Certified Copies in North Carolina: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in North Carolina
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in North Carolina, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $24.00 first copy, $15.00 each additional
- Death certificate
- $24.00 first, $15.00 additional
- Marriage
- $24.00 first, $15.00 additional
- Divorce
- $24.00 first, $15.00 additional
Vital records
Issued by: North Carolina Vital Records
Post to: NC Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903
Verify current fees: (919) 733-3000
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $24.00 first copy, $15.00 each additional |
| Death | $24.00 first, $15.00 additional |
| Marriage | $24.00 first, $15.00 additional |
| Divorce | $24.00 first, $15.00 additional |
What North Carolina requires
- A copy of valid photo ID and a signed application are required for every request.
- Business cheque, certified cheque or money order. Personal cheques are not listed as accepted.
- Births from October 1913, deaths from 1930, marriages from 1962, divorces from 1958. Earlier records at the county Register of Deeds or Clerk of Court.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a North Carolina entity come from North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications Division, normally online and often the same day.
North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications Division
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in North Carolina goes through North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications Division, at $10.00 per authentication.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a North Carolina birth certificate?
From North Carolina Vital Records. Post to NC Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903. A certified copy is $24.00 first copy, $15.00 each additional.
Does the North Carolina Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will North Carolina reject?
A copy of valid photo ID and a signed application are required for every request.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
