State vital records · NCDHHS-NCOVR

North Carolina Vital Records Requirements

Fees, processing times, required documents, and who can request birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in North Carolina — in one place.

North Carolina · 182 offices

At a glance

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Vital Record (NCDHHS-NCOVR)

Address
Cooper Memorial Health Building 225 N. McDowell St. Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
Mailing
NCOVR Attn: VC Certificate Orders 1903 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Phone
919-733-3000
Hours
8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. (appointment required)

North Carolina Birth Certificate

Fee
$24 + one of the following processing fees: $15.00 - in person $6.00 - mail-in $13.95 - online/phone order
Additional copy
$15
Rush fee
$15 - expedited fee, temporarily suspended for mail-in orders and currently only available for in-person (this fee is added to all in-person request, as they are all considered expedited) or $13.95 + optional $20 overnight shipping - for online orders with vitalchek
Processing time
30 days - 1 year** see Contact NC.gov about conflicting processing time info (https://www.notion.so/Contact-NC-gov-about-conflicting-processing-time-info-8e0f20ae845748a68e18aee6ac187f53?pvs=21)
Rush processing
Immediate in-person, NA mail-in, possibly 4-5 months online/phone (see Contact NC.gov about conflicting processing time info (https://www.notion.so/Contact-NC-gov-about-conflicting-processing-time-info-8e0f20ae845748a68e18aee6ac187f53?pvs=21)
Public after
Not restricted (Uncertified copies)

Who can request

  • Children
  • Grandchildren
  • Grandparents
  • Law Enforcement
  • Legal Guardian
  • Legal Representative
  • Other Person of Interest
  • Parents
  • Person on Record
  • Power of Attorney
  • Siblings
  • Social Worker
  • Spouse
  • Step Children
  • Step-Parents

Required information

  • Date of Birth
  • Daytime Phone Number
  • Email
  • Father's Name at Birth
  • Full Name at Birth
  • Mailing Address
  • Mother's Maiden Name
  • Place of Birth
  • Purpose for the Certificate
  • Sex
  • Your Name
  • Your Relationship to the Person of Record
  • Your Signature

Accepted ID

  • Corrections ID
  • Passport
  • State Driver's License
  • State ID
  • State Non-Driver ID
  • Student ID (with transcript)
  • US Military ID
  • Valid Government ID

Secondary ID

  • Bank Statement
  • Letter from Government Agency
  • State Concealed Weapon Permit
  • Temporary Driver's License
  • Utility Bill
  • Vehicle Registration
  • W-2 Form
Application form

North Carolina Death Certificate

Fee
$24 + one of the following processing fees: $15.00 - in person $6.00 - mail-in $13.95 - online/phone order
Additional copy
$15
Rush fee
$15 - expedited fee, temporarily suspended for mail-in orders and currently only available for in-person (this fee is added to all in-person request, as they are all considered expedited) or $13.95 + optional $20 overnight shipping - for online orders with vitalchek
Processing time
30 days - 1 year** see notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32
Rush processing
Immediate in-person, NA mail-in, possibly 4-5 months online/phone (see notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32
Public after
Not restricted (Uncertified copies)

Who can request

  • Children
  • Grandchildren
  • Grandparents
  • Legal Guardian
  • Legal Representative
  • Other Person of Interest
  • Parents
  • Siblings
  • Spouse
  • Step Children
  • Step-Parents

Required information

  • Age at Death
  • Date of Birth
  • Date of Death
  • Daytime Phone Number
  • Email
  • Full Name at Birth
  • Full Name of Person of Record
  • Mailing Address
  • Place of Death
  • Purpose for the Certificate
  • Race
  • Your Name
  • Your Relationship to the Person of Record
  • Your Signature

Accepted ID

  • Corrections ID
  • Passport
  • State Driver's License
  • State ID
  • State Non-Driver ID
  • Student ID (with transcript)
  • US Military ID
  • Valid Government ID

Secondary ID

  • Bank Statement
  • Letter from Government Agency
  • Pay Stub
  • State Concealed Weapon Permit
  • Temporary Driver's License
  • Utility Bill
  • Vehicle Registration
  • W-2 Form
Application form

North Carolina Marriage Certificate

Fee
$24 + one of the following processing fees: $15.00 - in person $6.00 - mail-in $13.95 - online/phone order
Additional copy
$15
Rush fee
$15 - expedited fee, temporarily suspended for mail-in orders and currently only available for in-person (this fee is added to all in-person request, as they are all considered expedited) or $13.95 + optional $20 overnight shipping - for online orders with vitalchek
Processing time
30 days - 1 year** see notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32
Rush processing
Immediate in-person, NA mail-in, possibly 4-5 months online/phone (see notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32notion://www.notion.so/nordseo/c6780250435b46518132dc61c9c7bcc9?v=8eac8277d6ae40d2bf1d0d1682626e32
Public after
Not restricted (Uncertified copies)

Who can request

  • Children
  • Grandparents
  • Legal Guardian
  • Legal Representative
  • Parents
  • Person on Record
  • Power of Attorney
  • Siblings
  • Social Worker
  • Spouse
  • Step Children
  • Step-Parents

Required information

  • Bride Name
  • Bride's Name Before Marriage
  • Date of Marriage
  • Daytime Phone Number
  • Email
  • Groom Name
  • Groom Name Before Marriage
  • Mailing Address
  • Place where License Was Issued
  • Purpose for the Certificate
  • Your Name
  • Your Relationship to the Person of Record
  • Your Signature

Accepted ID

  • Corrections ID
  • Passport
  • State Driver's License
  • State ID
  • State Non-Driver ID
  • Student ID (with transcript)
  • US Military ID
  • Valid Government ID

Secondary ID

  • Bank Statement
  • Letter from Government Agency
  • Pay Stub
  • State Concealed Weapon Permit
  • Temporary Driver's License
  • Utility Bill
  • Vehicle Registration
  • W-2 Form
Application form

Don't want to visit in person? Order a North Carolina birth, death, or marriage certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online.

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Get a birth certificate by North Carolina county

Most North Carolina birth and death records are requested at the county level. Choose your county for local offices, fees, and how to order.

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Apostille & authentication

Office
NC Department of the Secretary of State
Phone
919-814-5400
Mailing
By US Postal Service NC Department of the Secretary of State ATTN: Authentications PO Box 29622 Raleigh, NC 27626-0622 By Delivery Service NC Department of the Secretary of State ATTN: Authentications 2 South Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601
Walk-in
NC Department of the Secretary of State ATTN: Authentications 2 South Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday – Friday except Federal and State Holidays.
Details
NC Vital Records do not need to be notarized Requesting an apostille using a "copy" of a document will require a notarized Affidavit saying that the document is a "true copy" of the original.

Public records: North Carolina Public Records Law. Information is provided as guidance and may change — verify with the state office before applying.