Washington County Marriage Records

Washington County marriage records are held by the Register of Deeds in Plymouth, North Carolina. The office keeps marriage records from 1799 and birth and death records from 1913. Washington County is among the oldest counties in North Carolina, and its records span more than two centuries. This page explains how to find Washington County marriage records, how to apply for a license in Plymouth, and how to request certified copies from the Register of Deeds.

Washington County Register of Deeds

The Washington County Register of Deeds is located at 120 Adams Street, Plymouth, NC 27962. The phone number is (252) 793-5823. Staff handle marriage licenses, vital records, and certified copy requests. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The county government website at washconc.org provides additional department information.

Washington County was established in 1799 from Tyrrell County. It was named for President George Washington. Plymouth serves as the county seat and is located near the Roanoke River in the Inner Coastal Plain region. Marriage records at the Register of Deeds date from 1799, the year the county was formed. More than 225 years of marriage history for Washington County families is preserved in this office.

Washington County Marriage License Application

Both applicants must appear in person to apply for a marriage license in Washington County. Visit the Register of Deeds office at 120 Adams Street in Plymouth. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for each person. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and information about any prior marriages.

Under N.C.G.S. 51-16, applicants who were previously married must provide proof of how that marriage ended. A certified copy of a divorce decree or a death certificate is required. The license fee is $60, paid at the time of application. The license is valid for 60 days anywhere in North Carolina once issued, per N.C.G.S. 51-6.

After the ceremony, the person who performed the marriage must complete the license and return it to the Washington County Register of Deeds. The office then records the marriage. Certified copies may be requested after the record is filed.

Washington County Marriage Records Copies

Certified copies of Washington County marriage records are available from the Register of Deeds. In-person requests are handled at 120 Adams Street in Plymouth during regular business hours. Bring photo ID and the names of both parties along with the approximate year of the marriage. Staff will search the records and provide copies during your visit.

Mail requests are also accepted by the office. Write to the Washington County Register of Deeds, 120 Adams Street, Plymouth, NC 27962. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, a return address, and a money order for the appropriate fee. Do not send cash. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can return your copies.

North Carolina law under N.C.G.S. 130A-93 limits certified copy issuance to the parties to the marriage and certain other qualified individuals. Call (252) 793-5823 if you have questions about eligibility before submitting a request.

Search Washington County Marriage Records Online

The Washington County government website at washconc.org provides information about the Register of Deeds and available records. Check the site for current details about online tools and what records can be searched remotely. For certified copies, contact the office directly regardless of the research method used.

North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh holds statewide records from 1962 to the present. Visit vitalrecords.nc.gov for instructions on ordering state-level records. For Washington County marriages before 1962, the Register of Deeds in Plymouth is the primary source. The state archives at archives.ncdcr.gov may also hold early Washington County materials useful for genealogical research.

Historical Marriage Records in Washington County

Washington County's marriage records begin in 1799. This makes the Register of Deeds a key resource for researchers working on family history in the northeastern Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Records from the early nineteenth century include marriage bonds and registers that predate the modern license system.

Marriage bonds were used in North Carolina before licenses became standard practice. These documents typically list the groom, a bondsman, and sometimes relatives. The North Carolina State Archives at archives.ncdcr.gov holds older materials from Washington County that may complement what is held at the county office. Genealogists should check both sources when researching records from the 1800s and earlier.

Third-party databases such as FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexed portions of North Carolina county records. These can serve as a useful starting point. Certified copies for legal purposes must come from the Washington County Register of Deeds or the state Vital Records office in Raleigh.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County. If you are not sure which county holds the record you need, check where the ceremony took place or where the license was issued.