Are same-sex marriages recognized under North Carolina law?

Same-sex marriages are recognized under North Carolina law following a significant U.S. Supreme Court ruling. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court decided in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right protected under the Fourteenth Amendment. This ruling invalidated state bans on same-sex marriage, including those in North Carolina, thereby requiring all states to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other jurisdictions.

As a result of this ruling, same-sex couples in North Carolina can marry and have their marriages recognized as valid under state law, just like opposite-sex couples. The change represents a critical shift towards equality in marriage rights, ensuring that same-sex couples receive the same legal benefits associated with marriage as any other couple.

The other options do not accurately reflect the current law: the first option suggests a complete lack of recognition, which is outdated; the second implies that recognition is limited to specific areas, which does not align with the ruling's implications; and the fourth incorrectly suggests that registration with the state is a requirement for recognition, which is not the case following the landmark ruling.