Currituck County Marriage Records

Currituck County marriage records are held at the Register of Deeds in Currituck, North Carolina. One of the oldest counties in the state, Currituck was established as a precinct of Albemarle County in 1668. The name comes from an Algonquian word meaning land of wild geese, a fitting name for this coastal region known for its waterfowl. Marriage records begin in 1777, and land records in the county reach back to 1670. The Register of Deeds in Currituck is the official keeper of all marriage documents filed in this northeastern coastal county.

Currituck County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds office is located at 153 Courthouse Road in Currituck. The phone number is (252) 232-3294. Office hours run Monday through Friday during standard business hours. The Register of Deeds maintains all marriage licenses and certificates for Currituck County and can assist with both in-person and mail requests.

Currituck County includes portions of the Outer Banks barrier islands and the mainland communities along Currituck Sound. The county's distinctive geography, split between the Outer Banks and the mainland, is reflected in its historical records. Families from both the barrier island communities and the inland areas appear in the marriage record collection. The county has no history of courthouse fires, which means the records are intact and continuous from 1777.

History of Currituck County Marriage Records

Currituck County's origins trace back to 1668, when it was established as a precinct of the colonial Albemarle settlement. The name Currituck derives from an Algonquian word describing the wild geese that have historically gathered along the county's coastal wetlands. The county was formally organized as Currituck County later, with marriage records beginning in 1777.

Land records in Currituck County reach back to 1670, among the oldest county-level land records in North Carolina. This extraordinary longevity means families who settled this coastal area in the very earliest years of colonial North Carolina may be traceable through Currituck County documents. Marriage records from 1777 forward are complete and unbroken, which is a significant advantage for colonial and early American genealogy research.

Early marriage records from Currituck County follow the bond-and-license system. The bondsman named in the early marriage bonds was typically a male relative of the bride. Cross-referencing these bonds with the county's long land record collection can help establish property and family relationships that span generations. The State Archives in Raleigh holds supplemental materials and transcriptions for early Currituck County vital records.

Accessing Currituck County Marriage Records

Visit the Register of Deeds at 153 Courthouse Road in Currituck during business hours to request copies in person. Bring both parties' names and the approximate year of the marriage. Staff will search the index and provide the record. Payment is made at the time of pickup.

Mail requests are accepted. Write to the Currituck County Register of Deeds at the address above. Include both parties' names, the year, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Call (252) 232-3294 to confirm current fees before sending payment. The office processes requests and mails copies back to you.

For Currituck County marriages from 1962 onward, the NC Vital Records office in Raleigh also holds copies. For all other years, the local office in Currituck is the primary source. The North Carolina State Archives is the best resource for the earliest records and for any supplemental research on colonial-era Currituck County families.

Marriage Licenses in Currituck County

Both people who plan to marry must appear together at the Register of Deeds in Currituck. Neither needs to be a Currituck County resident. Under NCGS 51-6, a license from any North Carolina county is valid for a ceremony anywhere in the state. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue.

Valid government-issued photo ID is required from both applicants. Under NCGS 51-8, both must be at least 18 years old without a court order. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the certificate and returns it to the Register of Deeds within the time required by NCGS 130A-93. The filed certificate then becomes the official Currituck County marriage record.

The Outer Banks and Currituck County Marriage Records

Currituck County includes part of the Outer Banks, the chain of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast. This portion of the Outer Banks, sometimes called the Currituck Outer Banks, includes communities such as Corolla and Carova Beach. Weddings in these barrier island communities are filed with the Currituck County Register of Deeds in Currituck, just like any other marriage in the county.

The Outer Banks has become a popular destination for weddings, and couples from across the country often choose to marry in the scenic barrier island environment. These destination weddings are documented in Currituck County marriage records, adding an interesting dimension to the recent decades of the county's record collection. If you were married on the Currituck Outer Banks, your record is at the Register of Deeds in Currituck on the mainland.

Historically, the barrier island communities of Currituck County were home to families who fished, hunted waterfowl, and kept livestock on the islands for generations. These isolated communities developed distinct family networks, and tracing them through the marriage records can reveal fascinating patterns of intermarriage and social organization in a unique coastal environment. The Currituck County Library and local historical societies may hold supplemental genealogical resources specific to these communities.

Nearby Counties

Currituck County borders several northeastern North Carolina counties. Each has its own Register of Deeds and marriage record collection.