To help route you to the correct information and resources for the certificate service you need to request, please step through our preliminary ordering questions.
1. Do you need to request the creation of a new birth certificate following an adoption?
🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page.
Go to the Adoptions page and use the relevant process and forms to place an adoption order. Important: Do not place new adoption orders through VitalChek .
2. Are you trying to add a father?
2a. Marriage Status Relative to Birth
I married the father after birth.🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page.
I was married to the father before the child was born but he isn’t on the certificate!🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page. You need to do an amendment.
I am not married to the father.🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page.
3. Are there amendments, changes, or corrections that need to be made to the birth certificate?
🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page.
Are there amendments, changes, or corrections that need to be made to the death certificate?
🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page.
Are there amendments, changes, or corrections that need to be made to the marriage certificate?
🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page.
For marriage certificate changes or replacements, contact the county Register of Deeds where the marriage license was issued. As noted on our marriage certificates page, NC Vital Records does not handle changes to marriage certificates.
Are there amendments, changes, or corrections that need to be made to the divorce certificate?
🛑 Stop. Do NOT order from this page.
For divorce certificate changes, contact the county Clerk of Court where the divorce was filed. As noted on our divorce certificates page, NC Vital Records does not handle changes to divorce certificates.
Use one of the ordering options below to place an order for a fetal death certificate.
Okay, let's proceed with your order for a regular/standard certificate without changes.The current processing time for online or phone orders placed through VitalChek is 30 days - 3 months, depending on certificate type and year.
Use the button link below to order online through VitalChek, the only authorized vendor for a state-issued, certified birth certificate.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| NC State Search Fee (includes one certificate)* | $24.00 |
| VitalChek Processing Fee | $13.95 |
| Regular Shipping (USPS) | $0.00 |
| Optional Overnight Shipping within continental U.S. (UPS)** | $20.00 |
| TOTAL (Regular Shipping/Overnight) | $37.95/$57.95 |
* Includes one certificate if the record is located. Search fees and expedite fees are nonrefundable even if a record is not located when searching based on the information provided by the applicant.
** Documents will be shipped after the state search process is complete. Processing times may be found on the processing dates page.
The current processing time for online or phone orders placed through VitalChek is 30 days - 3 months, depending on certificate type and year.
VitalChek is the only authorized vendor for a state-issued, certified birth certificate.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| NC State Search Fee (includes one certificate)* | $24.00 |
| VitalChek Processing Fee | $13.95 |
| Regular Shipping (USPS) | $0.00 |
| Optional Overnight Shipping within continental U.S. (UPS)** | $20.00 |
| TOTAL (Regular Shipping/Overnight) | $37.95/$57.95 |
* Includes one certificate if the record is located. Search fees and expedite fees are nonrefundable even if a record is not located when searching based on the information provided by the applicant.
** Documents will be shipped after the state search process is complete. Processing times may be found on the processing dates page.
Walk-in (in-person) certificate service is available by appointment only .
To make an appointment for in-person service, use our appointments calendar (which has a menu of current in-person services), or call 984-236-7268.
Before scheduling an appointment or placing your certificate order, check our processing dates page for estimated processing and shipping dates to determine if estimated timeframes would meet your needs.
The current processing time for mailed-in certificate orders is 30 days - 3 months, depending on certificate type and year.
Mail order applications should be sent to the attention of VitalChek with payment made to VitalChek . Be sure to use the mailing address below to submit your completed form(s) and payment.
North Carolina Vital Records
ATTN: VC Certificate Orders
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.
Adoptions
Birth certificates issued after adoptions occur follow a different process and use different forms than regular birth certificate orders. See the Adoptions page for process and forms.
Birth Certificate Application Form
Death Certificate Application Form
Divorce Certificate Application Form
Marriage 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).
Birth, death and marriage certificates may be obtained at the Register of Deeds (ROD) office in the county where the event took place. For example, in the case of death of a resident of North Carolina that occurred in a county other than the county of residence, the county where the death occurred would be the correct RODs office from which to obtain a death certificate (not the RODs office in the county of residence). In most cases, certificates can be obtained from the Register of Deeds on the same day.
Note: NC Vital Records is the only office from which you may obtain a birth certificate for an adopted child.
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| [empty] | 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. |
Applicable fees vary depending on a number of factors regarding requested services and shipping. Please see the fees page for a detailed fees table.
If you have questions, please see the FAQs page. If your question is not answered there, please contact us.
Last Modified: July 9, 2024
For the NC Vital Records hours, phone, mailing address, and physical address, see the Vital Records Contact Us page.
NC Department of Health and Human Services
2001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2001
NCDHHS Customer Service Center: 1-800-662-7030
Visit RelayNC for information about TTY services.
