If you plan to marry in North Carolina, you can get a marriage license from the Register of Deeds in any county. In most cases, both partners must go to the Register of Deeds office, while some counties allow online applications to be submitted before going to the office to save time. The fee is $60 for individuals and $120 for couples. After you receive your license, you will need to take it to a local register's office where a wedding ceremony can be held. If one of you lives in another state, you will also need to provide proof that you are legally married elsewhere. The required documentation varies depending on what type of license you obtained. For example, if you got married in another state but want to make your marriage valid in North Carolina, then that other state needs to issue you a "declaration of marriage" which is called proof of marital status in North Carolina. Wedding certificates are issued by each individual county or city that participates in the program. Some counties require that you attend an instructional class to become certified by the County Clerk. Other counties may have someone available at the register's office to help you prepare your forms and witness your signature. In Cherokee County, there is a residency requirement to be eligible to obtain a marriage license. Persons who reside more than 25 miles away from the Register's Office should apply for a license through the County Agent's Office.