Edgecombe County Marriage Records

Edgecombe County marriage records are kept by the Register of Deeds in Tarboro, North Carolina. The office holds marriage licenses and certificates with records going back to 1867, and it also maintains a Marriage Register from 1867 to 1937 at the courthouse. You can order records online through the Permitium portal, request them by mail, or visit the office in person. This guide explains how to find and request Edgecombe County marriage records for legal, personal, or genealogical purposes.

Edgecombe County Register of Deeds

The Edgecombe County Register of Deeds is located at 301 Saint Andrews Street, PO Box 386, Tarboro, NC 27886. The phone number is (252) 641-7924. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Staff handle marriage license applications, certified copy requests, and vital records inquiries. The Register is the official custodian of all marriage records in Edgecombe County and maintains the records as required by North Carolina law.

Edgecombe County was formed in 1741 from Bertie County, making it one of the older counties in the state. The county seat of Tarboro is one of the oldest incorporated towns in North Carolina. Marriage records at the Register of Deeds date from 1867, with a bound Marriage Register from 1867 to 1937 held at the courthouse for public review. Records from 1867 onward cover the full scope of marriages recorded in Edgecombe County, and staff can search by name for any year within that range.

Order Edgecombe County Marriage Records Online

The Edgecombe County Register of Deeds offers online ordering for certified copies of vital records through Permitium. This third-party platform allows you to submit a request and pay without coming to the office. A $3.35 convenience fee applies to all online orders. The service is available at any time and orders are processed by the office during regular business hours. This is a good option for people who cannot visit in person or who need to request copies from outside the area.

To place an online order through Permitium, you will need the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage. Under NCGS 130A-93, certified copies are available to qualified applicants including the parties to the marriage, their legal representatives, and certain others. The online system will ask you to verify your eligibility before processing the request. Payment by credit or debit card is accepted through the portal.

For those who prefer traditional methods, mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request to the Edgecombe County Register of Deeds, PO Box 386, Tarboro, NC 27886. Include full names, date of marriage, your contact information, and a money order for the copy fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can return the copies to you.

Edgecombe County Marriage License Requirements

Couples applying for a marriage license in Edgecombe County must visit the Register of Deeds office in Tarboro. The office provides marriage license requirements in both English and Spanish, which is a useful feature for couples where one or both parties are more comfortable reading Spanish. Both applicants must appear together under NCGS 51-8, present valid photo ID, and provide Social Security numbers and dates of birth.

Under NCGS 51-16, prior marriages must be documented. Bring a certified copy of any divorce decree or a death certificate if a former spouse is deceased. The Register will verify this before issuing the license. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days anywhere in North Carolina under NCGS 51-6. After the ceremony, the officiant submits the completed license back to the office, which records it and makes certified copies available to the parties.

Historical Edgecombe County Marriage Records

The Marriage Register from 1867 to 1937 held at the Edgecombe County courthouse is a significant resource for genealogists. This bound register covers the period immediately after the Civil War through the early 20th century and contains entries for marriages recorded in the county during that time. Researchers can review it in person at the courthouse during business hours. The register provides names, dates, and in many cases additional details about the parties involved.

For records before 1867 or for materials that may not be at the county level, the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh is the next place to look. The archives hold marriage bonds, deed abstracts, and other materials from Edgecombe County going back to the colonial period. The county was formed from Bertie County in 1741, so very early records may trace back to Bertie. The archives can be searched at archives.ncdcr.gov. The North Carolina courts website also provides information about Edgecombe County at nccourts.gov/locations/edgecombe-county.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Edgecombe County. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, confirm where the ceremony took place.