How to get a North Carolina death certificate
In North Carolina, order a certified death certificate from the North Carolina Vital Records (NC Office of Vital Records, NCOVR), NC DHHS Division of Public Health.1 Also issued by the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred (not the county of residence).2 The first copy costs $243 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $153. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is at a local office: same day2.
On this page
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek | $242 first, $153 each extra copy, plus $13.953 VitalChek processing fee + 2 possible extra charges | Up to 2 business days on average4 | Card and check3 |
| By mail | $242 first, $152 each extra copy, plus $65 VitalChek processing and handling fee + 2 possible extra charges | Up to 4 months5 | – |
| In person | $243 first, $153 each extra copy + one extra charge | – | Card, check and cash3 |
| At a local office | Set by each office, for example $146, $106 or $107 | Same day2 | – |
| By phone | $242 first, $153 each extra copy, plus $13.953 VitalChek processing fee + 2 possible extra charges | Up to 2 business days on average4 | Card and check3 |
Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.8
Online through VitalChek
Good to know
By mail
- Run by
- NC Vital Records, with mail-in payment processed by VitalChek5
- Fees
- Processing time
- Up to 4 months5
- Expedited service
- Not offered2
- Mail to
- North Carolina Vital Records, ATTN: VC Certificate Orders, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-19002
Good to know
In person
- Fees
- Expedited service
- $15. In-person service at the state office is the expedited channel2
- Payment
- Card, check and cash3
- Make payable to
- NC Vital Records3
- Office
- Cooper Memorial Health Building, 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27603-13829
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; last appointment 2:30 p.m.; 30-minute appointments2
- Appointment
- Required2
Good to know
At a local office
Good to know
- Use the ROD of the county where the event occurred, not the county of residence2
By phone
- Run by
- VitalChek2
- Fees
- Processing time
- Up to 2 business days on average4
- Payment
- Card and check3
- Phone
- 800-669-83102
Good to know
What a North Carolina death certificate costs
- First certified copy
- $243
- Each additional copy, same order
- $153
- Expedite fee
- $153
- Each extra year searched
- $243
- If no record is found
- The fee is kept as a search fee3
Types of copies
| Copy | Accepted for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy5 | A certified copy is required for most legal or official purposes for which a copy of a vital record is requested. For instance, a certified copy can be used to obtain apostille services through the NC Secretary of State's office.8 | $245 |
| Uncertified copy5 | Informational purposes only; not accepted for legal purposes8 | $245 |
| No record found letter3 | – | $243 |
No-fee copies
- Over 62: a local agency may waive its $10.00 retained charge6
How long it takes
These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.
| How you order | Processing time | Counted |
|---|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek | Up to 2 business days on average4 | Before shipping |
| By mail | Up to 4 months5 | Before shipping |
| At a local office | Same day2 | – |
| By phone | Up to 2 business days on average4 | Before shipping |
Who can order a North Carolina death certificate
The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.
- Spouse, a parent named on the record, child, brother or sister, grandparent and grandchild11
Proof: Must be the current spouse and named on the death certificate5 - Legal guardian and attorney or legal representative:
(3) An authorized agent, attorney or legal representative of a person described above.
11
Proof: Certified court order naming you as legal guardian or custodian5 - A person seeking information for a legal determination of personal or property rights11
Proof: Proof of direct and tangible interest or legal need (court, insurance, or estate settlement documents)5 - Funeral director:
(c1) A funeral director or funeral service licensee shall be entitled upon request to a certified copy of a death certificate.
11 - Minimum ordering age is 185
Who cannot order a certified copy
- The person named on the record:
(g) No copies, certified copies or abstracts of vital records shall be provided to a person purporting to request copies, certified copies or abstracts of that person's own vital records upon determination that the person whose vital records are being requested is deceased.
11
Other kinds of copies
- Informational copy Anyone:
Uncertified copies are for informational purposes only and are not accepted for legal purposes. They are available to anyone who requests them unless legal restrictions apply.
8
ID you need
- Photo ID
- Required5
- Accepted ID
- Current state-issued driver's license (address must match requestor's address on application)
- Current state-issued non-driver photo ID card (address must match requestor's address on application)
- Current Passport or Visa (must include photo)
- Current U.S. military ID
- Current Department of Corrections photo ID card dated within the last year or release/discharge
- Current state or U.S. government agency photo ID card (for persons requesting certificates as part of that agency's business)
- Current student ID card with copy of transcript5
- Without that ID
- Temporary driver's license
- Current utility bill with current address (phone, gas, electric)
- Unexpired vehicle registration/title
- Bank statement with current address
- Pay stub with current address dated within the last 60 days
- Previous year W-2
- Letter from government agency dated within the last six months and showing current address
- State-issued concealed weapon permit showing current address
- ID copy with a mail order
- Include a copy of your ID5
What the application asks for
Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.2
- Name on certificate
- Date of death
- Place of death (city or county in N.C.)
- Requestor's relationship to the person named
Forms
- Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Death Certificate revision Feb 20252
Years held and older records
- Years the issuing office holds
- 1930 to today2
- Older records
- State Archives of North Carolina (deaths before 1930)12
Special situations
Warnings from the office
- NC vital records are not free searchable public records1
- Payment is processed on receipt; delivery lags payment3
- Requests by email are not accepted8
- False statements are a felony5
The state office
- Office
- North Carolina Vital Records9
- Phone
- 919-733-30009
- Contact
- Contact form9
- Mailing address
- North Carolina Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-19009
- Walk-in address
- Cooper Memorial Health Building, 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27603-13829
- Hours
- Call center Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; in-person appointments Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (last appointment 2:30 p.m.)9
- Appointments
- Required9
- Website
- Official website1
Questions people ask
How much is a certified North Carolina death certificate?
The first copy costs $24 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15.3
How long does it take to get a North Carolina death certificate?
Can I order a North Carolina death certificate online?
Yes. Online through VitalChek.2
Who do I make the check or money order payable to?
Write it exactly as the office prints it: NC Vital Records.3
What ID do I need?
The state accepts: Current state-issued driver's license (address must match requestor's address on application); Current state-issued non-driver photo ID card (address must match requestor's address on application); Current Passport or Visa (must include photo); Current U.S. military ID; Current Department of Corrections photo ID card dated within the last year or release/discharge; Current state or U.S. government agency photo ID card (for persons requesting certificates as part of that agency's business); and the other documents listed above.5
Where are older North Carolina death certificates kept?
State Archives of North Carolina (deaths before 1930).12
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- NC Vital Records home pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
- NC Vital Records order pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
- NC Vital Records fees pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- NC Vital Records processing pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- NC Death Certificate App (PDF)NC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Records (application form PDF hosted on vitalchek.com, linked from vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm)dated February 1, 2025
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-93.1 Fees for vital records copies or searchNorth Carolina General Assemblydated May 30, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- G.S. 161-10. Uniform fees of registers of deedsNorth Carolina General Assemblydated December 23, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- NC Vital Records faqs pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- NC Vital Records contacts pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- NC Vital Records county pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-93 Access to vital records; copiesNorth Carolina General Assemblydated February 13, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- NC Vital Records research pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated August 26, 2026