Authentications/Apostilles: see Secretary of State's Office

 

Order a Certificate

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 five weeks. Standard orders for other types of certificates may take six to eight weeks. Requests that are accompanied by an expedite fee are usually processed within five to ten business days from the time N.C. Vital Records receives the request.

Requests to change a record, such as adoptions, amendments, legitimations and name changes, may take six weeks or more (depending on volume of requests) after the processing fee is received. There is no fee to process standard paternities and the response time may take longer depending upon the volume of requests received. Requests to change a record that are accompanied by an expedite fee will be processed as quickly as possible, but may take up to fifteen business days.

Same Day Service

We offer same-day expedited service at our walk-in window at our Raleigh location. An appointment is required if customer needs in-person assistance to change or correct a record.
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).

 

NOTE: ID OF THE PERSON REQUESTING A CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED.

For a list of acceptable IDs see What forms of ID may I use to obtain a certificate? on our FAQs page. Requests that do not include proper identification will be returned.

 

Other Options

Birth, death and marriage certificates also may be obtained at the Register of Deeds (ROD) office in the county where the event took place. (Please be aware that N.C. Vital Records is the only place to get a birth certificate for an adopted child.) Divorce certificates may be obtained from the clerk of court in the county where the divorce is filed.

1. Complete the form

Birth Certificate Application Form

• English (766 KB PDF)

Death, Marriage, and Divorce Certificate Application Form

• English (295 KB PDF)

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

• English (329 KB PDF)

(It is recommended that you use the latest version of Nitro Reader to view these documents. Get the free Nitro PDF Reader. Note that not all web browsers handle opening of PDF files in the same manner. If you have problems, try saving the document on your computer first and then opening that saved document with Nitro Reader.)

If you are looking for another vital record form, please contact us at 919-733-3000.

What we have:

• Birth certificates are available starting in 1913.
• Death certificates are available starting in 1930.
• Marriage certificates are available starting in 1962.
• Divorce records are available starting in 1958.
• Fetal Death Reports are available starting in 2001.

(Do you need an older record?)

2.a Choose Standard Service: Mail or Drop Off Form

Send the completed form with $24 money order, certified check, or business check (not a personal check) for the first copy of the certificate and $15 for each additional to:

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

You can also drop off the form at the Vital Records Office in Raleigh between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, except on state government holidays . Payments accepted in person include money order, certified check, business check, or cash. No personal checks please. Directions to our office.

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

2.b Choose Faster Service

There are three ways to get faster service.

1. Faster Processing and/or Delivery through the Mail: You can go through the steps for mail-in service but choose to pay more for faster processing and/or faster delivery.
2. In-Person: You can go through the steps for drop-off service but choose to pay more for same-day, walk-in service.
3. Online or phone:  You can order the certificate with your credit or debit card through VitalChek . This is the only way to get service online or by phone.

Faster Service through the Mail

Fill in the form as in step one. Write "Expedite" on the outside front of the envelope.

Send via U.S. mail to:

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

Write "Expedite" on the outside front of envelope.

Send via UPS or FedEx to:

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

Write "Expedite" on the outside front of envelope.

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

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

Faster Service In Person: Same-Day, Walk-In Service

You can request same-day, walk-in service in the Vital Records Office in Raleigh. An appointment is required if customer needs in-person assistance to change or correct a record. Walk-in service is available between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, except on state government holidays . Payments accepted include money order, certified check, business check, cash or credit/debit card. No personal checks please. Directions to our office.

All walk-in requests for same day service are subject to an additional $15 expedited services fee.

The search fee and the expedite fee are non-refundable even if a record is not located. ** If using a credit/debit card as your payment method, an additional $2.50 processing fee will be charged by VitalChek (independent third-party processor – not affiliated with the State of North Carolina). MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards will be accepted – VISA is not accepted.

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.

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