{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-51-2","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 51-2","heading":"Lawful age to marry.","body":"(a)\tAll unmarried persons of 18 years, or older, may lawfully marry.\n(a1)\tPersons over 16 years of age and under 18 years of age may marry a person no more than four years older, and the register of deeds may issue a license for the marriage, only after there has been filed with the register of deeds a certified copy of an order issued by a district court authorizing the marriage as provided in G.S. 51-2.1, or a written consent to the marriage, said consent having been signed by the appropriate person as follows:\n(1)\tBy a parent having full or joint legal custody of the underage party; or\n(2)\tBy a person, agency, or institution having legal custody or serving as a guardian of the underage party.\nSuch written consent shall not be required for an emancipated minor if a certificate of emancipation issued pursuant to Article 35 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes or a certified copy of a final decree or certificate of emancipation from this or any other jurisdiction is filed with the register of deeds.\n(b)\tRepealed by Session Laws 2021-119, s. 1, effective August 26, 2021, and applicable to marriage licenses pending or issued on or after that date.\n(b1)\tIt shall be unlawful for any person under 16 years of age to marry.\n(c)\tWhen a license to marry is procured by any person under 18 years of age by fraud or misrepresentation, a parent of the underage party, a person, agency, or institution having legal custody or serving as a guardian of the underage party, or a guardian ad litem appointed to represent the underage party pursuant to G.S. 51-2.1(b) is a proper party to bring an action to annul the marriage. (R.C., c. 68, s. 14; 1871-2, c. 193; Code, s. 1809; Rev., s. 2082; C.S., s. 2494; 1923, c. 75; 1933, c. 269, s. 1; 1939, c. 375; 1947, c. 383, s. 2; 1961, c. 186; 1967, c. 957, s. 1; 1969, c. 982; 1985, c. 608; 1998-202, s. 13(s); 2001-62, s. 2; 2001-487, s. 60; 2021-119, s. 1.)","path":["Chapter 51. Marriage.","Article 1. General Provisions."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_51/GS_51-2.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:04:47Z","sha256":"62d44d9e4c4851c90f0afc0c13cdd6bf4af7abed711dd0f516e86ebf6f08aa76","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-51-1.2","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-51-2.1"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}