N.C. Public Health, Health and Human Services
DHHS DPH NC Vital Records Order a Certificate

NC Vital Records: Order a Certificate

Place an Order

  • Walk-in (in-person) service is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
  • If you need to change an existing record, see the Change a Record page.

Follow the guidance below to place a standard order for a certificate (birth, death, marriage, divorce, or fetal death report). Forms, processing times, typical fees, payment, and mailing instructions are included.

  1. Complete, Print, and Sign the Appropriate Form

If you are looking for another vital record form, please see the forms page or contact us at 919-733-3000.

Standard Ordering Forms

Birth Certificate Application Form

Death, Marriage, and Divorce Certificate Application Form

Report of Fetal Death and Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth Application Form

You will need a PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, to use the forms and save copies to your machine. Note that not all web browsers handle opening of PDF files in the same manner. If you have problems opening the form from your web browser, try downloading or saving the document to your computer first (right-click on the link and select "Save link as") and then opening the saved document on your machine from within your PDF reader (i.e., File > Open).

  2. Choose Service (Standard, Expedited)

Walk-in (In-Person) service is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.

 Standard Service

Processing Times

Due to current request volume, the processing times for non-expedited standard orders (for births and other certificates that require no changes) are significantly delayed and will be processed in the order received. 

To place an order using standard service:

  • Complete, print, and sign the appropriate form as indicated above in Step 1.
  • Include a $24 money order, certified check, or business check (not a personal check) for the first copy of the certificate and $15 for each additional certificate.
    • Make payment to "NC Vital Records".
    • Do NOT send cash.
    • Do NOT send overpayment, as it may result in processing delays.

Mail the completed, signed form and payment to:

North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

If no record is found, you will be sent a letter. The $24 search fee is nonrefundable even if a record is not located.

 Expedited Service

Processing Times

We attempt to process expedited standard orders (for births and other certificates that require no changes) within 30 business days of receipt. Please note, however, that processing times may vary depending on request volume.

There are currently 2 ways to get expedited service.

 1. Faster Processing and/or Delivery through US Mail, UPS, or FedEx

You can go through the steps for mail-in service but choose to pay more for faster processing and/or faster delivery.

  • Complete, print, and sign the appropriate form as indicated above in Step 1.
  • Include a money order, certified check, or business check (not a personal check) for all applicable fees, including shipping, as described on the forms.
    • Make payment to "NC Vital Records".
    • Do NOT send cash.
    • Do NOT send overpayment, as it may result in processing delays.
  • Write "Expedite" on the outside front of the envelope.

Send to NC Vital Records through US Mail

Mail the completed, signed form and payment to:

North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

Write "Expedite" on the outside front of envelope.

Or Send to NC Vital Records via UPS or FedEx

Mail the completed, signed form and payment to:

N.C. Vital Records
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, N.C. 27603-1382

Write "Expedite" on the outside front of envelope.

Typical Fee Breakdowns for Faster Service by Mail or UPS/FedEx
Service US Mail UPS or FedEx
Certificate Search Fee1 (Includes one copy) $24 $24
Expedited Processing Fee (Shipped by regular mail) $15  
Expedited Processing and Expedited Shipping (Within Continental U.S.2)   $35
TOTAL $39 $59
For an additional copy of the same certificate, add $15 $15

1 Includes one copy if record is located. Search fees and expedite fees are non-refundable even if a record is not located.

2 For expedited shipping outside the continental United States, call for rates or include a prepaid express shipping envelope.

 2. Faster Service Online or by Phone: VitalChek

Online service is available at www.vitalchek.com, or you may call toll-free 1-800-669-8310. (Outside the U.S., call 1-615-372-6800.) VitalChek is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with the State of North Carolina. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA.

  • You will be asked to provide your credit card number and its expiration date.
  • Provide all the necessary certificate information along with a street address (no APO, FPO, or PO Boxes) where the certificate can be delivered.
  • Someone must be available at the address provided to sign for receipt of the documents that will be express mailed to the requesting party.
Typical Fees for Expedited Credit Card Service (shipping fees may vary)
Service Cost
Search Fee (includes one copy)* $24
Expedite Fee $15
VitalChek Processing Fee $12.70
Expedited Shipping within continental U.S. (UPS) $20
TOTAL $71.70

*Includes one copy if the record is located. Search fees and expedite fees are non-refundable even if a record is not located.

Additional Ordering Information

 Processing Times

  • Current processing times for regular (non-expedited), expedited, and VitalChek orders are available on our General Issuance Processing Dates page.
  • Birth, death and marriage certificates may also be obtained at the Register of Deeds (ROD) office in the county where the event took place.

 Records We Have

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

Do you need an older record?

 Information Required for Each Document

Information Required for Each Document
  Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Record Divorce Record Fetal Death Report
Name Name on certificate Name on certificate Names of applicants Names of spouses Name on report, if listed
Additional Names Both parents’ full names       Both parents' full names
Date Date of birth Date of death Date of marriage Date of divorce Date of delivery
Place Place of birth (city or county in N.C.) Place of death (city or county in N.C.) Place where license was issued (city or county in N.C. ) Place of divorce (city or county in N.C.) Place of delivery (city or county in N.C.)
Requestor’s relationship to the person(s) named on the document Required for a certified copy. Required for a certified copy. Required for a certified copy. Required for a certified copy. Required for a certified copy.

 Fees

Applicable fees vary depending on a number of factors regarding requested services and shipping. Please see the fees page for a detailed fees table.

 Help/FAQs?

If you have questions, please see the FAQs page. If your question is not answered there, please contact us.

 Other Ordering Options

  • Birth, death and marriage certificates may also be obtained at the Register of Deeds office in the county where the event took place.
  • The only authorized 3rd-party site for North Carolina birth certificates is VitalChek.
  • Please be aware that NC Vital Records is the only place to get a birth certificate for an adopted child.
  • Divorce certificates may also be obtained from the clerk of court in the county where the divorce is filed.

 

Last Modified: October 12, 2021