NC Vital Records: Adoptions Process and Forms
How do I begin an adoption in North Carolina?
Contact the Clerk of Superior Court (Adoption Clerk or Special Proceedings) in the county where you reside. Inquire how to start the adoption process or have your attorney do so.
In-State Adoptions
Before the NC Office of Vital Records (NCOVR) can prepare a new birth certificate for your child, the Clerk of Superior Court must approve and grant the adoption, then it will be indexed and reviewed by the NC Division of Social Services (DSS).
Within 40 days of receiving orders from the Clerk of Superior Court, DSS transmits the report to Vital Records for each adoption. This report provides information NCOVR needs to prepare new birth certificates.
Per NC General Statute 48-9-107, the birth certificate must have the following information:
- Adoptee's full adoptive name, sex, state of birth, and date of birth.
- Full name of adoptive father, if applicable.
- Full maiden name of the adoptive mother, if applicable.
- Any other pertinent information as may be determined by the State Registrar.
The report to Vital Records must be a certified true original with seal. It must not be missing any dates or the Clerk of Superior Court's signature.
Once an adoption has been processed by NCOVR, adoptive parents must apply with NCOVR to obtain a copy of the new birth certificate, using the Adoptions Processing Form. (Fees apply.)
Out-of-State Adoptions
DSS does not send NCOVR out-of-state court orders for adoptions. Therefore, this process will vary based on how we receive the court order.
It is up to you or your attorney to send NCOVR the certified out-of-state court order for your adoption.
- If your application does not include the court order, we will send a letter to you or your attorney.
- If the adoptive parents' dates and places of birth are not on the legal documents, then we may ask for the parents' birth certificates.
The birth certificate must contain the same information as required by NC General Statute 48-9-107 (see the list above under In-State Adoptions). Please submit the Adoptions Processing Form with your package. (Fees apply.)
Once an adoption has been processed by NCOVR, adoptive parents must apply to obtain a copy of the new birth certificate, using the Adoptions Processing Form. (Fees apply.)
Foreign-Born Adoptions
For international adoptions, we will create a Certificate of Identification for Child of Foreign Birth (not a birth certificate) per NC General Statute 130A-108.
For adopted children who are readopted in North Carolina, DSS sends a report to NCOVR. These are sent in the same manner as in-state cases (see the list above under In-State Adoptions).
DSS will not send anything to NCOVR if the adoption took place out of the country, and the child was not readopted in NC. NCOVR can still create a Certificate of Identification, however.
Please compete the required worksheet and application for requesting a Certificate of Identification. (Fees apply.)
The Certificate of Identification must contain the same information as required by NC General Statute 48-9-107 (see the list above under In-State Adoptions), except the country of birth will be listed in lieu of the state of birth.
Who can request a copy of an adoptee's birth certificate?
Per 48-9-107(c), the State Registrar shall provide certified copies to the adoptee, adoptee's children, adoptive parent(s), or adoptee's spouse, brothers, and sisters.
- A signed application with valid identification is also required. (Fees apply.)
- Attorneys may request with notarized letter from one of the individuals listed above authorizing release of the record. Please send NCOVR the original notary statement with a seal.
Associated Fees
- NCOVR cannot accept cash, credit cards, or personal checks.
- Payment must be in the form of a certified check or money order made payable to NC Vital Records.
- NC General Statute 130A-93.1 requires a fee of $24.00 for routine search of files and includes one certifed copy of a birth certificate.
- NC Administrative Code 10A 41H.0704 requires a processing fee of $15.00 to process an adoption.
- Please complete the relevant documents as detailed in previous instructions and send payment with a copy of your valid photo identification.
Contact Us
Phone: (919) 733-3000
Last Modified: March 21, 2023