Perhaps the most important decision one ever makes is the decision to marry. Certainly it greatly affects a person's personal happiness and future. But society at large also has an interest in marriage because marriage is the foundation of the family. To protect society's interest in the institution of marriage, therefore, each state has enacted laws designed to ensure both the legality and the stability of the marriage union.
Many couples view marriage as a serious religious or spiritual commitment.
It is also a legal contract. Marriages are usually entered into on the basis of a couple's love, faith, and trust in each other, not on the basis of carefully drafted and negotiated documents. Nevertheless, marriage has many legal consequences that people who are about to marry should realize. The purpose of this pamphlet is to help you understand North Carolina marriage laws and some of the legal matters that may affect the lives of any married couple. Eligibility North Carolina law establishes legal limitations concerning marriage that deal with age and blood relationships.