Area Services
REGISTER TO VOTE
To be eligible to register to vote, you must be at least 18 years old by the next election and a permanent legal resident of the state and the precinct for at least 30 days prior to an election. Register to vote at the following location: Board of Elections Office, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, NC. You may call (910) 798-7330 or visit the web site, www.nhcgov.com. Forms are available at all county libraries.DRIVER’S LICENSE
Newcomers must obtain a driver’s license within 60 days of establishing a permanent residence. Newcomers should bring their out-of-state license, proof of Social Security number or ITN (Individual Tax Payer Number), proof of residency and proof of liability insurance to a testing station, where they must pass a written, road sign recognition and vision tests. All first-time applicants for driver’s licenses, learner’s permits and ID cards must provide proof of residency, and proof of age and identity. All applicants must provide proof of their full name, age, and their Social Security number. See the DMV website for details of accepted forms of identification. Road tests are given at the examiner’s discretion. Cash or personal checks may be accepted if drawn from a local North Carolina bank. North Carolina has a 5-year drivers license program. All drivers will renew their license when their age is evenly divisible by 5. Applicants less than 18 years old must have a “drivers eligibility certificate”, high school diploma or its equivalent to be eligible for a NC driving permit or license. For information: (919) 715-7000 or www.ncdot.org/dmv. Driver’s License Examining Stations are located at 1 Station Road, Wilmington, (910) 350-2005 or 2390-B 5 Carolina Beach Road, South Square Plaza, Wilmington, (910) 251-5747.INSPECTIONS
For new residents moving from out-of-state have 10 days after getting their NC auto tag to have their vehicle inspected and the inspection sticker displayed on their vehicle. Inspections are done at service stations throughout the community that display the official NC Inspection station sign. For information, call (910) 350-2007 or www.ncdot.org/dmvREGISTRATION
A newcomer usually has 30 days or when gainful employment is accepted, whichever occurs first, to register their vehicle. Regulations regarding vehicle registrations and license tags vary because some requirements are based on the regulations of a newcomer’s previous state of residence. To change an out-of-state title, an owner must show the title, and registration card from your prior state of residence, liability insurance company name, and policy number to certify coverage. For general recorded information, call (919) 715-7000 or www.ncdot.org/dmv. Registration locations are 2390 B-6 Carolina Beach Road, South Square Plaza, Wilmington, (910) 763-6752 or 13 South Kerr Avenue, Market Plaza Shopping Center, Wilmington, 910-397-0277.SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
Social Security Administration, 1528 S. 16th Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401. The office is open from 9-4 weekdays, phone (910) 815-4733. Information is available by telephone 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday at 1-800-772-1213. Application forms to get a new, replacement or revised card because of a name change may be picked up at the office. These will also be mailed if requested by phone. The application can be filed in person or mailed to the Wilmington office on North Front Street. Original identification is required. You can locate us on our web site, www.ssa.gov.PASSPORT APPLICATIONS
To obtain a passport, there are three locations, here in Wilmington, to apply. Wilmington Post Office, 152 N. Front Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401-3957, by appointment ONLY, call Mrs. Henderson at (910) 350-2622. The office is open from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday thru Friday, and there is photo availability on site. You may also visit the US Postal Service web site, www.usps.com/passport/ for more information regarding, first time applications, renewals, extra visa pages, etc.; Magnolia Station Post Office, 8207-P Market Street, Wilmington, NC, 28411, phone (910) 686-5192. The office is open from 10 am to 3:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. There is no photo availability on site; UNCW, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403, phone (910) 962-2008. There is photo availability on site (Auxiliary Services, in the Warwick Center) and the office is open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday thru Friday. You may visit the UNCW web site, www.uncw.edu/ba/onecard/passports.htm for more information. First-Time Applicants: Requirements – 1) Applicants must be a U.S. citizen. 2) All applicants MUST appear in person. 3) Effective 07/02/01, both parents must appear for minors age thirteen (13) and under. If parent is unable to appear, a notarized letter of consent or other legal documents must be presented at the time of applying. 4) Applicants age fourteen (14) and over must personally sign their passport application. Documentation – Submit any of the following documents that apply to you – 1) A certified birth certificate from the county or state in which you were born (hospital certificates are not acceptable). 2) A naturalization certificate or Report of Birth Abroad document. 3) A state or federal issued picture ID such as driver’s license, ID card or military ID. 4) Parental ID is required for children under the age of fourteen (14). 5) Two identical passport photos (sufficiently recent – normally not more than 6 months old – to be a good likeness of and satisfactorily identify the applicant) with a plain white or light-colored background, 2x2 inches in size, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair), should be no less than 1 inch and no more than 1-3/8 inches, and photographs should be in color. Renewals: You can renew by mail if; Your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged; you received the passport 15 years; you were over age 16 when it was issued; you still have the same name, or can legally document your name clearly. If your passport has been, altered or damaged, you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person. More information, regarding passports, may be obtained by visiting www.usps.com/passport/ or www.travel.state.gov. UNCW does not process renewal applications.LIBRARY CARDS
New Hanover County Public Library, 201 Chestnut Street, phone (910) 798-6301 or (910) 798-6300 or www.nhcgov.com. You will need to bring two pieces of identification; one should list a local address. Cards are free and updated yearly for people who live in New Hanover County. Cards are also free to residents of other counties who own and pay taxes on property in New Hanover County, proof of ownership is required. Anyone who lives outside New Hanover County and does not own property in the county may receive a card good for one year for $20. The library is open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday. A library card may also be obtained at the three branch libraries and can be used at the main branch libraries. The branch library at the Northeast Regional Library, 1241 Military Cut-off Road, (910) 798-6371 and the Myrtle Grove branch library at 5155 South College Road, (910) 798-6391, have the following hours: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, and closed on Sunday. The Carolina Beach branch library, located at 300 Cape Fear Blvd., Carolina Beach, (910) 798-6385 is open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, and closed on Sunday.MARRIAGE LICENSE
Branch of the Register of Deeds office at 216 N. 2nd Street, in the basement of the restored courthouse, Room 103. Phone (910) 798-4500. Cost: $50. Open 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Get marriage license within 60 days of wedding date. There is no waiting period, physical exam or blood test required. Couples must have valid identification: over 18, a driver’s license or a certified copy of a birth certificate or military ID; 12-17, parental permission; girls under 16 must have a doctor’s statement that she is at least 12 weeks pregnant. You can visit us on our web site, www.nhcgov.com for more information and to download forms.BIRTH CERTIFICATE COPIES
Branch of the Register of Deeds office at 216 N. 2nd Street, in the basement of the restored courthouse, room 103. Phone (910) 798-4530. A person born in New Hanover County must supply name, date of birth, father’s name and mother’s maiden name. Fee: $10 per copy. Open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Contact the Register or Deeds office for more information about restrictions on who may receive copies. Natives of North Carolina born in other counties may write to those counties for copies or to Vital Records Branch, Division or Health Services, P.O. box 29537, Raleigh, NC 27626. The state fee is $10. You can also visit our web site, www.nhcgov.com for more information and to download forms.PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Parents of children entering school as kindergartners or first graders in the New Hanover County School System must bring a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, immunization records, the child’s SS card and proof of address. Students transferring into the New Hanover County School System must bring proof of address as well as a copy of their most recent report card. The most recent standardized testing data is also helpful. The school your children should attend may be obtained by calling the Board of Education, (910) 763-5431 or www.nhcs.k12.nc.us. Call or check the website of your local school for the school calendar.SENIOR SERVICES
Meals on Wheels, Inc., (910) 798-6412New Hanover County Dept. of Aging, (910) 798-6400
New Hanover Transportation Services, (910) 798-6401