I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
Table of Contents
- What are North Carolina Vital Records?
- North Carolina Birth Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Birth Records
- North Carolina Death Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Death Records
- North Carolina Marriage Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Marriage Records
- North Carolina Divorce Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Divorce Records
What are North Carolina Vital Records?
North Carolina's vital records consist of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office is the government office in charge of vital records. Their mission statement includes "responsibility for legally registering all births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces which occur in North Carolina; coding these events for statistical purposes; maintaining these records; and providing certified or uncertified copies to individuals, researchers, and public health programs." They go on to explain that "Individual vital records are legal documents that are preserved in a secure environment and may be corrected, amended or replaced over time." They allow citizens to request copies of vital records in person, by mail or online.
North Carolina Birth Records
North Carolina has birth records dating back to 1913. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office is the agency in charge of birth records, and they allow people to request copies. Birth records are not public records, so only certain people can request a copy of yours. The Vital Records Office allows you to get certified copies of birth records in person, through the mail or online. Birth certificates are necessary when you apply for a passport, driver's license, government job, insurance, attend school, sign up for sports, and other instances when you need to validate your identity and age. Birth records are not public records. Therefore, only close family and legal representatives may get copies.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Birth Records
How do I find birth records in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office is the agency to contact. They have birth records dating back to 1913 and allow you to search and get copies if you qualify.
How do I get a certified copy of my birth certificate in North Carolina?
Fill out an application with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office and mail it in, drop it off in person, or use the online system to get copies. You must qualify and pay a fee.
How much does it cost to get a copy of a birth certificate in North Carolina?
The first certified copy of a birth certificate in North Carolina is $24. Each copy after (when ordered at the same time) costs $15 each.
Who can request birth records?
Because birth records are not public records, only certain people can get copies. The list of authorized individuals includes:
- Person listed on the certificate.
- Current spouse.
- Sibling.
- Child/stepchild.
- Parent/stepparent.
- Grandparent.
- Grandchild.
- Authorized agent (attorney or legal representative).
- Other authorized persons.
What information do I need when getting a copy of my North Carolina birth certificate?
When requesting a copy of North Carolina birth records, you must provide the following information:
- Full name on the certificate.
- Date of birth.
- Place of birth.
- Gender.
- Full maiden name of the mother.
- Full name of the father.
As the applicant, you must also fill in your details and provide proper ID and proof of eligibility. You must also designate whether the parents were married at the time of birth and if the person is deceased or not.
Where can I find historical vital records in North Carolina for genealogy research?
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office has the oldest records in North Carolina going back to 1913. They should be able to provide genealogy documents.
How can I correct an error on my birth record?
The same form used for getting copies of birth records can also be used to make a correction. There is a $15 fee, however and corrections sometimes take a few weeks for processing.
Can I get a refund if my North Carolina birth record is not available?
No. Birth certificate search fees are not refundable.
North Carolina Death Records
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office is the government agency in charge of death records. They have them from 1930 to the present. This agency offers walk-in service at their Raleigh office during regular business hours so you can get a copy instantly if you qualify. Death records are not public records, and only authorized personnel may get copies. Death records are helpful when you need to apply for death benefits, insurance, or prove someone's passing.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Death Records
How do I find death records in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office is the agency in charge of all death records, and they can perform a search and find any records you need going back to 1930. Each paid search covers a three-year period.
Are death records public in North Carolina?
No. They are kept private, and therefore, only certain people can get access to a person's death certificate.
How much does it cost to get a copy of a death certificate in North Carolina?
The first copy of a death certificate costs $24. Each additional copy, ordered at the same time, costs $15. If you use the expedited walk-in service, you have to pay an additional $15.
How long does it take to get a copy of a North Carolina death record?
If you use the walk-in service, you can get one the same day. If you order by mail, your order may take up to five weeks. If you order through VitalChek online or by phone, you can get it within a few days, but additional fees may apply.
Who can request death records?
Death records in North Carolina are not public; only certain close family and legal representatives can get copies. The list includes:
- Current spouse.
- Brother/sister.
- Child/stepchild.
- Parent/stepparent.
- Grandparent.
- Grandchild.
- Authorized agent (attorney or other legal representatives).
- Another person with a signed authorization.
What information do I need when getting a copy of someone's North Carolina death certificate?
When you request copies of death records in North Carolina, you need to provide some information such as:
- Full name of deceased.
- Date of death.
- Location of death.
- Date of birth.
- Age at the time of death.
- Race.
- Number of copies.
- Reason for the request.
You must also select a certified or uncertified copy.
Where can I find historical death records in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office has the oldest death records in North Carolina going back to 1930, and they should be able to provide any genealogy documents that you need.
How can I correct an error on someone's death record?
You must contact the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office to find out how to correct a death record. They have a process that includes a fee and a pretty long wait time.
Can I get a refund if my North Carolina death record is not available?
No, all death certificate searches are non-refundable.
North Carolina Marriage Records
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office has marriage records from 1962 until the present day. However, the Register of Deeds in each local county keeps records much older, and you can contact them for copies if the Vital Records Office does not have what you need. The agency allows only authorized people to request copies of marriage certificates because they are not public records. You can get them online or by phone using VitalChek, in person at their Raleigh office, or through the mail using their downloadable form.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Marriage Records
Are North Carolina marriage records public?
No, they are not public records. Only close family and legal representatives can get copies of your marriage certificate.
What North Carolina marriage records are available?
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office has records dating back to 1958. Local county Register of Deeds offices older records.
How long does it take to get a marriage certificate in North Carolina?
If you use the walk-in service, you can get one the same day. If you order by mail, your order may take up to five weeks. If you order through VitalChek online or by phone, you can get it within a few days, but additional fees may apply.
How much does a North Carolina marriage certificate cost?
The first copy of a North Carolina marriage certificate costs $24. Each addition copy (ordered at the same time) costs $15. If you use the walk-in service option, you must pay an additional $15 processing fee.
When requesting records, what information do I need?
When requesting a copy of someone's marriage record, you need the following information:
- Full maiden name of party #1.
- Full maiden name of party #2.
- Date of marriage.
- County where the marriage license was issued.
- Number of copies.
- Uncertified or certified copy.
How do I get a copy of a North Carolina marriage record?
You can order copies using the walk-in service option in Raleigh, use VitalChek to order online or by phone, or download the application and mail it in with your fee.
What if I didn't get married in North Carolina?
You must contact either the vital records office or the courts in the state where you were married if you were not married in North Carolina.
Who can get a copy of my marriage certificate?
Marriage records are not public records. Therefore, only the following list of people can get a copy of yours.
- Either person listed on the certificate.
- Current spouse.
- Brother/sister.
- Child/stepchild.
- Parent/stepparent.
- Grandparent.
- Grandchild.
- Authorized agent (attorney or other legal representatives).
- Other people with a signed authorization.
How do I correct a marriage certificate in North Carolina?
You must contact the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office to get help with correction of a marriage certificate. You may also contact the court clerk where the marriage license was filed.
North Carolina Divorce Records
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office has divorce certificates from 1958 to the present. You can find older divorces records with the county clerk of the court where the divorce was granted. North Carolina uses a consolidated form to order death, marriage, and divorce certificates. Divorce records in North Carolina are not public records, and only close family members and legal representatives can get copies. The Vital Records Office allows you to order copies through the mail, in person at their walk-in service center, or online and phone using VitalChek.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Divorce Records
Can I find divorce records online in North Carolina?
No. Divorce records in North Carolina are not public records, and only certain people may access them on your behalf.
How do I find old divorce records?
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office has records dating back to 1958. If you need older divorce records, contact the clerk of the court where the divorce was finalized.
How do I get a copy of my divorce certificate?
Fill out the consolidated application and bring it to the walk-in center, drop it in the mail, or you can use VitalChek to order copies. You must pay a fee when ordering.
What information is needed to search for a North Carolina divorce record?
When you order copies of divorce records, you will have to provide the following information:
- Full name of spouse #1.
- Full name of spouse #2.
- Date of divorce.
- Location of divorce.
- Select either certified or uncertified copy.
- Number of copies requested.
- Relationship to the persons listed on the certificate.
As the requestor, you must also provide your personal details and show your photo ID. You also need to provide proof of your relationship to the persons listed on the certificate.
If they can't find my divorce record, can I get a refund?
No, all search fees are non-refundable.
What if my divorce took place outside of North Carolina?
If you were divorced in another state, you must contact that state's vital records office or the court clerk where your divorce was granted.
