Vital Records

Birth Certificates, Death Records, Marriage Licenses

Source: http://vitalrecords.dhhs.state.nc.us/vr/index.html

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Vital Records Holdings

The Vital Records Unit has records for North Carolina for the following years:

Births (1913-Present) Marriages (1962-Present) 
Deaths (1930-Present) Divorces (1958-Present) 

Births and deaths have been registered in North Carolina state government offices only since 1913. Prior to 1913, the state of North Carolina did not use birth records or certificates of any kind. For birth records prior to the dates listed above, contact the local Register of Deeds office in the county where the birth occurred. Do not contact North Carolina Vital Records or the North Carolina State Archives, as there are no birth records prior to 1913 in a state public office.

For death certificates prior to 1930, contact the North Carolina State Archives. A few delayed death records may exist back to 1909. Prior to this, there are no death records of any sort other than wills and estate settlements in the North Carolina State Archives.

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1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1903
(919) 733-3526 

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We offer walk-in services in our lobby only for simple certificate requests. All other services (such as amending a certificate) will be conducted by appointment only. All services provided on a walk-in or appointment basis will be subject to the expedited same day services fee of $15. Customers are encouraged to conduct business by mail or internet when possible. 

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The North Carolina Vital Records Unit is responsible for registering all births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces which occur in North Carolina, coding those events for statistical research purposes, maintaining the records properly, and locating and providing certified or uncertified copies of those records. The registration process involves a statewide system of hospitals, funeral directors, registers of deeds, local health department staff, and others who register vital events. Once vital events have been registered, the individual vital records are preserved in a secure environment. When appropriate, they are corrected, amended, or even replaced. Certified and uncertified copies are provided when requested for legal actions, passports, law enforcement investigations, child support enforcement, health-related research, and official identification. Standard fees authorized by law are charged for services.

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Vital Records: Genealogical Research

If you wish to conduct genealogical research, contact the register of deeds in the county where the event occurred or with the North Carolina State Archives at http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/archives/.

The North Carolina Vital Records office should not be your first choice for information because: 

We must have specific information before the search can begin. 
We have to charge a $15 fee for each record search, whether or not the record is found. 

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TIPS for Genealogical Research 

If you know the area where your ancestor lived, check the records in the county where the event occurred. Generally, this is the local register of deeds office, but in Mecklenburg, Durham, and Wake Counties, it is the local health department. 

Check with the North Carolina State Archives or the Genealogy Section of the North Carolina State Library. 

If you do request a copy of a specific record from North Carolina Vital Records, use the request form available from our requests page and include a $15 check for each search. In order to search for any birth certificate, we must know the child's name and year of birth; the mother's maiden name; and the father's last name. 

If proper information and fees are received, we will provide you with an uncertified copy of the record located unless your request form indicates that you are legally entitled to a certified copy. [NCGS 130A-93 specifies who may receive certified as opposed to uncertified copies of vital records.] Records of adoptees are not available to the public.

Births

All North Carolina
$15.00

NC Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1903

State office has birth records since October 1913. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $5.00 each.

Personal check or money order should be made payable to NC Vital Records. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (919) 733-3526. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at http://www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/.

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Deaths

All North Carolina
$15.00

NC Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1903

State office has death records since January 1, 1946. Death records from 1913 through 1945 are available from NC State Archives, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $5.00 each.

Personal check or money order should be made payable to NC Vital Records. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (919) 733-3526. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at http://www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/.

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Marriages

All North Carolina
$15.00

NC Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1903

State office has records since January 1962. For earlier records contact Register of Deeds in county where marriage was performed.

Personal check or money order should be made payable to NC Vital Records. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (919) 733-3526. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at http://www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/.

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Divorces

All North Carolina
$15.00

NC Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1903

State office has records since January 1958. For earlier records contact Clerk of Superior Court where divorce was granted.

Personal check or money order should be made payable to NC Vital Records. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (919) 733-3526. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at http://www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/.

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Tips for vital records correspondence:

    Give the following facts when writing for birth or death records:

  • Full name of person whose record is requested.
  • Sex.
  • Parents' names, including maiden name of mother.
  • Month, day, and year of birth or death.
  • Place of birth or death (city or town, county, and State; and name of hospital, if known).
  • Purpose for which copy is needed.
  • Relationship to person whose record is requested.
  • Day time telephone number with area code.
Give the following facts when writing for marriage records:
  • Full names of bride and groom.
  • Month, day, and year of marriage.
  • Place of marriage (city or town, county, and State).
  • Purpose for which copy is needed.
  • Relationship to persons whose record is requested.
  • Day time telephone number with area code.
Give the following facts when writing for divorce records:
  • Full names of husband and wife.
  • Date of divorce or annulment.
  • Place of divorce or annulment.
  • Type of final decree.
  • Purpose for which copy is needed.
  • Relationship to persons whose record is requested.
  • Day time telephone number with area code.


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This page was last updated on May 31, 2020.