Hyde County Marriage Records
Hyde County marriage records are maintained by the Register of Deeds in Swan Quarter, North Carolina. Hyde County was formed in 1705 and is one of the oldest counties in the state, giving it one of the longest records histories in North Carolina. Marriage bonds date from 1735 to 1867, and marriage licenses are available from 1850. This page explains how to access Hyde County marriage records in person or online, what fees apply, and where to find historical records for genealogical research.
Hyde County Quick Facts
Hyde County Register of Deeds
The Hyde County Register of Deeds is located at PO Box 294, Swan Quarter, NC 27885. The office phone number is (252) 926-4198. The Register handles marriage licenses, birth records, death records, and real estate documents for Hyde County. Certified copies of marriage records in Hyde County cost $15, which is higher than the standard fee in most North Carolina counties. Plan for this when budgeting your request.
Contact the office at (252) 926-4198 for the most current information on hours and procedures. The North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds at ncard.us provides a statewide directory of all county Register of Deeds offices if you need additional information about Hyde County or nearby offices.
| Office |
Hyde County Register of Deeds PO Box 294 Swan Quarter, NC 27885 Phone: (252) 926-4198 |
|---|---|
| License Fee | $60, cash only |
| Certified Copy | $15 (higher than most NC counties) |
| Marriage Records | Licenses from 1850; bonds from 1735-1867 |
| NCARD Directory | ncard.us - NC Registers of Deeds |
Marriage Licenses in Hyde County
Both applicants must appear together at the Register of Deeds in Swan Quarter to apply for a marriage license in Hyde County. The fee is $60 and must be paid in cash. No other forms of payment are accepted for the marriage license. Bring valid government-issued photo identification to your visit.
The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue and can be used for a ceremony anywhere in North Carolina. After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the completion portion of the license and returns it to the Hyde County Register of Deeds. The office records the marriage and files the certificate. Certified copies cost $15 in Hyde County, which is higher than the $10 standard charged by most other North Carolina counties.
Call (252) 926-4198 before visiting to confirm current office hours and any additional requirements. Swan Quarter is a small, rural community, so confirming hours in advance is especially important.
Historical Hyde County Marriage Records
Hyde County is one of North Carolina's oldest counties, formed in 1705. Its records collection reflects this long history. Marriage bonds from Hyde County date from 1735 to 1867, making them among the earliest marriage records in the state. These bonds predate the standard marriage license system. They served as a legal guarantee that no lawful impediment to the marriage existed.
Marriage licenses in Hyde County are available from 1850 onward. Together, the bonds and licenses give researchers access to more than two and a half centuries of marriage history in this coastal county. For historical materials, including the early marriage bonds, the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh is the key resource. The archives can be accessed at archives.ncdcr.gov.
Genealogists researching Hyde County family history will find the combination of local county records and the State Archives collection to be a strong foundation. Some early records have been microfilmed or digitized and may be available through the archives or through genealogical libraries.
Finding Hyde County Marriage Records Online
For current information on the marriage license process in Swan Quarter, contact the Hyde County Register of Deeds directly at (252) 926-4198 before your visit. The North Carolina Vital Records office at vitalrecords.nc.gov handles statewide marriage records from 1962 onward and can be another source for more recent Hyde County records.
The NC Vital Records office in Raleigh handles statewide marriage records from 1962 onward. For Hyde County records before 1962, the county Register of Deeds and the State Archives are the right places to search. The state office is at vitalrecords.nc.gov for more recent records.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Hyde County. Marriage records are filed where the ceremony took place, so confirm the county before requesting a copy.