Current Processing Times for Vital Records Certificates

Due to request volume, processing time for standard orders for birth certificates from 1971 to present may take up to 3 weeks. Standard orders for other types of certificates may take up to 12 weeks. Requests that are accompanied by an expedite fee are usually processed within 3 business days from the time N.C. Vital Records receives the request.

Requests to change a record, such as adoptions, amendments, legitimations and paternities, will take longer, depending upon the process required. Requests to change a record that are accompanied by an expedite fee will be processed as quickly as possible, but may take up to two weeks.

Same Day Service

We offer same-day expedited service at our walk-in window at our Raleigh location.
Office Hours for Walk-In Service are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM.
Main Switchboard Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. (see Contact Us)

Other Options

Vital event certificates may be obtained more quickly at the Register of Deeds (ROD) office in the county where the event took place.

What You Can Get Here

• Birth Certificates: 1913-Present
• Death Certificates: 1930-Present
• Marriage Certificates: 1962-Present
• Divorce Certificates: 1958-Present
• Fetal Death Reports: 2001-Present

Order a certificate. Need older records? Here is some information that could help.

Quick Links

• Change a record (paternities entered on birth certificates, court-ordered name changes, etc.)
• Delayed birth certificates