GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

SESSION LAW 2015-53

SENATE BILL 311

AN ACT to ensure the integrity of marriage records presented for registration.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 2 of Chapter 161 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 161‑14.03.  Registration of documents purporting to impact official marriage records.

(a) Prior to recording a document or instrument that (i) purports to impact an official record of marriage meeting the requirements of G.S. 51‑16 and (ii) is not a marriage license, a return, or an amendment or correction of a marriage license as described in Article 2 of Chapter 51 of the General Statutes, the register of deeds shall conspicuously mark the first page of the document or instrument with the following statement:

"THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL MARRIAGE DOCUMENT."

(b) This section shall not apply to instruments or documents that are attached as exhibits to land records, orders or judgments issued by a court of this State or another state, or separation agreements presented for registration."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 28^th day of May, 2015.

                                                                    s/  Daniel J. Forest

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Pat McCrory

                                                                         Governor

Approved 8:30 a.m. this 4^th day of June, 2015