Buncombe County Marriage and Divorce Records

Getting a Marriage License in Buncombe County

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds at 205 College Street in Asheville handles all marriage license applications. Both parties must appear in person together. There is no waiting period after issuance. The license is valid for 60 days from the date issued and can be used anywhere in North Carolina, not just in Buncombe County. After the ceremony, the officiant or the parties must return the completed license to the Register of Deeds within 10 days.

Licenses are issued from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Both people applying must bring a valid photo ID and their Social Security card. If a Social Security card is not available, the office accepts any document showing the full nine-digit SSN, such as a W-2 or tax form. If a person has never been issued a Social Security number and is not eligible for one, the Register provides an affidavit to sign and notarize on site. The license fee is $60, and it is paid at the time of application.

Online pre-application is also available. The Register's website lets applicants fill out most of the information from home before arriving, which can shorten the visit. That online step does not replace the required in-person appearance. Both parties still need to show up, show ID, and sign the application before the license is issued.

The Buncombe County Apply for a Marriage License page on the county website has the full current requirements and a link to the online pre-application form.

The page confirms the fee, ID requirements, and the option to start the application before coming in, all of which apply to every marriage license issued at 205 College Street.

How to Apply for a Marriage License in Buncombe County

The process is straightforward, but both people must be present and have the right documents. Gathering everything before arrival avoids a second trip. The Register's staff cannot accept incomplete ID sets, so verify what you need before coming in.

1. Start the online pre-application (optional but recommended). Visit the Register of Deeds website and complete the online marriage license application from home. This fills in basic personal data before you arrive and saves time at the counter. It does not replace the in-person visit.
2. Both parties appear together at 205 College Street. Arrive between 8 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Both applicants must be physically present. The Register will not issue the license to just one party.
3. Bring valid photo ID and Social Security documentation for each applicant. A driver's license or state ID works for photo ID. The SSN requirement is met by the Social Security card itself, a W-2, or another document with the full nine-digit number. If no SSN exists, ask staff for the affidavit option.
4. Review and sign the application. Staff verify the ID, confirm the information on the application, and have both parties sign. Previous marriage history is part of the record.
5. Pay the $60 fee. The license is issued on the spot after payment. No waiting period applies in North Carolina.
6. After the ceremony, return the signed license within 10 days. The officiant or the parties must return the completed, signed license to the Register of Deeds at 205 College Street. Late return can complicate the official record. The license is valid for 60 days from issuance, so the ceremony must happen within that window.

Note: Card payments for certificate purchases carry a $2 service charge; confirm current payment methods with the Register before arriving.

Buncombe County Marriage License Application Fields

When completing the online pre-application or the in-office form, both applicants provide personal information that becomes part of the official record. The Register of Deeds captures this data to generate the license and, after the ceremony, the permanent marriage record. The table below shows the major form sections from the Buncombe County application, based on the field inventory captured from the county's marriage license page.

Prior marriage history is also part of the record. If either applicant was previously married, the date and manner of dissolution (divorce, annulment, or death) must be provided. Staff verify ID against the application fields during the in-person visit.

Civil Ceremonies at the Buncombe County Courthouse

A magistrate can perform the marriage ceremony after the license is issued. In Buncombe County, civil ceremonies are held in Courtroom 2D on the second floor of the Buncombe County Courthouse, 60 Court Plaza, on Fridays from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. The Clerk accepts bookings between 9 AM and noon for ceremonies up to 90 days in advance through Microsoft Bookings. Ceremonies after 12:30 PM are walk-in, first-come, first-served.

Couples must bring two copies of the marriage license, $50 cash or money order in exact change, and two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. No other payment form is accepted for the ceremony fee. The courthouse security checkpoint at 60 Court Plaza requires arriving at least 30 minutes early, with bags scanned and everyone passing through a metal detector.

Magistrates are also available around the clock at the Buncombe County Detention Center, 20 Davidson Drive, Asheville. The 24-hour option at the detention facility does not require a Friday appointment and can serve couples who need a ceremony outside normal courthouse hours.

Buncombe County Marriage and Record Fees

The Register of Deeds publishes its fee schedule under N.C.G.S. 161-10. Marriage license and certificate fees are set by that statute and collected at 205 College Street. Divorce filing costs are set by statewide court cost rules and are paid to the Clerk of Superior Court at 60 Court Plaza. The table below covers fees relevant to marriage records; check with the Clerk for current court copy costs on divorce filings.

The full Register of Deeds fee schedule, covering deeds, plats, UCC, and other recorded instruments, is posted on the county's General Fees page.

That fee page confirms the $60 marriage license cost, $10 certified certificate fee, and the per-page copy rates that apply to all recorded instruments at the Register of Deeds.

How to Look Up Buncombe County Marriage Records

Certified marriage certificates are available from the Register of Deeds through three channels: in person, online, or by mail. The Register's office at 205 College Street handles in-person requests during normal business hours, 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. The Vital Records line is (828) 250-4300 and the Help Desk is (828) 250-4303.

For online requests, the Register uses the Personal Records Purchase website, which is linked from the Buncombe County marriage certificates page. That site lets requesters order a certified certificate and pay by card. Mail requests require a copy of valid photo ID, a check or money order for the fee, a completed Vital Records Request Form, and a stamped self-addressed envelope sent to the Register of Deeds, 205 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801.

Certified marriage certificates can only be issued to immediate family members or an authorized agent. Walk-in requesters must bring valid photo ID and payment. Online and mail requests follow the same eligibility rule. Uncertified copies are available at $0.25 per page for those who do not need a certified version and qualify under the open-records rules.

The Register of Deeds also holds online deed records going back to the late 1700s. Marriage records going back to historical periods may be found through the same online records system at registerofdeeds.buncombecounty.org. For general genealogy research, the Register's public search room is open 8 AM to 5 PM.

The county's Marriage Certificates page has the Vital Records Request Form link, the Personal Records Purchase link, and current instructions for all three request methods.

That page also lists the ID and eligibility requirements for certified records, which applies whether the request is made in person, online, or by mail.

How to Find Buncombe County Divorce Records

Divorce records are court records, not Register of Deeds records. The Buncombe County Register of Deeds FAQ specifically routes all divorce questions to the Clerk of Superior Court at (828) 259-3400. This is a common source of confusion, but the distinction is firm: marriage licenses and certificates are at 205 College Street; divorce filings are at 60 Court Plaza.

North Carolina divorce actions are District Court civil and family matters. They are searchable through the North Carolina eCourts Portal to the extent the records are public. The Portal's Smart Search lets users enter a party name in Last, First Middle Suffix format or a case number, then filter by Buncombe County under Advanced Filtering Options. Case type and filing date filters help narrow results for family court filings.

Common documents in a Buncombe County divorce file include the complaint, the civil summons, proof of service, the answer, any motions, child custody and support documents when applicable, equitable distribution filings, court orders, and the final judgment of absolute divorce. The final judgment is the official record that the marriage has been legally dissolved. Not all documents in a divorce file are public. Sensitive details about minors and certain financial account data may be redacted.

For people handling their own divorce case without an attorney, the N.C. Judicial Branch's Guide & File tool supports Absolute Divorce forms. Guide & File walks through the required questions and generates the filing documents. It does not provide legal advice, but it does help self-represented parties prepare the standard forms. Access Guide & File through the N.C. Judicial Branch services page.

Getting Certified Copies of Marriage and Divorce Records

A certified copy is the only version accepted for legal purposes such as name changes, passport applications, insurance changes, benefits claims, and immigration filings. An uncertified or unofficial copy does not carry the same legal weight. Knowing which office issues which type of record is the first step.

For certified marriage certificates, the issuing office is the Buncombe County Register of Deeds, 205 College Street. The fee is $10 per certified certificate. Immediate family members and authorized agents are eligible to request a certified copy. Others may request uncertified copies at $0.25 per page where open-records rules allow. The Vital Records phone line at the Register is (828) 250-4300.

For certified copies of divorce decrees and court judgments, the source is the Clerk of Superior Court at 60 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801. Court copy fees are set by statewide rules; call the Clerk at (828) 259-3400 for current amounts and processing times before submitting a request. Requests by mail should include the case number, the type of document needed, the requester's contact information, and a check or money order for the applicable fee.

For the broader public records framework and how to request copies of recorded instruments from the Register of Deeds, see the Buncombe County public records page.

Note: The Register of Deeds staff cannot give legal advice or tell a requester how to use a document. Questions about what a marriage or divorce record legally means should go to an attorney.

Buncombe County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds is the primary office for marriage licenses, certified marriage certificates, and vital records in Buncombe County. It is not the court and does not handle divorce, probate, or court filings of any kind. The Register holds land records going back to the late 1700s, real property records, plats, assumed business names, UCC filings, notary oaths, military discharges, and birth, death, and marriage certificates. It is a separate office from the courthouse at 60 Court Plaza.

The office has a Spanish-language phone line at (828) 250-4307 for Spanish-speaking visitors. Register staff can validate up to one hour of parking in the Buncombe County Parking Deck at 164 College Street for Register visitors. Documents submitted to the Recording Department by 4:45 PM are recorded the same business day. For online records searches, the Register's public search portal is at registerofdeeds.buncombecounty.org.

Related Buncombe County Records

Marriage and divorce records connect to several other record types kept in Buncombe County. Estate and probate filings that follow a death, including wills, guardianships, and estate administration, are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court as judge of probate. For details on those filings, see the Buncombe County probate records page.

Court records that document the divorce proceedings, including motions, orders, and the final judgment, are searchable through the eCourts Portal and available for certified copy through the Clerk of Superior Court. The Clerk's office manages 63 employees across 12 divisions and nine courthouse floors, including the probate and family court divisions that handle divorce and guardianship matters.

For questions about other recorded instruments at the Register of Deeds, including deeds, plats, and assumed business names, see the Register of Deeds page. For the public records framework that governs access to all county records, including how to submit a formal request, see the Buncombe County public records page. For the full eCourts search walkthrough and case record details, see the court records page.