Which Office Holds Forsyth County Marriage and Divorce Records
The split is simple once you see it. Marriage licenses and certified marriage certificate copies come from the Forsyth County Register of Deeds. Divorce decrees and divorce filings are court records kept by the Clerk of Superior Court. The Register of Deeds page is direct about this. It tells the public that questions about Divorce Decrees, Estates, Foreclosures, Judgments, Liens, Wills, and Paternity all belong to the Forsyth County Clerk of Court Office.
So a wedding starts at the Register of Deeds. A divorce, and the decree it produces, lives with the court. The Register of Deeds also keeps the index of birth, death, and marriage records and issues certified copies of each. The clerk keeps the case file behind every divorce. Use the right office for the right record and the process moves fast.
Office split at a glance:
Marriage license and marriage certificate copies = Register of Deeds.
Divorce decree and divorce filing = Clerk of Superior Court, with the case heard in District Court.
Getting a Marriage License in Forsyth County
The license is issued by the Register of Deeds under Lynne Johnson. The office sits at 201 North Chestnut Street in Winston-Salem. You should get the license before the ceremony, not after. Apply within 60 days of your actual wedding date. An unused license expires once that window closes. A Forsyth license works in any North Carolina county, but only for a ceremony held in North Carolina. It is not valid for an out-of-state wedding.
Both parties should apply in person. If one cannot come, the absent party can use a notarized Affidavit in Lieu of Personal Appearance for a Marriage License. Anyone 18 or older may marry without parental consent. Each party needs a valid government photo ID and proof of a U.S. Social Security number, or an affidavit of ineligibility for one. After the ceremony, the completed license must be returned within 10 days. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but marriage-license applications are only taken from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The official requirements page lays out the rules used by Forsyth applicants, drawn from the marriage license requirements page.
That page is the best place to confirm hours and ID rules before you head downtown for a Forsyth County marriage license.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
A little prep makes the visit short. Both parties should plan to come during application hours, bring the right ID, and have divorce or death dates ready if a prior marriage applies. The application is available in the office and online.
- Both parties go to the Register of Deeds at 201 North Chestnut Street during application hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Bring a valid government photo ID and Social Security verification for each party. If one party cannot appear, bring a notarized Affidavit in Lieu of Personal Appearance.
- Give your full names, dates of birth, and prior-marriage details. A divorced applicant must know the month and year of the divorce.
- Pay the license fee. The base license is $60, and you can add a certified copy for a total of $70.
- Hold the ceremony within 60 days, then return the completed and signed license within 10 days after the wedding.
A magistrate can perform the ceremony for $50, cash only. Forsyth magistrates marry on Thursdays and Fridays. A Spanish interpreter appointment can be set by calling (336) 779-6319.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for identity, prior-marriage history, and proof of a Social Security number. The ID you need depends on your age, so the office uses a tiered rule. Here is what each party provides.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Yes | Both parties give full legal names as shown on photo ID. |
| Date of Birth | Yes | Used to apply the age-based ID rule below. |
| Government Photo ID | Yes | Valid ID for each party; ages 18-20 may also need a certified birth certificate. |
| Social Security Verification | Yes | U.S. Social Security number proof, or an affidavit of ineligibility. |
| Prior Marriage End Date | If applies | Divorced parties give month and year of divorce; if final within 30 days, bring the filed signed decree. |
| Date of Spouse Death | If applies | Required when a prior marriage ended by death. |
The ID rule changes by age. The table below tracks the official Forsyth requirements.
| Age | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 21 and older | Valid government photo ID plus Social Security verification. |
| 18-20 | Certified birth certificate, valid photo ID, and Social Security verification. |
| 16-17 | May marry a person no more than four years older with consent of a District Court judge, parent, guardian, or custodian, plus certified birth certificate, ID, and Social Security verification. |
| 14-15 | A certified court order from a District Court judge is required. |
| Under 14 | Cannot marry in North Carolina. |
Note: applicants ages 18-20 who lack a certified birth certificate may use other listed proofs such as a passport or medical record showing name and date of birth.
Forsyth County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Marriage fees are set and charged by the Register of Deeds. The license is a flat fee, and a certified copy adds a small amount. A magistrate ceremony is a separate charge and must be paid in cash. Divorce filing and certified divorce copy costs are court costs set by the state and collected by the clerk, so confirm current amounts with the courthouse before you rely on them.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $60 |
| Marriage license plus certified copy | $70 |
| Certified marriage certificate copy | $10 |
| Magistrate marriage ceremony | $50 cash only |
| Divorce filing and certified decree copy | Set by statewide court cost chart; confirm with the clerk |
Note: the magistrate ceremony fee is cash only and cannot be paid by card, so bring exact funds when you plan a courthouse wedding.
How to Look Up Forsyth County Marriage Records
Marriage records run through the Register of Deeds, which keeps the index and issues certified copies. Land records are imaged and searchable online at forsythdeeds.com, but the office does not post birth, death, or marriage certificate images online. That means a marriage certificate copy is ordered from the office, not pulled off a public web search. You can request by mail or in person.
To order a certified marriage copy you will give the names on the record, the marriage date, and your relationship or eligibility. North Carolina limits certified birth, death, and marriage certificates to eligible people, so a government ID is expected for restricted copies. The online record search is a useful first stop for deeds and other recorded instruments, shown on the online record search.
That search covers recorded documents, while vital-record copies like marriage certificates still come straight from the Register of Deeds office.
How to Find Forsyth County Divorce Records
Divorce is a District Court family matter, and the decree is a court record held by the Clerk of Superior Court. To find a Forsyth County divorce file, start with the statewide North Carolina eCourts Portal and run a Smart Search by party name. Once you have the case number, request a certified copy of the decree from the Forsyth Clerk. The portal shows the docket, but it is not the official record.
A divorce file may show the complaint, motions, orders, the final judgment of absolute divorce, and any related custody or support entries. Some parts are sensitive. Addresses, minor information, and certain filings can be redacted or sealed. The North Carolina Judicial Branch posts the absolute-divorce packet and the separation and divorce requirements that apply statewide. A look at the official help topic explains what a divorce involves, from the separation and divorce page.
That help topic is a good first read before you file or before you request a certified copy of a finished decree.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified copies matter for legal use. A name change, a passport, a benefit claim, or a court matter often needs a certified document, not a printout. For a marriage certificate, order the certified copy from the Register of Deeds. For a divorce decree, request the certified copy from the Clerk of Superior Court after you find the case file.
After a marriage, a name change is handled outside the courthouse. Bring a certified copy of the marriage license to the DMV and to the Social Security Administration to update your records. North Carolina divorce help and forms are posted on the divorce and marriage help page, which is the official starting point for both.
Register of Deeds Vital Records
In Forsyth County the Register of Deeds is the local vital-records office for marriage. It keeps the marriage index and issues certified marriage copies, along with birth and death certificates for events in the county. The office also records real estate and other instruments. For real estate questions the real estate general information page covers recording, while marriage stays on its own page.
Forsyth County Register of Deeds
201 North Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-2700
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; license hours to 4:30 PM
A view of the Register of Deeds home page shows where marriage and recording services begin, from the Register of Deeds page.
From that home page you can reach marriage license requirements, recording, and the online search for recorded documents.