How to get North Carolina divorce records
In North Carolina, order a certified divorce record from the North Carolina Vital Records (NC Office of Vital Records, NCOVR), NC DHHS Division of Public Health.1 The state issues a divorce certificate (summary); the court record/decree is held by the Clerk of Court where the divorce was filed.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 by mail: up to 4 months4.
On this page
Current notice from the office
- Marriage and divorce certificates: about 9 months average processing at the state office5
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek | $246 first, $153 each extra copy, plus $13.953 VitalChek processing fee + 2 possible extra charges | Up to 9 months on average5 | Card and check3 |
| By mail | $246 first, $156 each extra copy, plus $64 VitalChek processing and handling fee + 2 possible extra charges | Up to 4 months4 | – |
| In person | $243 first, $153 each extra copy + one extra charge | – | Card, check and cash3 |
| At a local office | See the details below | – | – |
| By phone | $246 first, $153 each extra copy, plus $13.953 VitalChek processing fee + 2 possible extra charges | Up to 9 months on average5 | Card and check3 |
Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.7
Online through VitalChek
Good to know
By mail
- Run by
- NC Vital Records, with mail-in payment processed by VitalChek4
- Fees
- Processing time
- Up to 4 months4
- Expedited service
- Not offered6
- Mail to
- North Carolina Vital Records, ATTN: VC Certificate Orders, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-19006
Good to know
In person
- Fees
- Expedited service
- $15. In-person service at the state office is the expedited channel6
- Payment
- Card, check and cash3
- Make payable to
- NC Vital Records3
- Office
- Cooper Memorial Health Building, 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27603-13828
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; last appointment 2:30 p.m.; 30-minute appointments6
- Appointment
- Required6
Good to know
At a local office
- Run by
- Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was filed6
Good to know
- Refer to the specific Clerk of Court for process and fees7
By phone
- Run by
- VitalChek6
- Fees
- Processing time
- Up to 9 months on average5
- Payment
- Card and check3
- Phone
- 800-669-83106
Good to know
What North Carolina divorce records cost
- 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 copy4 | 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.7 | $244 |
| Uncertified copy4 | Informational purposes only; not accepted for legal purposes7 | $244 |
| No record found letter3 | – | $243 |
No-fee copies
- Over 62: a local agency may waive its $10.00 retained charge10
How long it takes
These are the office's own published times. They do not include shipping. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.
| How you order | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek | Up to 9 months on average5 |
| By mail | Up to 4 months4 |
| By phone | Up to 9 months on average5 |
Who can order North Carolina divorce records
The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.
- The person named on the record, spouse, a parent named on the record, child, brother or sister, grandparent and grandchild11
Proof: ID only; evidence of a legal name change if the name on the ID differs4 - 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 custodian4 - A person seeking information for a legal determination of personal or property rights11
- Minimum ordering age is 184
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.
7
ID you need
- Photo ID
- Required4
- 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 transcript4
- 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 ID4
What the application asks for
Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.6
- Names of spouses
- Date of divorce
- Place of divorce (city or county in N.C.)
- Requestor's relationship
Decree or certificate
The decree, the court's judgment with the terms of the divorce, comes from the clerk of the court that granted it. North Carolina also keeps a state record of divorces at its vital records office7; it shows that the divorce happened, not its terms. Divorce certificate vs decree explains which one an agency usually wants.
Forms
- Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Divorce Certificate revision Feb 20256
Years held and older records
- Years the issuing office holds
- 1958 to today6
- Older records
- Clerk of Court where the divorce was filed (before 1958)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 accepted7
- False statements are a felony13
- NC Vital Records does not change divorce certificates; contact the Clerk of Court2
The state office
- Office
- North Carolina Vital Records8
- Phone
- 919-733-30008
- Contact
- Contact form8
- Mailing address
- North Carolina Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-19008
- Walk-in address
- Cooper Memorial Health Building, 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27603-13828
- 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.)8
- Appointments
- Required8
- Website
- Official website1
Questions people ask
How much is a certified North Carolina divorce record?
The first copy costs $24 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15.3
How long does it take to get North Carolina divorce records?
Can I order North Carolina divorce records online?
Yes. Online through VitalChek.6
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.4
Where are older North Carolina divorce records kept?
Clerk of Court where the divorce was filed (before 1958).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 divorce pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- NC Vital Records fees pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- NC Divorce 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
- NC Vital Records processing pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
- NC Vital Records order pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
- 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-93.1 Fees for vital records copies or searchNorth Carolina General Assemblydated May 30, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- 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
- 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