Johnston County Marriage Records

Johnston County marriage records are maintained by the Register of Deeds at the Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield, North Carolina. Craig Olive serves as Register of Deeds. The office keeps marriage licenses, certified copies, and vital records for Johnston County. Marriage license appointments are required on weekdays. Vital records copies can be requested without an appointment. This page explains the process for getting Johnston County marriage records, including hours, procedures, and the Fraud Guard property protection service.

Johnston County Register of Deeds

The Johnston County Register of Deeds is located at the Johnston County Courthouse, 207 E. Johnston Street, Suite 209, Smithfield, NC 27577. Craig Olive is the Register of Deeds. The office phone number is (919) 989-5160. The office handles all vital records for Johnston County, including marriage licenses, birth records, and death records. It also maintains real estate records for the county.

Marriage license appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Appointments are required; walk-in service is not offered for license applications. For vital records requests such as certified copies of marriage records, no appointment is needed. Those services run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM. Visit the official Register of Deeds page at johnstonnc.com/registerofdeeds for current information on hours and services.

Getting a Marriage License in Johnston County

Both applicants must appear together at the Register of Deeds in Smithfield to apply for a marriage license. You must schedule an appointment in advance. Call (919) 989-5160 to set a time between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM on a weekday. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for both applicants. The standard North Carolina marriage license fee applies at time of visit.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date issued and can be used for a ceremony anywhere in North Carolina. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license and returns it to the Johnston County Register of Deeds. The office records the marriage and the certificate becomes part of the county's permanent vital records. Certified copies of the Johnston County marriage record can be requested after the record is filed.

Johnston County Marriage Records Copies

Certified copies of Johnston County marriage records can be requested at the Register of Deeds without an appointment. The office handles these requests Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM. Bring photo identification and the names of both parties along with an approximate date of marriage. Staff will search the records and provide copies. Payment is accepted at the time of the request.

Mail requests are also an option. Send a written request to 207 E. Johnston Street, Suite 209, Smithfield, NC 27577 with the full names of both parties, the date of marriage, a money order made payable to the Register of Deeds, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Do not send cash by mail. The office will process requests and mail copies to you.

For the most current fee amounts and any updates to procedures, call the office at (919) 989-5160 before submitting a request.

Johnston County Fraud Guard Property Protection

The Johnston County Register of Deeds offers Fraud Guard, a service powered by Tyler Technologies. Fraud Guard monitors your property records and sends alerts if any document is recorded against your property. This is a tool to help Johnston County property owners protect against fraudulent deed filings.

You can sign up for Fraud Guard at johnstonnc.com/fraudguard. The service is available to any Johnston County property owner. It is a separate service from marriage records but is offered through the same Register of Deeds office. If you are requesting marriage records and also own property in Johnston County, it is worth reviewing the Fraud Guard enrollment option at the same time.

Historical Marriage Records in Johnston County

Johnston County was established in 1746. Its marriage records reflect a long history in the eastern Piedmont and coastal plain region of North Carolina. Researchers working on nineteenth-century family history in Johnston County should start with the Register of Deeds for records from 1868 onward, and the State Archives for earlier materials.

The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh holds historical marriage records from many counties including Johnston. For records before statewide vital registration began, the archives at archives.ncdcr.gov may have marriage bonds, registers, or indexes that supplement county records. The archives staff can help you understand what is available for the time period you are researching.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Johnston County. If you are not sure which county holds the record you need, check where the marriage ceremony took place.