Person County Marriage Records

Person County marriage records are held at the Register of Deeds in Roxboro, North Carolina. The county was formed in 1791 from Caswell County, and marriage records date from 1792. The Register of Deeds office at 105 S. Main Street in Roxboro is the official source for all marriage licenses, certificates, and vital documents in Person County. Whether you need a copy for legal purposes or are researching family history, this office has records spanning more than two centuries.

Person County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds is the official keeper of marriage records in Person County. The office is located at 105 S. Main Street in Roxboro. Staff can search records by name and issue certified copies during regular business hours. The office handles marriage licenses, vital records, deed filings, and UCC filings.

Person County is named for Thomas Person, a notable figure in Revolutionary War-era North Carolina. Person was a patriot, military officer, and politician who played an active role in North Carolina's early government. The county was formed from Caswell County in 1791, the year the first United States Congress was seated. Marriage records here begin in 1792, giving the collection more than two hundred years of continuous documentation.

Roxboro is a modest-sized city in the Piedmont region near the Virginia border. The courthouse and Register of Deeds office serve all of Person County, including smaller communities throughout the rural parts of the county. Call (336) 597-1721 to reach the office directly for questions about specific records or services.

History of Person County Marriage Records

Person County was formed from Caswell County in 1791 and named for Thomas Person. Thomas Person was a staunch patriot who served in the Revolutionary War and in the North Carolina colonial assembly. He later helped fund the establishment of a university that became the University of North Carolina. The county honors his legacy with its name.

Marriage records begin in 1792, one year after the county's formation. Early records are handwritten entries in ledger books, typical of the period. Marriage bonds were the standard instrument for recording marriages in colonial and early statehood North Carolina. A bond required a financial surety who guaranteed there was no legal impediment to the marriage. The bondsman was often the bride's father or another close male relative.

Bond records from Person County's earliest years are held at the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh. The State Archives also holds microfilm copies of many county register collections. Researchers looking for Person County records before the Civil War should check both the local Register of Deeds and the State Archives. The Archives can be reached at 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.

Getting Person County Marriage Record Copies

Visit the Register of Deeds at 105 S. Main Street in Roxboro to request copies in person. Bring both parties' names and the approximate year of the marriage. Staff will search the index and prepare copies on the spot.

Mail requests are also accepted. Include the names of both spouses, the approximate year, your mailing address, and payment for the applicable fee. Call (336) 597-1721 to confirm current copy fees and what forms of payment are accepted before mailing your request to the Person County Register of Deeds.

For marriages in Person County from 1962 onward, the North Carolina Vital Records office in Raleigh is a secondary source for certified copies. For marriages before 1962, the county Register of Deeds is the primary source. The State Archives may hold supplemental collections for very early records.

Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, officiants are required to return the completed marriage certificate to the Register of Deeds within 10 days of the ceremony. This ensures timely creation of Person County marriage records.

Marriage Licenses in Person County

Both applicants must appear in person at the Register of Deeds office together to apply for a marriage license. No residency in Person County is required. Under N.C.G.S. 51-6, a license issued in Person County is valid for use anywhere in North Carolina.

Both parties must present valid government-issued photo identification. Both must be at least 18 years old under N.C.G.S. 51-2. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If the wedding does not occur within that window, the couple must apply for a new license.

After the ceremony takes place, the officiant signs the completed certificate and returns it to the Person County Register of Deeds. The office records the document and issues certified copies upon request. This returned certificate becomes the official permanent record of the marriage.

Vital Records at the Person County Register

The Register of Deeds in Person County handles more than just marriage records. Birth and death records are also maintained at this office, forming the core of the county's vital records system. These documents are important for genealogical research as well as for current legal needs.

The North Carolina DHHS maintains a statewide database of vital records from 1962 forward. For Person County marriages before 1962, the local office is the authoritative source. Researchers working on pre-statehood records should check with the North Carolina State Archives, which holds collections predating formal county organization across much of the state. Call (336) 597-1721 to reach the Person County Register of Deeds with any questions about record availability and access.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Person County. Each has its own Register of Deeds office with a separate marriage record collection.