How to get a marriage license in Raleigh and the rest of Wake County — where to apply, the fee, the waiting period and how long it stays valid — plus the public record. 0 licenses were filed here in the last 30 days; the newest filing we hold is dated Sep 29, 2026.
We now focus on Texas. Wake County records stay here, searchable and free, but are no longer updated daily — see Texas coverage →
Raleigh is the county seat of Wake County, and the county also includes Cary. There is no separate city license. In North Carolina, marriage licenses are issued by the register of deeds. These are the state rules that apply in Wake County; the office itself sets its hours, accepted ID and payment methods, so check with it before you go.
Checked September 2026 against Wake County Register of Deeds — Apply for a Marriage License. Rules and fees change — the issuing office has the final word. This is general information, not legal advice.
Counted from the filings we hold, by application date. The busiest full month in the past year was April 2026, with 809 filings.
| Month | Licenses filed |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 383 |
| August 2026 | 532 |
| July 2026 | 529 |
| June 2026 | 502 |
| May 2026 | 652 |
| April 2026 | 809 |
| March 2026 | 540 |
| February 2026 | 260 |
| January 2026 | 285 |
| December 2025 | 483 |
| November 2025 | 201 |
| October 2025 | 57 |
| September 2025 | 1 |
A marriage license application filed with the register of deeds becomes part of the public record. The records we hold for Wake County run from November 2024 to September 2026.
A filing means a wedding is happening now, not being planned: in our own data most couples marry within days of applying. Wedding professionals — photographers, florists, officiants, venues, DJs and planners — use the filings to see how many couples marry in Wake County each month and when the busy season starts.
Raleigh is the county seat of Wake County, and the county also includes Cary. In North Carolina a marriage license is issued at the county level by the register of deeds, not by the city. Any county register of deeds — the license is valid anywhere in North Carolina. Both applicants appear in person with ID and proof of Social Security number.
$60. Confirm the current amount and accepted payment methods with the register of deeds before you go.
None — you can marry the same day.
60 days from the date it is issued.
Any county register of deeds — the license is valid anywhere in North Carolina. Both applicants appear in person with ID and proof of Social Security number.
A valid government-issued ID and proof of Social Security number (or an affidavit if you have none) for each of you, a certified birth record for applicants aged 16–20, and a certified divorce copy if it was finalized in the last 30 days. Both must be present. The register of deeds sets its own hours and payment methods — check before you go.
Yes. Marriage license filings are public records kept by the register of deeds. MarriageSignals holds 7,370 filings for Wake County, including 0 from the last 30 days; the newest is dated Sep 29, 2026.
Getting married in Raleigh (Wake County)? These tools help couples plan.
The all-in-one wedding registry. Register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds. Free website, guest list manager, and checklist included.
Start Your Zola Registry — FreeRegister for anything on Amazon with free shipping and easy returns. Add items from any store with the universal registry button. Completion discount included.
Create Your Amazon RegistrySearch every filing, filter to your service area, and get new ones as they arrive. Seven days free.
Get access — first quarter 50% offCouples land here while they are getting their marriage license. A featured slot puts one business per category on Raleigh (Wake County)'s pages — venue, photographer, officiant, planner, florist, DJ. Tell us who you are and we will reach out with pricing and what the slot includes. No commitment.