Throughout the summer, Dare County employees often see happy couples climbing the steps at the Dare County Justice Center, headed to the Register of Deeds office where they’ll fill out the necessary paperwork to receive their marriage license.

The Register of Deeds office issued 743 marriage licenses during the busy 2012 summer wedding season — May through August — on average processing more than eight marriage licenses a day.

From Jan. 1, 2006 to Dec. 31, 2011, the Dare County Register of Deeds issued 6,868 marriage licenses.

Processing the large number of marriage licenses in Dare County is no small feat.

Vanzolla McMurran-Smith, Dare County Register of Deeds, has four deputies and two assistants who help manage and maintain the large number of public records for Dare County, including but not limited to marriage licenses, death certificates, real estate documents, and birth certificates.

The Register of Deeds would like to remind those interested in obtaining a marriage license that both the bride and bridegroom must present proper identification with a government issued ID that containing their date of birth and picture (passport, driver’s license, etc.). Bride and bridegroom must also present their Social Security card, a valid identification with social security number listed, or an affidavit which indicates that they are not eligible for a Social Security number.

The requirement regarding divorce decrees is: If your previous marriage ended in divorce less than a year before, you will need to bring a copy of your divorce decree signed by a judge. If the divorce was more than a year before, you will need the exact month, day, and year of the divorce.

The fee for a marriage license is $60. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money orders made payable to the Dare County Register of Deeds.

The Register of Deeds is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Marriage license applicants are asked to be at the office no later than 4:30 p.m. to provide ample time to complete the necessary paperwork.

You cannot obtain a marriage license after your ceremony. The consequences for officiates who perform a marriage without a marriage licenses are outlined in North Carolina general statutes.

If you need a certified copy of your marriage license, you may acquire it at our office in person or you may request it by mail at P.O. Box 70, Manteo North Carolina 27954.

The fee is $10. A self-addressed, stamped envelope is appreciated.

For more information, contact the Dare County Register of Deeds office at 252-475-5970. You can get more information on the website, http://www.darenc.com/deeds/marriage.asp.