The rules surrounding the acquisition of vital records is not at as strict as in some states, and you should not have much difficulty getting a copy of the record you want. You have the option of either a certified copy or an uncertified copy. The certified ones have the official state seal and can be used for legal identification purposes, and the uncertified ones are on plain paper and are typically only for informational purposes.
You can get a certified copy of a North Carolina birth record if the record is your own, your spouse's, sibling or any other direct relation (parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren or even further). For uncertified copies, they are freely accessible to anyone, no matter what relationship you have to the person on the record.
When making your application, you will have to provide documentation of your relationship to the person on the certificate when applying for a certified copy.
Request applications for North Carolina birth records can either be mailed or dropped on in person for faster response time. Currently, the expected wait time to get your requested records back is at least 12 weeks though you can get same-day service if you put your application in in person at their Raleigh location. Expedited service should take about 2 weeks.
For mailing, send your forms, fees and additional documents to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records Unit, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1903 USA. The street address for counter service is 225 North McDowell Street in Raleigh.
Download the forms from the Vital Records website (http://vitalrecords.nc.gov/vitalrecords/documents/bcertificatapp.pdf), and provide the full name of the person on the record, along with their birth date and where they were born. Also provide their parent's full names, with the maiden name for the mother. You'll have to indicate what type of North Carolina birth record you want (certified or not), and how many copies.
The fee for each record is $24 USD, with an additional $15 if you want multiple copies of the same record. It's also an extra $15 for expedited service as mentioned above for quicker response time. They don't take personal checks, so you have to pay by way of money order or certified check that is made out to "NC Vital Records". If they are unable to find the record you have requested, your fees are not refunded. So you always need to double-check the information you provide.
The office of Vital Records can search for North Carolina birth records dating back to around 1913 up until the present day. You may also be able to access older birth records if you contact the registrar's office in the county where the birth took place. Many have their own records that pre-date the point where the state began their own statistics collection. Some may go back as far as the 1700s but it will depend on the region. The city of Raleigh dates to 1890 for example.
Follow these steps for requesting North Carolina birth certificates by mail:
Step 1.
When requesting North Carolina birth certificates by mail, you will need to fill out a North Carolina Birth Certificate request form.
Step 2.
If you are not a direct relative of the person listed, include any documentation that authorizes you to make a request for North Carolina birth records.
Step 3.
Send the completed application along with a certified check or money order in the amount of $24. Personal checks will not be accepted.
If you need additional help accessing North Carolina birth records, then you can contact the office below:
North Carolina Department of Health
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1903
(919) 733-3000
How To Request North Carolina Birth Records
If you need North Carolina birth records, then they can be requested from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The Vital Records office has North Caroline birth records on file dating from 1913 to the present day.
Ways You Can Make A Request
When ordering North Carolina birth records, you can choose between standard service, which takes 3 to 5 weeks, and expedited service, which is processed in two business days. For standard service, you can request birth certificates in person and by mail. For expedited service, you can also stop into the office in person or make a mailed request and pay an extra fee for faster service, or you can order by phone or online for an additional fee.
Who Is Authorized To Order?
North Carolina birth records are considered private information, and therefore are only available to select people. To request a birth record, you must be either the person listed, a parent or grandparent, a current spouse, an adult sibling or a adult child.
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